International Studies

What can you learn in this program?

• International Institutions and Organizations
• Theory of International Relations
• Theory and practice of diplomacy
• International etiquette and diplomatic protocol
• Techniques of international communication
• History and Modern Global Political Processes
• European Union Institutions and Policies, Current Issues
• Fundamentals of Law and International Law
• Social and Economic Issues
• Regional Studies
• Foreign and Security Policy
• Geopolitics
• Development of Professional Language Skills

What kind of work can you do with this degree, and where?

• Public Administration and Diplomacy (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassies, consulates, government support agencies, think tanks, foreign policy and security policy analysis)
• International organizations (UN, EU institutions, NATO, regional organizations—project coordinator, expert, and administrative positions)
• Private sector and multinational corporations: International relations and communications, CSR, sustainability and geopolitical analysis, export–import, foreign trade, and corporate international affairs.
• Civil society and nonprofit sector (human rights, environmental, and development policy NGOs; grant and project management; advocacy; research)
• Media and Research (Journalism covering international topics, think tanks, research institutes, positions as political and social analysts)
• Education and Career Paths (Higher education or research careers)

Overview of the Program

Our Kodolányi program is one of the oldest professional training programs in Hungarian higher education—it celebrated the 25th anniversary of the program’s launch in 2026— so for more than twenty years now, our successful graduates have been leaving the classroom to put their acquired international competencies to use in outstanding professional roles. Our program is practice-oriented; from the very first moment, our students can test their skills in real-world settings alongside their theoretical studies. The program offers flexible learning paths; through our curriculum, which caters to students’ individual needs and interests, students can equip themselves with multidisciplinary competencies over the course of their three years of study.

In addition to acquiring practical knowledge, methods, and techniques, students can familiarize themselves with the operations and events of domestic and international institutions and academic workshops through small-group sessions and simulation exercises. Through our international professional events, we bring key figures from Hungarian and international diplomatic circles to campus, and our students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience at our strategic partner organizations.

At our university, students can build professional networks and gain practical knowledge even while they are still studying. In line with the needs of the job market, our students not only study but also gain experience through various project assignments and professional internships.

Through our extensive international partnerships, we offer unique opportunities for studying and internships abroad under the ERASMUS+ program.

Internship

In the Bachelor’s program in International Studies, a four-week internship is a requirement for graduation, which students complete during the summer following their fourth semester. Students complete their internships at sites where they can apply the knowledge and international competencies they have acquired in theory to real-world situations. (e.g., state and government agencies, nonprofit organizations, local governments, organizations carrying out tasks arising from our membership in the European Union, civil society organizations, small and medium-sized enterprises, and multinational corporations). Kodolányi János University enters into a cooperation agreement with the internship sites, which specifies the duration of the internship, the types of job roles, the students’ responsibilities, and the details of the professional work to be performed, and identifies the individuals designated by the internship site who will assist, supervise, and evaluate the students’ work during the internship.

Name
of the professional qualification listed on the diploma: International Relations Specialist

Opportunities for further study at KJE after
earning a bachelor’s degree: Master’s program: The Master’s program in International Studies at Kodolányi János University.
Our specialized continuing education programs, which provide up-to-date knowledge.

Interesting Facts About the International Studies Program

• We have awarded 1,357 degrees over the past 25 years,
• 38% of our graduates begin their careers abroad,
• the program is taught by experts with nationally and internationally recognized theoretical and practical knowledge in the Departments of International Studies and History,
• As part of our talent development program, students are prepared for TDK research projects, and as a result, many of our students have achieved great success at the OTDK,
• At the program’s seminar, jointly organized by the Department of International Studies and the Department of History, we address current academic issues with the involvement of experts,
• As part of our “International Salon” lecture series, our university has hosted, among others, His Excellency Robert Hage, Ambassador of Canada; Teruyoshi Inagawa, Ambassador of Japan; Dmitry Tkach, Ambassador of Ukraine; Rashid Turarovich Ibrajev, Ambassador of Kazakhstan; and Dr. Martin Greene, Ambassador of Ireland. Our International Salon also welcomed Lieutenant Colonel László Oláh, NATO Liaison Officer in Sarajevo, and Dr. Zsolt Rábai, Head of NATO Public Diplomacy in Hungary. Additionally, Selda Çimen, High Commissioner of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Wen-Lung Tao, Head of the Taipei (Taiwan) Representative Office, spoke about their careers as diplomats.
• During regularly organized field trips, our students visit locations such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Hungarian Consulate in Subotica, the Hungarian Embassy in Austria, the Guard Palace, the United Nations Headquarters, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the European Parliament, etc.
• In national competitions open to students majoring in International Studies, our students have achieved outstanding results, advancing to the national finals almost without exception.