yale university phd international relations

GLOBAL CITIZENS

World changers & future makers.

The mission of the Jackson School of Global Affairs is to promote education and scholarship on global affairs at Yale.

Graduate Degrees at Jackson

Dreamers, doers, thinkers and activists

Meet the Faculty

Jackson faculty include outstanding scholars and senior practitioners

Meet the Alumni

Meet the Grad Students

Explore New Haven

97 walk score, 97 bike score.

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yalejacksonschool

Happy holidays from the Jackson School! ❄️ Please note that most @Yale offices and departments, including @yalejacksonschool, will be closed from Dec. 24, 2024 through Jan. 1, 2025. ...

Every fall, @Yale global affairs majors in their senior year complete a capstone project, gaining hands-on public policy experience by working for clients across the U.S. and abroad. Throughout the semester, students work with the client to formulate the project, meet once a week with their faculty instructor, and take an immersive trip to the location of their client. The projects cover a wide range of global issues — from public health to immigration to technology — and bring students to countries in Europe, South America, the Middle East and more. ...

Jackson School grad students took a well-deserved break from finals this week to have lunch, decorate cookies, and celebrate the holidays! ...

Thanks to @yalejacksonschool lecturer and @ourradiantearth exec director Jed Sundwall for leading a thought-provoking discussion yesterday on the concept of “Internet Power.” He was joined by Lynn Overmann, executive director at the Beeck Center at Georgetown University and former senior advisor for delivery within the US Digital Service, and Macon Phillips, founder of Starling Strategies and former director of digital strategy for the White House. The talk was co-sponsored by the Blue Center for Global Strategic Assessment, the Deitz Family Initiative on Environment and Global Affairs, and the Yale Environmental Data Science Initiative. Read more (link in bio) ...

Yale College seniors Angelin Mathew and Chriss Tuyishime—who are both part of the Global Health Studies program at @yalejacksonschool—have received 2025 Rhodes scholarships. GHS faculty leaders Catherine Panter-Brick and Cara Fallon shared their congratulations: “We are so proud of our Global Health Scholars, Angelin and Chriss. They have flourished during their time in the Global Health Studies Program, deepening their interdisciplinary knowledge and remaining committed to applying innovative research to health practice and policy. They will contribute so much to their future communities at Oxford University, with Angelin in religious studies and medical anthropology and Chriss in translational health sciences and public policy. Many congratulations from the Global Health Studies program at Jackson!” Read more (link in bio and story) ...

Didace is a second-year M.P.P. student from Rwanda. Before coming to Yale, Didace worked as a trainee in the United Nations system, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Permanent Mission of Rwanda to the United Nations. 🇷🇼 Learn more about Didace’s experience at @yalejacksonschool ➡️ ...

“We’re headed into four years where the democratic world will be surrounded by a ring of fire, led by countries who are unsatisfied with the current world order,” said Victoria Nuland, former undersecretary of state for political affairs and U.S. ambassador to NATO in an Oct. 30 discussion at @yalejacksonschool “The way we manage that — whether we can enlarge the democratic community or whether autocrats grow or strengthen — is really what’s at stake.” Read more about the event (link in bio) ...

Santiago Falasca is a second-year M.P.P. student focused on logistics, energy and sustainable development. Santiago’s passion for public service and strategic development is evident in his previous role as advisor to the Minister of Production of Buenos Aires. 🇦🇷 Learn more about Santiago`s experience at @yalejacksonschool ➡️ ...

Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs

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Yale University

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Graduate & professional study.

Yale offers advanced degrees through its Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and 13 professional schools. Browse the organizations below for information on programs of study, academic requirements, and faculty research.

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences

Yale’s Graduate School of Arts & Sciences offers programs leading to M.A., M.S., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees in 73 departments and programs.

School of Architecture

The Yale School of Architecture’s mandate is for each student to understand architecture as a creative, productive, innovative, and responsible practice.

School of Art

The Yale School of Art has a long and distinguished history of training artists of the highest caliber.

Divinity School

Yale Divinity School educates the scholars, ministers, and spiritual leaders of the future.

David Geffen School of Drama

The David Geffen School of Drama graduates have raised the standards of professional practice around the world in every theatrical discipline, creating bold art that engages the mind and delights the senses.

School of Engineering & Applied Science

The Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science is at the cutting edge of research to develop technologies that address global societal problems.

School of the Environment

The School of the Environment is dedicated to sustaining and restoring the long-term health of the biosphere and the well-being of its people.

Jackson School of Global Affairs

The Jackson School of Global Affairs trains and equips a new generation of leaders to devise thoughtful, evidence-based solutions for challenging global problems.

Yale Law School hones the world’s finest legal minds in an environment that features world-renowned faculty, small classes, and countless opportunities for clinical training and public service.

School of Management

School of Management students, faculty, and alumni are committed to understanding the complex forces transforming global markets and building organizations that contribute lasting value to society.

School of Medicine

Yale School of Medicine graduates go on to become leaders in academic medicine and health care, and innovators in clinical practice, biotechnology, and public policy.

School of Music

The Yale School of Music is an international leader in educating the creative musicians and cultural leaders of tomorrow.

School of Nursing

The Yale School of Nursing community is deeply committed to the idea that access to high quality patient‐centered health care is a social right, not a privilege.

School of Public Health

The School of Public Health supports research and innovative programs that protect and improve the health of people around the globe.

Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS)

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences is composed of the departments and academic programs that provide instruction in Yale College and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Centers & Institutes

A number of our centers and institutes offer additional opportunities for graduate and professional study.

Department of Political Science

International Relations Subfield Requirements

Students may qualify in International Relations either by exam or coursework.   To qualify in IR by exam, students must take the graduate seminars in “International Security” (#) and “International Political Economy” (#) prior to taking the exam. Other courses are highly recommended.   To qualify in IR by coursework, students must take the graduate seminars in “International Security” (#) and “International Political Economy” (#), plus a third course from the listing of Departmental Graduate Courses in IR. Students may take one of those credits via transfer from another institution as approved by the DGS in consultation with the IR field coordinator. (Please note that Grand Strategy, courses in the Global Affairs Master’s program, and other non-departmental graduate courses are not acceptable substitutes.) Additionally, students must write an IR-themed seminar paper in the context of one of these courses. The paper must be judged satisfactory for IR certification both by the course instructor and the IR field coordinator (i.e. not all satisfactory seminar papers will automatically meet the certification standard).  

• PhD/Master's Application Process

Who is Eligible to Apply? 

If you have completed your undergraduate degree (bachelor's or equivalent) or will have completed it prior to your intended matriculation date at Yale, you may apply to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS).

A Master's degree is not required to apply for a PhD at Yale, although some programs give preference to applicants with post-baccalaureate training. Consult your program of interest directly for information on how it evaluates applications.

We value diversity of all kinds at the Graduate School, and we encourage students from all backgrounds to apply if Yale is a good fit for your intellectual and professional goals. All are welcome to apply, without regard to citizenship or immigration status, socioeconomic level, race, religion, gender identification, sexual orientation, disability, etc.

Requirements for All PhD and Master's Degree Applicants

You will need to provide the following with your application for admission:

• A statement of academic purpose. You will find the prompt for the statement of purpose in our Application Question FAQs . 
• A list of all the prior colleges or universities you have attended, accompanied by unofficial transcripts from each school. Unofficial transcripts should be uploaded with your application. Official or paper transcripts are not needed at this time. 
• Three letters of recommendation. Enter the names of your recommenders directly in the application and they will receive a link to upload a letter on your behalf. 
• $105 application fee or fee waiver. 
• Standardized tests . GRE requirements vary by program. TOEFL or IELTS are necessary for most non-native English speakers. 
• Resume/CV . 
• Some programs have additional requirements, such as a writing sample . You can find information about any specific requirements on the program's website. 

Where Do I Begin?

Decide whether you will apply for a PhD or a terminal Master’s (MA, MS) in one of the programs available at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences . (Note that you will earn one or more Master's degrees en route to a PhD.) Learn about the program: its faculty, course offerings, and resources. Read the faculty's research publications. If you can identify and articulate why the program is a good fit for you and show how your preparation and interests align well with it, you will have a strong application.

A note to students applying to one of Yale’s professional schools or programs:

• If you are applying for a PhD in Architecture, Environment, Investigative Medicine, Law, Management, Music, Nursing, or Public Health; for an MS in Public Health; or for an MA in Music, be sure to use the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences PhD/Master's application.
• If you are applying for any other degree at one of the University’s professional schools (Art, Architecture, Divinity, Drama, Environment, Global Affairs, Law, Management, Medicine, Music, Nursing, and Public Health), visit that school’s website for further instructions. Those programs have separate admissions policies and processes that are administered by the professional schools, not GSAS.

Application deadlines vary by program, so please see Dates & Deadlines for information about your program of interest. 

All new students matriculate in the fall. The admissions process begins nearly a year in advance of matriculation.

Some PhD and Master’s degree programs require Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Check your program's standardized testing requirement before you apply. 

In addition, applicants whose native language is not English may need to take an English Language test (TOEFL or IELTS).

The application for Fall 2025 entry is now available. 

Be sure to complete and submit the application before your program's application deadline. 

Your application fee or an approved fee waiver is due upon submission of your application. 

Your letters of recommendation do not need to be received before you will be able to submit your application. However, since programs begin reviewing applications shortly after the respective application deadline, please be sure that your letters of recommendation are submitted promptly.

What Happens After I Submit My Application?

The faculty admissions committee in each department and program begins reviewing applications shortly after their application deadline. Led by the director of graduate studies (DGS) or director of graduate admissions (DGA), the committee will recommend students for admission to the Graduate School. Once confirmed by the deans of the Graduate School, the admissions office will release final decisions to applicants.

Unlike undergraduate admissions, the admissions office and staff of the Graduate School maintain the application, the application process, and other administrative transactions, but the admissions staff does not review applications or make admissions decisions. That responsibility is handled by the faculty of each department or program.

Most admissions decisions are provided between February and early March. You will receive an email notification when your admissions decision is available.

If you are accepted for admission, you will need to decide if you wish to accept our offer by April 15. We abide by Council of Graduate School's April 15 Resolution , regarding graduate financial support. 

Ready to apply? Begin your application today.

PhD/Master's Applicants

• Why Choose Yale Graduate School?
• Dates and Deadlines
• Standardized Testing Requirements

Non-Degree Program Applicants

Looking for non-degree programs? In some cases, it is possible to enroll at the Graduate School as a non-degree student. Non-degree students receive a transcript and many of the benefits of being a Yale student, but do not earn a degree upon completion of their enrollment. We offer three types of non-degree programs.

• Non-Degree Programs