MSt in Diplomatic Studies

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

University of Oxford

Program Overview

The MSt in Diplomatic Studies gives students a rare chance to immerse themselves in the real practice of diplomacy while studying at one of the most respected centres for international relations. Throughout the year, students work closely with senior practitioners, ambassadors, and policy experts. They engage with live diplomatic challenges, participate in simulation exercises, and use Oxford’s specialised libraries, archives, and research institutes to sharpen their analytical and negotiation skills. The Department for Continuing Education also builds learning around interactive seminars, policy workshops, and practitioner-led case studies — ensuring you develop the confidence and capability needed in a real diplomatic environment.

Students benefit from world-class facilities such as the Bodleian Libraries, the Department for Continuing Education’s Rewley House classrooms, Oxford’s Social Sciences libraries, and the resources of the Oxford Digital Collections for archival research. They also participate in supervised research training and individual mentoring by experienced diplomats.

From this foundation, your learning becomes deeply practical, as the programme intentionally incorporates hands-on components such as group simulations, policy drafting, and real-world scenario analysis:

Experiential components include:

Diplomatic Negotiation Simulations led by serving or former diplomats, where students practice multilateral negotiation, crisis management, and treaty-drafting exercises.
Practitioner-Led Workshops, regularly delivered by ambassadors, foreign service officers, and international policy specialists associated with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Policy Paper Development, where each student produces applied diplomatic analysis under the guidance of experienced supervisors.
Access to the Bodleian Libraries’ international relations and diplomatic archives, including collections on global governance, security, and foreign policy decision-making.
Use of Oxford’s Social Sciences Libraries, offering extensive digital databases such as JSTOR, ProQuest, and international policy repositories essential for research.
Seminars with Visiting Experts, organised through the Department for Continuing Education, giving exposure to current diplomatic debates and foreign policy issues.
Group Case-Study Work, analysing real diplomatic incidents and collaborating to propose negotiated solutions.
Research Skills Training, including archival research, methodological training, and one-to-one academic mentorship.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The MSt in Diplomatic Studies is designed not just as an academic programme, but as a deeply immersive, hands-on experience in diplomacy and international affairs. From simulations of real diplomatic negotiations to guided research using world-class archival collections, students acquire practical skills, gain exposure to professional environments, and benefit from a full suite of Oxford’s facilities.

As a student on this MSc you’ll have access to top-tier libraries, digital research tools, dedicated computing resources, and opportunities to engage directly with practitioners — giving you both theoretical depth and real-world readiness.

And here’s how that translates into concrete learning experiences:

Simulations & Practical Workshops: The “Diplomatic Practice” course includes simulations, workshops, crisis-management exercises, media-interview training, public-speaking drills, and negotiation practice — replicating real diplomatic situations.
Study Visits & Field Trips: The programme normally includes study-visits to government departments, international organisations, business and media institutions in the UK (and elsewhere in Europe), and sometimes special study tours to places such as Ireland or Scotland — offering a direct view of diplomacy in action.
Small-Group Tutorials & Seminars: Alongside lectures, you’ll participate in small-group tutorials and seminars — fostering interactive learning, debate, and close engagement with faculty and peers.
Individual Research & Dissertation: You will complete a substantial individual research project (up to 15,000 words) on a topic of your choice related to diplomacy or international affairs. This gives you a chance to dive deep into an area you care about and contribute original analysis.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the MSt in Diplomatic Studies have gone on to influential roles in diplomacy, government, international organisations, and global institutions. Many enter foreign ministries, international organisations, or policy-driven roles — making the degree a powerful springboard into serious diplomacy or international affairs work.

Typical roles alumni have taken include:

Diplomat / Foreign-Service Officer in national governments, foreign ministries, embassies or consulates
Policy analyst or advisor at international organisations or multilateral institutions
Intelligence, political research, or strategic-analysis roles for government or think-tanks
Roles in global NGOs, international business, media or trade-related institutions, where diplomacy and international law matter

This track becomes viable thanks to several strong supports and the long-standing reputation of the programme:

Oxford University Careers Service & College Support: As a member of Oxford, you get access to the university’s career and alumni networks, guidance on placement in diplomatic or international-affairs roles, and opportunities to connect with alumni working around the world.
Rich Alumni Network & Global Reach: The programme’s alumni include senior diplomats, ambassadors, heads of government, and high-ranking figures — giving you strong networking and mentorship possibilities.
Strong Credential and International Recognition: The MSt in Diplomatic Studies has run for decades, and is widely recognised — making it easier for employers worldwide (governments, international organisations, NGOs) to trust the credential.
Diverse Career Paths Beyond Diplomacy: While many go into diplomacy, others enter politics, finance, international business, intelligence analysis or global advocacy — helping open doors even if you don’t follow a traditional foreign-service path.