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Next enrolment: May 2025

Online Master's Degree in Lifelong Learning in International Affairs and Diplomacy (UOC, UNITAR)

Presentation

The Master's Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy allows students such as junior diplomats to complement and enhance their knowledge and skills in international affairs and diplomacy. This master's degree will provide students - who may be diplomats, government officials or other main actors in the diplomatic sphere - with the possibility to upgrade their studies and training with a formally recognized degree, combining the best of university education and UN executive training.

Programme offered jointly by UOC and UNITAR

Payment in instalments

You can split your payment into instalments

The Universitat Oberta de Catalunya is delighted to offer the Master's Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). We offer an online academic programme to diplomats and government officials involved in international affairs, and to anyone who is involved in international relations and seeks a future career in this field. With over 30 years of experience as an online university, the UOC has achieved a strong reputation for the quality of its teaching using information and communication technologies. The graduates of our university's programmes, who total over 100,000, have come from 87 countries, and this has been a key contributor to the global scope and value of our academic work. The curriculum outlined in these pages aims to provide students with a general introduction to international affairs and specific geopolitical issues, and to develop and strengthen the diplomacy skills required to effectively and efficiently support governments, universal and regional organizations, non-governmental actors and the private sector. This aim of this master's degree is to develop the next generation of leaders within international public service, business and non-governmental organizations. Upon successful completion of the UOC-UNITAR master's programme, you will be able to tackle issues related to foreign engagement across a variety of geographical locations through multiple academic disciplines in order to advance your professional career. We sincerely hope you enjoy learning with us and that your academic expectations are met.

The Master's Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy, is a UOC lifelong learning master's degree awarded according to the rules and regulations of the Spanish education system. Given its specificity, does not give general access to doctoral studies or to high-rank positions in public administration. Validation of credits for access to such programmes can be requested from competent institutions.

VIDEO OF TESTIMONIALS AND GRADUATED STUDENTS

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Start

15 Oct 2025
100%

Online
60

Credits ECTS

Languages: English
UOC-certified qualification
Duration:

Enrol Request information

Fully online method

World's first ever online university

Personalized guidance and support

Among the top universities

According to the World University Rankings 2024, the UOC is in the top 7% of the world's leading universities.

Among the top universities

Together with:

The university that won the race against time

The virtual classroom

Master's Degree in Lifelong Learning in International Affairs and Diplomacy (UOC, UNITAR)

Academic programme

Academic programme
Duration
Academic pathway

At the UOC, an ECTS credit is equivalent to 25 hours of student work. Depending on the number of ECTS credits, the duration of lifelong learning programs ranges from 1 month to 2 years, approximately:

Lifelong learning master's degree: 2 years
Specialization diploma: 1 year
Expert diploma: 1 semester (6 months)
Postgraduate course: between 1 and 6 months

Master's Degree in Lifelong Learning in International Affairs and Diplomacy (UOC, UNITAR)

Academic team

Dean of faculty
Programme director
Faculty
Collaborators

Dean of faculty

Ignasi Beltran de Heredia Ruiz

CV

Programme director

Mariona Cardona Vallés

Doctorate in Public International Law from Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Master in International and European Law, specializing in International Trade and Investment Law from the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and Bachelor of Law (UPF). She has previously been director of the field of training and of the Master's in International Cooperation for Development and Humanitarian Action at the UOC until 2023. Her research focuses on the intersection between international human rights law, environmental law, and the international economic law.

Faculty

Guillem Farres Fernandez

CV
Miguel Ángel Elizalde Carranza

Collaborators

Andrew Russell
Elizabeth Colton
Francesc Serra Massansalvador
Ivan González Pujol
Jack Richard Williams
Lucía Morales Aparicio
Marc Finaud
May Tony Akl

Master's Degree in Lifelong Learning in International Affairs and Diplomacy (UOC, UNITAR)

Career opportunities

Objectives
Profiles
Competencies
Who is it addressed to?
Career opportunities

To develop a critical understanding of key issues and concepts in world politics.
To demonstrate a comprehensive, substantive and practical knowledge of international relations and diplomacy.
To develop analytical skills and critical thinking.
To perform both efficiently and effectively in bilateral and multilateral working environments with increased confidence.

Employability

The employability of UOC students is key to the university's success. We identify and include in our programmes of study key competencies that are in demand in the job market. And our career guidance services empower you to make decisions and take action for your future occupation.

The Master's in International Affairs and Diplomacy is aimed at junior diplomats who seek to gain knowledge in their fields, as well as governmental and non-governmental organisations. Additionally, the Master's Degree is open to graduate students, young researchers and other academics interested in understanding diplomacy and international relations, acquiring skills to excel in their careers.

Capacity to engage critically with the literature in the field of international relations and the ways in which this literature interprets the empirical world of global politics.
Understanding of main governance structure, history and development of the world from a variety of theoretical, regional and multidisciplinary perspectives.
Capacity to argue and establish, based on data and theory, plausible explanations about international phenomena and establish ways to validate or refute them.
Developing knowledge in the field of international relations through international reviews and experts didactical materials.
Ability to analyze arguments and evidence in the international arena.

Public international organizations
International development (public institutions and corporations)
International communications media
Intelligence & security
Higher education

National bodies (such as governmental ministries and departments, civil services, think tanks and policy advisory groups)
Embassies and consulates
International organizations (such as the UN, UN agencies, EU departments)
Campaign groups, aid agencies and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Companies which operate on international level.
Journalists and other media roles.
Banking, financial services and corporate consultancy.
University teachers

More than 30 years' experience in e-learning

In 1995 the UOC was launched as the world's first fully online university. More than 30 years later, we are still pioneers in digital education.

Our eLearning Innovation Center oversees the evolution of our educational model, to ensure unique, high-quality, connected and networked learning experiences.

Ranking
Times Higher Education

According to the Young University Rankings, published by Times Higher Education, we are sixth best in Spain.

Times Higher Education
Ranking
Shanghai Ranking

We are among the world's top 150 universities for communication and the top 200 for education.

Shanghai Ranking
Ranking
U-Multirank

Excellent ratings in knowledge transfer, regional engagement, and teaching and learning.

U-Multirank

Master's Degree in Lifelong Learning in International Affairs and Diplomacy (UOC, UNITAR)

Access requirements

Access qualification
Professional experience
Prior Knowledge
Degree

You need to have an official university qualification to be able to study on the programme. If you don't have one, you can access the programme if you can provide proof of your professional experience.

Consult the information and documentation you must provide, depending on where you completed your prior studies:

Supporting documents

You need to submit documents proving you have a prior university qualification or professional experience within 10 days of completing your enrolment. Find out what documents are needed in each case, and how and where you need to submit them.

In the case of not having a prior university degree, you can access if you meet the following professional requirements:

Two years’ work experience and/or professional experience in the following fields:

- Legal Practice and Representation

- Humanitarian Action

- Political Science

- Cities and Urbanism

- International Cooperation

- International Conflict

- Criminology

- Diplomacy

- Law

- Human Rights and Democracy

- Taxation

- Public Administration and Management

- Mediation

- International Relations

If the experience is not in one the fields established but is in another field, it will be assessed in each case.

The course material will be in English and the language used in class will also be English. Therefore, a command of English is required to follow this programme.

Depending on the lifelong learning programme in question, students who complete their studies will be awarded a lifelong learning master's degree, a specialization diploma or an expert diploma.

Students who pass other continuing education courses will be awarded the corresponding certificate.

Master's Degree in Lifelong Learning in International Affairs and Diplomacy (UOC, UNITAR)

Enrolment and fees

Enrolment process and price
Payment options
Discounts

Enrolment process

Information and enrolment at UNITAR website

How do you enrol?

There are two moments a year for enrolment in lifelong learning programmes, depending on when the program in question begins to teach. Check the registration period and the beginning of the course on the page of the studies you want to study.

Enrolment from May onwards

for programmes starting in September or October

Enrolment from November onwards

for programmes starting in February or March

The fees for this programme will be those applicable when enrolment is completed. Subject to annual revisions.

Consult the section Payment options. When enrolling, you will be able to choose the payment option that best meets your needs.
Concept	Price
Price	7,410 €

Financial support

Payment in instalments
Grants, aid and discounts
Special conditions for companies
Support for elite athletes

104.500 graduates

90 % of students study and work at the same time

84 % would choose the UOC again

For new students, the first installment will be 10% of the amount.

Lifelong learning master's degree: The first installment will be paid with POS, at the time of enrollment, and the rest in a maximum of 20 monthly installments starting from the month of beginning of teaching, by direct debit.

In case of enrolling a master's degree with an amount higher than 5,000 euros, the first installment will be paid by direct debit.

Specialization diploma: The first installment will be paid with POS, at the time of enrollment, and the rest in a maximum of 9 monthly installments starting from the month of beginning of teaching, by direct debit.

Expert diploma and postgraduate course: for amounts over 350 euros the first installment will be paid with POS, at the time of enrollment, and the rest in a maximum of 4 instalments by direct debit.

Payment in instalments carries a cost of 31 euros per procedure.

For new students, the first installment will be 10% of the amount.

Lifelong learning master's degree : The payment option for payment in instalments of the enrolment fee is direct debit (if you have a SEPA account) or card direct debit (if you do not have a SEPA account).
The first installment will be paid at the time of enrollment, and the rest in a maximum of 20 monthly installments starting from the month of beginning of teaching.

Specialization diploma: The payment option for payment in instalments of the enrolment fee is direct debit (if you have a SEPA account) or card direct debit (if you do not have a SEPA account).
The first installment will be paid at the time of enrollment, and the rest in a maximum of 9 monthly installments starting from the month of beginning of teaching.

Expert diploma and postgraduate course: for amounts over 350 euros the first installment of the payment must be made by POS terminal at the time of enrollment, and the rest in a maximum of 4 installments by direct debit (if you have a SEPA account) or card direct debit (if you do not have a SEPA account).

Check here if your bank has a SEPA account.

Payment in instalments carries a cost of 31 euros per procedure.

Payment of the enrolment fee is made once only by card direct debit or bank transfer.

If you choose card direct debit, you will have to give the details of the card to be charged during the enrolment process. Remember that the cards we accept are VISA, Visa Electron and MasterCard (you cannot pay with American Express or Diner's Club).

The charge for the course enrolment fee will be made the following month. If you choose to pay for your course by card, remember that the terms and conditions to which you have agreed with your bank will apply. It is important that the card limit is higher than the cost of enrolment to prevent bills from being rejected.

If you have a SEPA bank account, payment can be made by direct debit. To choose this payment option, you will have to enter your bank details on the enrolment form. The charge for the course enrolment fee will be made the following month.

If you choose to pay by bank transfer, a scanned copy of the counterfoil must be sent via the Campus section: Secretary's Office / Enrolment / Payment options. The deadline for payment is ten days after the formalization date and always before the start of teaching.

You can arrange the transfer with the details shown on the enrolment sheet.

Banco Santander Central Hispano
Passeig de Gràcia, 5. 08007 Barcelona. Spain
Account number: 0049-1806-91-2111869374
Swift Code: BSCH ES MM
IBAN: ES15-0049-1806-9121-1186-9374

Companies may only make payments by bank transfer. They cannot make payment in instalments.

During the enrolment process, you can choose the form of payment for the company in the drop-down menu.

A scanned copy of the proof of payment must be sent via the Campus section: Secretary's Office / Enrolment / Payment options.

The details you will need to make the transfer are as follows:

Banco Santander Central Hispano
Passeig de Gràcia, 5. 08007 Barcelona. Spain
Account number: 0049-1806-91-2111869374
Swift Code: BSCH ES MM
IBAN: ES15-0049-1806-9121-1186-9374

Important: if the company pays a percentage and the student the remaining percentage, the company's part must be paid by bank transfer, and the student's part using the available preferred payment option (transfer, direct debit or card direct debit).

Discounts

The UOC offers a series of discounts. If you are entitled to any of these discounts, you should select them in the dropdown menu in the Discounts section at the time of enrolling. If you are entitled to more than one, you will have to choose the one that benefits you most.

If you are eligible for any of these discounts at the time of enrolling, you will have to accredit your eligibility by submitting the relevant documentation within a maximum period of 10 calendar days.

The UOC offers discounts to companies that participate and support the training of their professionals, prior agreement with the UOC.

Professionals linked to any company or institution that maintains a collaboration agreement with the UOC will be able to benefit from advantages and discounts on the cost of tuition fees for training programs in the University's catalog.

If you're eligible for one of these discounts and you also enrol early, the discount for early enrolment will be applied first and then the other discount will be applied to the remaining amount.

Online Master's Degree in Lifelong Learning in International Affairs and Diplomacy (UOC, UNITAR)