Austria · Master's
University of Vienna
MA International Relations
University of Vienna
Course Overview
The University of Vienna's MA International Relations (Internationale Beziehungen) is the English-medium Master's run jointly by the Department of Political Science and the Department of International Law. The programme is designed around Vienna's status as a UN headquarters city (UNOV / OPEC / OSCE / IAEA / CTBTO) and the resulting access to international civil-service internships, research placements at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, and Track II diplomacy seminars hosted by the Vienna International Centre. Research strengths cover European integration, security and conflict studies, international political economy, migration policy, and South Asian regional politics.
Sri Lankan applicants — typically Foreign Service intake hopefuls, PhD-track political science graduates, and NGO / development-sector mid-career switchers — choose Universität Wien for: tuition at €1,480/year non-EU, 100% English-medium teaching, and the proximity of UN and intergovernmental organisations for internship and research placements. The 4-semester (120 ECTS) curriculum spans IR theory, international law, foreign policy analysis, international political economy, conflict and security studies, plus a substantial methods and research training block. The mandatory Master's thesis (30 ECTS) is often run in collaboration with Vienna-based international organisations or policy think tanks. Sri Lankan returnees route into Foreign Service intakes, policy advisory at LIRNEasia, Verité Research, the Centre for Policy Alternatives, plus advisory and management roles at GIZ, JICA, UNDP, FAO, and the EU Delegation to Sri Lanka.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) in Political Science, International Relations, Law, History, Economics, Sociology, or a closely-related social science discipline with first / upper-second class equivalent.
- check_circle Sri Lankan applicants from Colombo (Arts / Law / IR), Peradeniya (Arts), KDU, SLIIT (International Studies), and law degrees from the Open University of Sri Lanka are competitive.
- check_circle Demonstrated written research output (Bachelor's thesis, research assistantship, policy briefs, or publications) is valued.
- check_circle Motivation letter (1-2 pages), academic CV, two academic references, and transcripts with explicit module breakdown.
- check_circle Document nostrification through the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education is part of the application file.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall (no band below 6.0).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 95 Overall.
- check_circle Cambridge English: C1 Advanced.
- check_circle Programme is taught 100% in English — German is not required for the degree.
- check_circle Waived if your Bachelor's was taught entirely in English (Sri Lankan applicants with English-medium degrees from Colombo / Peradeniya / KDU / SLIIT qualify with an MOI letter).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (€) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, non-EU) | €1,480 | Rs. 510,600 |
| Living Expenses in Vienna (12 months) | €12,600 | Rs. 4,347,000 |
| Student Visa, Residence Permit & Health Insurance | €900 | Rs. 310,500 |
| Books, Conference Travel & Research Trips | €900 | Rs. 310,500 |
| Total Year 1 Investment | €15,880 | Rs. 5,478,600 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
University of Vienna MA International Relations graduates qualify for Austria's Red-White-Red Card for Graduates (12-month job-search permit), with conversion at a qualifying offer. Major Vienna employers: UNOV / OPEC / OSCE / IAEA / CTBTO (junior professional officer routes and JPO programmes for member-state nationals), Bertelsmann Stiftung, Erste Stiftung, IIASA (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis), plus the policy / public affairs teams at Erste Group, Raiffeisen, OMV, and the Vienna offices of major NGOs (CARE, Red Cross). Median starting salary €38,000-€48,000. Sri Lankan returnees route into Sri Lanka Foreign Service intakes (open to MA holders), policy research at LIRNEasia, the Centre for Policy Alternatives, Verité Research, plus advisory roles at GIZ Sri Lanka, JICA Sri Lanka, UNDP Sri Lanka, FAO, the British Council, and the EU Delegation to Sri Lanka.
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ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.