What is Foreign Policy: Full Form, Course Duration, Admission 2025, Colleges, Salary & Scope

Foreign Policy is a set of objectives and activities that guides a country in maintaining relationship with other countries or global partners. It includes framing and practicing of administrative, defence and business alliances between countries. Foreign Policy is mainly influenced by domestic considerations. Being an administrative responsibility, Foreign Policy as a career is open for civil servants and experts from the field of Humanities, Economics and Social Sciences. One often comes across articles and essays on international relations written by Foreign Policy experts. These experts are those who have spent a considerable time in studying international relations and its branches such as war and defence, diplomacy, international trade, law, peace missions, social development, history and civil society.

The educational journey of Foreign Policy begins typically at postgraduate level with courses in International Relations. These courses prepare an individual for jobs and career in diplomacy, foreign relations and government embassies.

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Eligibility Criteria for Foreign Policy

• Eligibility criteria for pursuing International Relations and Foreign Policy is graduation, preferably in Humanities stream.
• Students with bachelor's degree in Sociology, Political Science, History, Cultural Anthropology can take up International Relations or Foreign Policy at postgraduate level.
• Some Foreign Policy courses are also available at undergraduate level.

Foreign Policy Courses

In India, one can pursue Foreign Policy at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The field falls in Arts and Humanities stream. Some of the popular Foreign Policy Courses are listed below:

• BA International Relations
• BA Diplomacy and Foreign Policy
• BSc International Relations
• MA International Relations
• MA Diplomacy and Foreign Policy
• MSc International Relations Diploma
• Diploma in International Affairs and Diplomacy
• PhD in International Relations
• PhD in Foreign Policy

Foreign Policy Syllabus

Foreign Policy and International Relations are mainly the study of State, Sovereignty, Power/Hegemony, National interest, Security, Anarchy, Civil Society, Citizenship, Identity, Gender, Globalisation, Poststructuralism and Green Politics. International Relations syllabus for a career in Foreign Policy includes the following subjects and topics:

Foreign Policy Syllabus
Nature of International Relations	State Jurisdiction and Responsibility
Traditional Theories in International Relations	International Human Rights Law
Emerging Theories in International Relations	Law of the Sea
Contemporary International Relations	Watercourse Law
Indian Foreign Policy	The Nature of Political Thought, Theory and Philosophy
Defence Policy of India	General Theories of International Political Economy
International Organizations and Global Governance	Theories of International Trade
International Financial Institutions	International Economic Regimes and Institutions
Non States Actors in Global Governance	Trade and Developing Nations
Neo Marxist/Critical Theories in International Relations	Anticolonialism
Globalisation and International Relations Theory	Theorizing Geo-Politics
Comparative Politics: Concepts and Approaches	Decolonization, Cold War
Development of Modern State	Alliances and Containment
Liberal Democratic and Totalitarian States Democracy	Post-Cold War
Federalism and Democratic Decentralization	Religion and Geo-Politics
Colonialism, Nationalism and Movements	General and Comprehensive Disarmament
Post-Colonial States and State-building	Nuclear Disarmament
Indian Economic Policy	Political Sociology of India
Diplomacy: Aspects of Indian Diplomacy	Contemporary Issues in Indian Politics
India and International Institutions	Peace and Security
Liberalization and Globalisation of Indian Economy	Non-Proliferation
India’s Foreign Trade Policy	Relations with Neighbourhood
‘Soft Power’ and Foreign Policy	Conflict Resolution
Sources and Functions of International Law	Peace Operation and Peace Building
Relationship between Municipal and International Law	Political System in India
Law of Treaties	Political Economy of India
International Trade Law	National Liberation Movements
International Environmental Law	Decolonisation and Partition
State Jurisdiction and Responsibility	Postcolonial Setting

Top Universities Offering Foreign Policy Courses in India

In most of the universities, the foreign policy course is offered at postgraduate level. The top universities in India to pursue foreign policy courses are:

• Jawaharlal Nehru University
• Jadavpur University
• Delhi University
• Christ University
• OP Jindal Global University
• Mansarovar Global University
• Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University

Among foreign universities, the leading names are Stanford University, Yale University, Columbia University, Harvard University and London School of Economics.  

Foreign Policy Career Prospects and Job Roles

A foreign policy course can lead to jobs in international organisations (UN, EU, UNDP, WHO, WEF, WWF, etc.), non-government organisations, banking and accounting services, state and central government, print and electronic media. However, Foreign Policy is a challenging field. Unlike other career fields, one has to toil hard to reach at a higher level. The most popular pathway in India to make a career in Foreign Policy is by joining Indian Foreign Services (IFS) through Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Let’s take a look at some of the foreign policy career options:

• Diplomat: One needs to clear the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam with high ranks to be appointed in the Indian Foreign Services (IFS). This is a high-level post, which requires the individual to stay connected with other countries, maintain diplomatic ties and manage international relations.
• Intelligence Specialist: As an Intelligence Specialist, the individual works with government and defence agencies of the country collecting data and maintains intelligence databases, files and statistical reports required for missions.
• Political Analyst: A political analyst has the responsibility of researching, analysing and advising political leaders/governments on public/foreign policies. Political Analysts are hired by governments, political parties and media houses.
• Lobbyist: As a lobbyist, the individual is supposed to represent and mediate on behalf of an organisation or institution in front of the government of other countries to strike business, defence or diplomatic deals.
• International lawyer: If one has a degree/diploma or certification in International Law and Relations, they can become an international lawyer. The clientele will include international organisations, international banks and countries.
• IR Communication Specialist: You can work as a communication specialist in international and domestic non-profit organisations.
• Professor/Lecturer: Those who are inclined toward teaching can appear for National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) for junior research fellowship (JRF) and lectureship conducted by University Grants Commission (UGC) for research and scholarships which will pave way to teaching roles in colleges and universities.

Following are the most popular Foreign Policy Colleges in India. Learn more about these Foreign Policy colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.

Following are the most popular Foreign Policy UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

Following are the top exams for Foreign Policy. Students interested in pursuing a career on Foreign Policy, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.