# International Relations

**Source**: https://english.spbu.ru/admission/programms/undergraduate/international-relations
**Parent**: https://english.spbu.ru/admission/programms/undergraduate

41.03.05 
*In English and Russian*

Level of education Bachelor

Type of instruction Full-time

Duration 4 years

With the additional qualification ‘Translator/Interpreter’

Programme description

- The bachelor's programme ‘International Relations (with the additional qualification “Translator/Interpreter”)’ is unique in that it is designed to train personnel in the field of international relations who combine the fundamental parameters of a classical university-level education with the fullest possible range of special professional competencies that meet the current conditions of the global labour market
- Students acquire skills in: public speaking; negotiation; official business correspondence; knowledge of international political institutions; trends in the modern world economy; and global and regional cultural, historical and theoretical developments
- Students have the unique opportunity to build individual educational paths that include a range of elective courses
- The bachelor's programme is designed to train personnel in the field of international relations, whose quality of professional training combines the fundamental parameters of a classical university-level liberal arts education with the fullest possible range of special professional competencies that meet the current conditions of the global labour market
- Graduates of the programme will therefore acquire a high level of knowledge in the general scientific humanities and special professional disciplines, given the opportunity to build an individual educational trajectory. They will be capable of: effective professional personal fulfilment in various fields of contemporary international relations; and, if necessary, mastering new educational stages in accordance with the concept of lifelong learning
- Upon completion of the programme, in addition to their main qualification, graduates are awarded the additional qualification ‘Translator/Interpreter’, which enhances their competitiveness in the labour market

Main courses

- World Politics
- Political Systems in Modern World
- History of International Relations
- Fundamentals of International Relations Theory
- International Public and Private Law
- International Negotiation Techniques
- International and National Security
- Fundamentals of Public Service and Foreign Policy Institutes in Russia
- Fundamentals of Diplomacy and International Civil Service
- International Economic Relations
- International Non-Governmental Organisations
- Key Issues in Domestic and Foreign Policies of Modern Russia

Our advantages

- Students study two and more foreign languages
- The modular structure makes it possible for students to build their individual educational path and choose from a large number of elective courses
- There is an opportunity to participate in international internships and exchange programmes implemented jointly with partner universities from different regions of the world
- There is an opportunity to get acquainted with potential employers during internships in international organisations and public authorities
- Students can participate in large international forums as volunteers and staff
- Students immerse in the international multicultural environment as part of the educational process and extracurricular activities held at the University
- Upon completion of the programme, graduates are awarded the additional qualification ‘Translator/Interpreter’
- Students immerse in the international multicultural environment as part of the educational process and extracurricular activities held at the University

Teaching staff

- Irina Novikova, Doctor of History, Professor, Dean of the School of International Relations of St Petersburg University, Member of the Russian Association of the First World War Historians; Recipient of the St Petersburg University Prize for Pedagogical Excellence (2009); Recipient of an honorary certificate of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation in 2009 ‘for many years of dedicated work in developing and improving the educational process and for a significant contribution to the training of highly qualified specialists’; Recipient of the St Petersburg Government Prize for outstanding achievements in higher and secondary vocational education in the category ‘Development of Innovative Activities in Educational Institutions’ (2010); Winner of the national awards ‘Dean of the Year — 2020’ and ‘Professor of the Year — 2020’, presented by the All-Russian public organisation ‘Russian Professorial Assembly’; Recipient of an honorary certificate from the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation for her contribution to strengthening friendly relations between the Russian Federation and the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States (2020). In 2024, she was awarded the Medal of the Order ’For Merit to the Fatherland’, 2nd class, for her outstanding contributions to academic and research endeavours, her dedication to training qualified specialists, and her many years of conscientious service
- Vladimir Fokin, Doctor of History, Professor, Head of the Department of International Humanitarian Cooperation, Honoured Worker of Higher Professional Education of the Russian Federation; awarded the Medal of the Order ’For Merit to the Fatherland’, 2nd class (2009)
- Konstantin Khodoley, Doctor of History, Professor, author of more than 100 publications on the history of European states, international relations in Europe, Russia—EU and Russia—NATO relations, which have been published in 18 countries. He has frequently spoken at major international conferences, including those organised by the International Studies Association (ISA), the Association for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES), and the Central and Eastern European International Studies Association (CEEISA). He is a regular commentator in both Russian and international media. He has been awarded the Order of Friendship, as well as other state and departmental honours
- Stanislav Tkachenko, Candidate of History, Doctor of Economics, Professor in the Department of European Studies; Member of the International Studies Association (USA), the Programme on New Approaches to Russian Security (PONARS), and the European Association of Educational Law. He was awarded an honorary certificate of the Ministry of General and Professional Education of the Russian Federation (1999), the second prize of the contest of young scientists of the St Petersburg University (2001), the Henrik Gabriel Porthan Medal, Finland (2006), an honorary certificate of the Council of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member Nations (2010)

Сareer opportunities

The graduates' future career is closely related to public service and inter-governmental organisations, international non-governmental organisations engaged into humanitarian cooperation and transnational corporations, consulting agencies as well as higher education institutions and mass media. The graduates can work as experts and analysts at leading research and analytical centres, develop international business partnerships. They can continue their studies as master students at Russian and foreign universities.

The main professions: international relations expert, public official at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other federal and local governmental agencies, employee of an international organisation, a chamber of commerce, research worker of a research institute specialising in a broad range of politico-economic issues, analyst of business entities.

##### Professions

- International expert
- Civil servant in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other federal and regional government agencies
- Employee of an international organisation, chamber of commerce
- Research fellow at research institutes working on a wide range of political and economic issues
- Analyst of business entities

##### Organisations where our graduates work

- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
- Ministries of foreign affairs of foreign countries
- The Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation
- The Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
- The Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
- The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS of Russia)
- The Administration of St Petersburg, the Committee for External Relations
- The Legislative Assembly of St Petersburg
- The Government of the Leningrad Region
- The Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member Nations
- St Petersburg International Legal Forum
- American Councils for International Education
- Credit Suisse Bank
- Baltic Financial Agency
- St Petersburg University
- Gazprom
- Bosch Siemens
- Toyota
- Baikal Communication Group
- CEMEA Marketing Communications

Accreditation

The programme is internationally accredited by the Central Evaluation and Accreditation Agency Hannover (ZEvA), [the Certificate dated 12 March 2018](https://spbu.ru/file/26289/download?token=xrQHgEhm)

[This webpage may contain outdated information. The programme descriptions and admission requirements for the 2026/2027 academic year are currently being updated. For the latest information on 2026/2027 admission, please visit the Admissions Office website.](https://abiturient.spbu.ru/en/)

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