BA in International Relations - Stanford University

The Department of International Relations at Stanford University offers a 4-year undergraduate program that focuses on the changing political, economic, and cultural relations within the international system of the modern era. The program explores how global, regional, and domestic factors influence relations between actors on the world stage. Students are equipped with both the foundational skills and specific knowledge necessary to analyze the choices and challenges that arise in this arena.

International Relations is an interdisciplinary undergraduate major that studies the interaction of actors in international politics, including states and non-state actors, such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, Amnesty International, and other NGOs. 

Topics of study include foreign policy; international conflict and negotiation; war, peace, and international security; terrorism; international trade and economics; human rights, ethics, and humanitarianism; climate change, and environmental issues; among others. International relations’ broad scope requires an interdisciplinary approach, drawing upon the fields of political science, economics, history, sociology, data science, law, foreign languages, and other fields.

Admission Requirements

English Proficiency Test Requirements:

International students who are non-native English speakers have to submit test scores in English proficiency tests as it is a requirement for Stanford University and helps them decide their capability of keeping up in their country. Stanford University accepts the following scores:

• 100 and above on the TOEFL iBT
• 7.0 and above on the IELTS Academic
• 68 and above on the PTE Academic

ACT/SAT Requirements:

Stanford University requires all undergraduate applicants to submit ACT/SAT test scores. There isn’t a minimum score that would guarantee admission as the university considers the application as a whole and not just the test scores. The average scores mentioned might just improve your chances of being selected.

• ACT (31-35)
• SAT (1450-1590)

Course Structure

IR majors are required to:

• Complete 30 units of Core courses in Political Science, Economics, History, and Statistics.
• Complete 40 units of Primary and Secondary Specialization courses.
• Demonstrate foreign language proficiency by

1. completing at least two years of university-level instruction, or
2. passing a proficiency exam administered by the Language Center (foreign language units do not count towards the major).

• Complete one-quarter of overseas study through the Bing Overseas Studies Program or a pre-approved non-Stanford program.

Additional Policies:

• At least one course must be a seminar or colloquium.
• At least one course must be designated by the IR Program as writing intensive (WiM).
• All courses counting toward the major must be taken for a LETTER GRADE and receive a “C” or better (with the exception of foreign language courses used to satisfy the 2-year language requirement, which may be taken for C/NC). Transfer courses from universities outside Stanford must receive a B- or better to count toward the degree.
• Up to five units of Directed Reading can be counted towards your IR major requirements.
• Up to three non-Stanford courses, for a maximum of 15 units, may be counted toward the IR major. A minimum grade of B- is required for transfer credit. Petitions for credit must be submitted to the IR office.
• Advanced Placement units do not fulfill the foreign language requirement.
• If double majoring, courses used to fulfill the requirements for the second major cannot be counted towards the IR major.

Tuition Fees

In 2019-2020, the average part-time undergraduate tuition at Stanford was $1,234 per credit hour for both in-state and out-of-state students. 

Tuition fees for international students at the BA of International Relations at Stanford University are around $55,473 per year.

Scholarships

Stanford is committed to meeting demonstrated financial needs for all admitted students (regardless of citizenship) who have requested financial aid during the application process.

If you are not a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or an undocumented student, your request for financial aid will be a factor in the admission evaluation. While financial aid resources are limited for international citizens, Stanford does offer admission to a number of these applicants each year. International citizens who indicate on their applications that they will not be applying for financial aid and subsequently are admitted are not eligible to apply for financial aid at any time during their four years at Stanford. However, if your citizenship status changes during the time you are enrolled as an undergraduate, and you become eligible for federal student aid, you may also be considered for need-based financial aid starting in the quarter during which your citizenship status changes.