M.A. in International Relations, Security & Strategy

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M.A. in International Relations, Security & Strategy

O.P. Jindal Global University

Applications for April 2025 intake are now open

Priority deadline: Feb 28, 2025

Live Q&A: Application Guidance and Support


Click on 'Request more info' to know more about the programme.

Total tuition fee: INR 2,50,000 ($2,920 USD)

For International learners, tuition fee would be the local currency equivalent on the day of payment. Learn more

12-24 months

21 courses with an estimate student effort of 12-15 hours a week

Master's degree

Offered by O.P. Jindal Global University

100% online

Hands-on learning from anywhere, no travel required

Flexible elective options

Option to choose cross electives in Public Policy. Learn more

Curriculum

This degree programme has been carefully curated for the online model and for a global audience. The program requires earning 60 credits by completing two kinds of courses: Core and Electives. The program is structured across four terms within one year. However, working professionals who require additional time have the option to extend their studies for up to two more years.

Term 1:

(Core courses, 5 credits each)

  • International Relations Theory

  • Diplomatic Practices

  • Intelligence, War and Weapons

Term 2:

(Core courses, 5 credits each)

  • Foreign Policies of Great, Middle and Small Powers

  • Terrorism, Counterterrorism and Unconventional Threats

  • Maritime Security and Naval Strategy

Term 3:

(Core courses, 5 credits each)

  • Intelligence Analysis and Risk Assessment

  • Law and Ethics in International Relations

  • Negotiating and Resolving International Conflicts

Term 4:

Students will have the option to undertake only one of the following two distinct pathways to earn 15 credits in their final term:

  1. Pathway I (Dissertation track)

    • Dissertation – 12 Credits

    • Research Methodology, Ethics, and Academic Writing Course - 3 Credits

  2. Pathway II (Non-dissertation track)

    Students have the option to choose any THREE courses (Total 15 credits) which can include ONE cross elective out of the cross elective list of courses .

    • Elective (5 credits each)

      • Domestic Politics and their Impact on Foreign Policy

      • Nuclear, Space and Cyber Security

      • Climate Change, Migration and Human Security

      • Military Conflict and Deterrence in the 21st Century

      • The China-US New Cold War and the Indo-Pacific

      • Multilateral Institutions and Global Security

      • India’s Rise in World Affairs

    • Cross Elective (5 credits each)

      • International Organisations and Policy Regimes

      • Qualitative Analysis and Survey Design

      • Statistical Methods and Data Analysis

      • Development Economics

      • Democratic Governance

Course Workload & Pedagogy

  1. A total of 12 courses over 4 terms covered in 12 months

  2. All courses (Core and Electives) are worth 5 credits each

  3. 75 hours of learning engagement time (i.e., student time spent on lecture videos, essential readings, live interactive sessions, discussion, and graded and ungraded assessments)

    • 16 hours of pre-recorded videos (approximately 2 hours of video content per module/week. These 2 hours are divided into multiple videos of 8-10 minutes each for every lesson of the week.)

    • 20 hours of reading (one article or book chapter per week),

    • 15 hours of graded and non-graded assessments

    • 15 hours of live sessions.

    • 9 hours of discussions at the end of a module/week through office hours/discussion prompts

  4. The dissertation, worth 12 credits, spans the entire final term. Students opting for the dissertation will also need to complete a 3-credit Research Methodology, Ethics, and Academic Writing course during this period. In this period, students will focus on developing their dissertation thesis under the guidance of their assigned faculty mentor.

Assessment

  • This degree program has designed its assessment with a view to promote academic rigour, upholding existing standards followed on campus at O.P. Jindal Global University and promoting the development of collaborative learning with a specific focus on the development of research and critical thinking skills in our students. All assessments have been designed to promote learner engagement and student success in the online model.  

  • Student performance shall be assessed in relation to program and course learning outcomes. The criteria for assessment of course learning outcomes have been clearly delineated in the faculty-graded assessment of each course with a detailed rubric that lays down expectations from the student in line with desired learning outcomes.  

  • Assessment shall be both formative and summative. The purpose of formative assessment is to provide feedback to students on their work to enhance their learning and to help them achieve the course's intended learning outcomes. The purpose of summative assessment is to allocate appropriate grades. 

Graded Assessments
Weekly auto-graded assessments aligned with learning objectives, providing detailed feedback for each answer, and a summative faculty-graded assessment at the course's end.
Practice Questions
Weekly or module-specific practice questions with elaborative feedback to prepare students for graded assessments.
Discussion Prompts
Ungraded prompts to foster engagement, peer learning, and idea-sharing in a supportive, monitored environment to maintain academic and respectful discourse.

Description of Core Courses

  • International Relations Theory and Praxis: It investigates the existing practices of international politics and relations during and after the Cold War and the issue of whether problems of praxis (individual and collective choices) can be subjected to 'theoretical treatment'. 

  • Diplomatic Practice: This course aims to impart practical knowledge of how diplomacy is conducted and practised by States defending their respective national interests. The role of Embassies/High Commissions is looked at along with the immunities and privileges available to diplomats and diplomatic premises. After surveying political, economic, cultural, diaspora, and para diplomacy, the impact of the internet and social media on diplomatic practice is examined in some detail.

  • Intelligence, War, and Weapons: This course will discuss the fundamentals of intelligence gathering and will examine how warfare is conducted, the importance of weapons, and the strategies which have been employed in different wars. It will examine ancient and medieval era wars and have case studies of contemporary wars. It will look into different weapon systems and what is the role and utility of new systems in defining new templates for wars.

  • Foreign Policies of Great, Middle, and Small Powers: This course will discuss the foreign policies of various countries classified by size and comprehensive power. The course aims to develop students' ability to compare and contrast the strategies of superpowers or great powers vis-à-vis weaker countries. It will train students to approach key events counterfactually and counter-intuitively, and thereby help students develop a thorough understanding of policy-making processes, causes, and consequences. 

  • Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Unconventional Threats: This course will discuss the debate about terrorism and examine how it is different from political violence. It will delve into the reasons for the rise in terrorism and the problems in joint coordinated action against terrorism. The terrorist outfits active in Central Asia, West Asia, South Asia, Europe, and Africa will be analysed in detail, and students will learn about the activities and resource and cadre mobilisation of these groups. 

  • Maritime Security and Naval Strategy: This course will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the entire range of prevailing maritime threats and challenges of the 21st century, with a special focus on the Indo-Pacific region. The curriculum includes an overview of international maritime law, covering the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and various IMO conventions related to maritime safety and security. The course will also cover a study of naval strategy and the contemporary role of world navies. 

  • Intelligence Analysis and Risk Assessment: This course will help you develop an understanding of the world of intelligence and the precipitous paradigm of risk assessment. While delving into the mechanics, nuts, and bolts of intelligence analysis in any domain, this course will help you gain an insight into the intellectual and emotional challenges involved. The structure of the course is based on the conviction that intelligence analysis is essential to any functional domain of humanity. The course establishes a fine balance between theoretical and illustrative content combined with iconic case studies.  

  • Law and Ethics in International Relations - When we talk about International Relations, we speak of power, interests, and cost-benefit analysis of states and state actors. This course will introduce students to the major theoretical and applied dimensions of normative theories and international ethics by engaging them in critical debates surrounding complex moral questions of the contemporary world. Through a multidisciplinary approach, students will examine multiple ethical dilemmas of the 21st century in the context of debates about drone warfare, terrorism, torture, humanitarian interventions, climate change, etc., to evaluate current international practices through a moral prism.

  • Negotiating and Resolving International Conflicts - The study of international conflicts is highly problematic due to three reasons: the multi-causality of the conflict, the problem of consequences ranging from micro to macro level, and the lack of accurate knowledge about the motivations of the parties in the conflict. This course gives the student an overview of various theories that explain the processes of negotiations, peacebuilding, and conflict transformation. It will enable the student to rethink the efficacy of theories in light of case studies of conflict resolution from around the world, offer practical exercises of peace design, and develop tools to assess government and civil society actions in contexts of internal and inter-state armed conflict.


Documents Required

  1. Academic History - Bachelor’s Degree/ Undergraduate Degree
  2. Valid ID Card -
  • Indian learners: Aadhar Card / Passport / PAN Card / Voter ID Card
  • International learners: Passport / Govt. Issued ID Card

Programme Schedule

The programme is offered in 2 intakes: April and October.


Not ready to commit? These courses may provide you with a preview of the topics, materials and instructors in a related degree program which can help you decide if the topic or university is right for you.

Want to learn more about the programme?


Contact Us

If you have any questions, please contact online@jgu.edu.in.


Documents Required

  1. Academic History - Bachelor’s Degree/ Undergraduate Degree
  2. Valid ID Card -
  • Indian learners: Aadhar Card / Passport / PAN Card / Voter ID Card
  • International learners: Passport / Govt. Issued ID Card

Programme Schedule

The programme is offered in 2 intakes: April and October.


Not ready to commit? These courses may provide you with a preview of the topics, materials and instructors in a related degree program which can help you decide if the topic or university is right for you.

Want to learn more about the programme?


Contact Us

If you have any questions, please contact online@jgu.edu.in.

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Path 1 - MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship 

This 24-month program (460 hours total) consists of three stages, combining research and practical project work with a comprehensive immersion in the fundamentals of innovative business management and strategy.

  1. Fundamentals Courses (6 months): Discover the underpinning principles and approaches that drive the world’s most successful innovative companies and organizations. Alongside the seven core courses, you’ll choose to complete either Group 1 or Group 2 of the elective courses.

  2. Team Project Phase. Guide a team project from initial conception to commercialization. Your project work will be underpinned by 10 courses designed to guide your progress. Putting theory into practice, you’ll explore and collaborate with other professionals and developing decision makers to synthesize a viable start-up idea. You’ll then embark on a 12 month project-based curriculum, using all of your newfound theoretical and practical expertise to develop and be ready to launch a new product, brand or organization.

  3. Thesis. You’ll pursue your individually-researched project, and submit your business plan. Your thesis is the sum of all of your learned knowledge from the program and gives you a chance to prove your capabilities in your chosen field.

Path 2 - Executive MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship 

This 18-month program (433,5 hours total) is designed for established business leaders and management professionals who are ready to turn their experience into a launchpad for an exciting new trajectory. You’ll study 20 separate courses in total, grouped around three distinct program stages.

  1. 10 Fundamental Courses (6 months). These foundational skill-building courses enable participants to acquire the skills needed to scale up a company, boost creativity, manage new product development processes, capitalize on social media for marketing purposes and clearly define business strategy in individual contexts.

  2. Team Project-based Courses (12 months). 10 courses designed to inform and underpin your progress through the team project, as you work together to create a new product, service or brand.

  3. Team Project. While studying the courses above, you’ll simultaneously guide a team project from initial conception to commercialization. Participants will be mentored, both 1:1 and as a team, by a highly experienced entrepreneur/business leader. Pitch your start-up ideas - for real. Use the program to plan your ideal enterprise - then pitch it to ‘Station F’, the world’s largest start-up accelerator.

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Curriculum

The following 7 core courses are mandatory during the Fundamental phase:

Fundamentals Phase Courses
Entrepreneurship StrategyLearn the step-by-step process of an entrepreneurial project, and how to use disruptive creativity to your advantage.
Building Your Leadership SkillsExplore and define your own leadership style, in accordance with your motivations and inspirations.
Business StrategyLearn to analyze your project’s external environment, internal capabilities and resources to discover your competitive advantage.
New Product DevelopmentA comprehensive overview of the product development process, drawn from multiple industries and disciplines.
Design ThinkingLearn systematic approaches to uncovering creative insights and solutions for specific design situations.
Marketing Through Social MediaCombine hands-on technical learning about managing professional social accounts with a deeper understanding of how social media has changed marketing.
Scaling Up OperationsUsing quantitative analysis methodology, including probability theory and optimization, you’ll advance your understanding of start-up evolution and how to scale business operations.

Alongside the seven core courses, you’ll choose to complete either Group 1 or Group 2 of the elective courses:

Group 1 Electives:
Social EntrepreneurshipLearn about sustainable business models through an action-based learning project, exploring the challenges of creating societal value through entrepreneurship.
Organizational DesignStudy the core challenges common to the trajectory of any venture, and learn how to effectively design organizations.
Boosting CreativityExplore creativity as a cognitive function, and discover how to innovate approaches to business challenges.
Group 2 Electives:
Leading OrganizationsBuilding on your existing leadership skill set, you’ll undergo a series of leadership challenges with mentorship and feedback from a diverse range of business leaders.
Giving Sense to Your Leadership ExperienceUsing the Savoir-Relier leadership method, you’ll build your self-awareness and leadership confidence, and develop management skills based on the three ‘G’s - genuine, generous, and generative.
Your Leadership ChallengeOn this mini-project, you’ll choose a personal leadership challenge, and then use the five steps of the relational circuit model to solve it.

The following 10 core courses are mandatory during the Team Project phase:

Project Phase Courses
Team WorkingLearn new ways to sustainably manage and lead people toward a common vision.
Developing a Customer-centric StrategyLearn how to develop and communicate offers that customers will value, using the latest psychological frameworks, marketing ideas and tools.
Strategic Management of InnovationLearn how innovation shapes business strategy and affects competition. Develop a set of tools to help judge the potential impact and value of innovative ideas.
Fundamentals of NegotiationMaster the art of negotiation in a variety of settings, learning how to handle investors, partners, customers and employees.
Managing the Performance of a Growing EnterpriseLearn how to manage and measure the performance of an enterprise, and how to set up planning and accountability systems that’ll help your project stay agile.
Business Model InnovationYou’ll access Odyssey 3.14, an original approach developed to help you invent or reinvent a business model.
Intellectual Property LawIn this course, you’ll get a balanced overview of the acquisition of IP rights, freedom to operate, licensing tools, and the valuation of IP assets.
Entrepreneurial FinanceLearn about the range of available financing mechanisms for innovative and growth companies, and the critical role of venture capital.
How to Create A Business PlanIn this course, you’ll learn how to build and write a business plan, and how to design and present a successful five-minute pitch that will convince any stakeholder.
Private Equity and Venture CapitalExplore fundamental notions around equity and venture capital funds, to help you understand, build and leverage your finance relationships.

Program Objectives:

  • Drive innovation and business development
  • Create products or services in a start-up context or within an existing organization
  • Obtain a degree from one of the leading business schools in the world without having to leave your home or workplace

Learning and Evaluation Methods:

The fully online nature of the program allows participants to acquire new knowledge and skills without having to compromise their personal and professional commitments, while benefitting from direct interactions with HEC Paris Faculty, and personalized support from an HEC Paris Program Manager.

The project-based learning activities combine asynchronous courses, interactive webinars facilitated by HEC Paris professors, and team coaching by business leaders, or program alumni.

The following 10 core courses are mandatory during the Fundamental phase:

Fundamentals Phase Courses
Entrepreneurship StrategyLearn the step-by-step process of an entrepreneurial project, and how to use disruptive creativity to your advantage.
Building Your Leadership SkillsExplore and define your own leadership style, in accordance with your motivations and inspirations.
Boosting CreativityExplore creativity as a cognitive function, and discover how to innovate approaches to business challenges.
New Product DevelopmentA comprehensive overview of the product development process, drawn from multiple industries and disciplines.
Design ThinkingLearn systematic approaches to uncovering creative insights and solutions for specific design situations.
Business StrategyLearn to analyze your project’s external environment, internal capabilities and resources to discover your competitive advantage.
Social Entrepreneurship and Change-MakingLearn about sustainable business models through an action-based learning project, exploring the challenges of creating societal value through entrepreneurship.
Organizational Design and ManagementStudy the core challenges common to the trajectory of any venture, and learn how to effectively design organizations.
Marketing Through Social MediaCombine hands-on technical learning about managing professional social accounts with a deeper understanding of how social media has changed marketing.
Scaling Up OperationsUsing quantitative analysis methodology, including probability theory and optimization, you’ll advance your understanding of start-up evolution and how to scale business operations.

The following 10 core courses are mandatory during the Team Project phase:

Project Phase Courses
Team WorkingLearn new ways to sustainably manage and lead people toward a common vision.
Developing a Customer-centric StrategyLearn how to develop and communicate offers that customers will value, using the latest psychological frameworks, marketing ideas and tools.
Strategic Management of InnovationLearn how innovation shapes business strategy and affects competition. Develop a set of tools to help judge the potential impact and value of innovative ideas.
Fundamentals of NegotiationMaster the art of negotiation in a variety of settings, learning how to handle investors, partners, customers and employees.
Managing the Performance of a Growing EnterpriseLearn how to manage and measure the performance of an enterprise, and how to set up planning and accountability systems that’ll help your project stay agile.
Business Model InnovationYou’ll access Odyssey 3.14, an original approach developed to help you invent or reinvent a business model.
Intellectual Property LawIn this course, you’ll get a balanced overview of the acquisition of IP rights, freedom to operate, licensing tools, and the valuation of IP assets.
Entrepreneurial FinanceLearn about the range of available financing mechanisms for innovative and growth companies, and the critical role of venture capital.
How to Create A Business PlanIn this course, you’ll learn how to build and write a business plan, and how to design and present a successful five-minute pitch that will convince any stakeholder.
Private Equity and Venture CapitalExplore fundamental notions around equity and venture capital funds, to help you understand, build and leverage your finance relationships.

Program Objectives:

  • Use social media to help build value-creating digital marketing strategies
  • Develop a value proposition by identifying customer problems and market opportunities
  • Communicate effectively and negotiate with external and internal stakeholders as part of an innovative or entrepreneurial project
  • Learn to use a methodological framework to design, write and present a business plan
  • Elaborate a development strategy for an innovative or entrepreneurial project
  • Design and implement management systems adapted to the development of an innovative or entrepreneurial project
  • Manage the performance of an innovative project or a growing company
  • Integrate any legal aspects which are an essential part of an innovative or entrepreneurial project
  • Develop a managerial culture and organizational structures, adapted to the contexts and challenges of an innovative or entrepreneurial project
  • Develop your leadership potential to generate meaning and confidence in the service of an innovative project

Learning and Evaluation Methods:

The fully online nature of the program allows participants to acquire new knowledge and skills without having to compromise their personal and professional commitments, while benefitting from direct interactions with HEC Paris faculty, and personalized support from an HEC Paris program manager.

The project-based learning activities combine asynchronous courses, interactive webinars facilitated by HEC Paris professors, and team coaching by experience entrepreneurs.

The learning methods include business cases, action-based learning, project management, models and analysis tools, theoretical and practical presentation, group work, interactive exchanges, tutoring, virtual classes, and distance learning.

The evaluation methods used include application in real-life professional situations, business cases, developing objectives and strategies (Marketing, Business Development, Digital, Financial…), applying concepts in real-life contexts, identifying stakeholders and implementing an adapted strategy (for each stakeholder if necessary) and self-assessment.