ESD offers an eight-month post-graduate certificate programme in the theory and practice of International Relations and Diplomacy. In this programme, students acquire the academic and practical skills necessary for a successful career in the international arena.
Learning outcomes of the student:
- she/he has an overview of international relations theories, knows how to compare, contrast and analyse them;
- grasps the main topics of international relations (foreign policy, security policy, international law, European Union, international economics
- grasps the main topics of the priority regions of international relations, such as Asia, Africa, Middle-East, Russia, the United States;
- has acquired practical skills in the field of diplomacy – diplomatic skills, protocol, public diplomacy, intercultural communication, international negotiations.
Target group and requirements: students who are interested in international relations. The student holds at least a BA degree and his/her level of English both in oral and written form enables him/her to participate actively in class and study independently at home.
Volume of studies: 2024/25 curriculum consists of 63 credit points. The student needs to complete 60 points minimum in order to graduate. The volume of studies (63 credit points) consists of 400 academic hours of classroom work and approximately 1000 academic hours of independent work.
Learning process: courses are taught 4 afternoons per week, usually Tuesday to Friday, 4.45-7.45 PM, in English. Classroom based work is either in lecture or seminar format, in case of practical courses various exercises will be conducted. Course content and list of reading material per course can be found on Moodle. *ESD has the right to make changes in the curriculum if there is a need. All the changes will be communicated timely to the students.
Class environment: classroom, equipped with all the necessary items, e.g. projector, PC, screen, board, speakers, accommodates 25-30 people.
Completion of studies: Examination criteria for the courses can be found in the curriculum. The successful student (having obtained minimum 60 credit points) will be awarded a certificate and an academic record. The latter will not be awarded to the student in case of any unfulfilled duties towards ESD, such as unpaid study fees. In case the student does not manage to collect necessary credit points, he/she will be awarded a proof of only positively passed courses. Students taking individual courses will also be awarded a proof.
Lecturers: Courses taught at ESD will be conducted by Estonian and foreign experts.
Information about tuition fees and scholarships is provided here.
International Negotiations | Paul Meerts, PhD | Clingendael, Netherlands Institute of International Relations | 10.10-13.10.23 | 3 | In-class grading | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Small States in International Relations | Matthew Crandall, PhD | Tallinn University | 17.10-20.10.23 | 3 | Essay 05.11.23 | |
International Relations | Martin Brown | Visiting Researcher, Department of Law (International Relations), TalTech | 24.10-27.10.23 | 3 | Policy brief 20.11.23 | |
International Economics | Meelis Kitsing, PhD | Estonian Business School | 07.11-10.11.23 | 3 | Case study 27.11.23 | |
Economic Diplomacy | Hele Karilaid | MoFA | 15.11-17.11; 30.11 | 3 | Country report 07.01.24 | |
International Law | René Värk, Dr. Iur | Tartu University | 20.11- 23.11 27.11-29.11; 01.12.23 | 6 | Exam 11.12.23 | |
Cybersecurity: Technology, Diplomacy and Law | Merle Maigre | e-Governance Academy | 05.12-08.12.23 | 3 | Cybersecurity baseline15.01.24 | |
Protocol and Etiquette | Riina Aasma | Head of Protocol, Office of the President of the Republic of Estonia | 12.12-15.12.23 | 3 | Course work 28.01.24 |
Subject | Lecturer | Institution | Time | CP | Form of examination |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
EU History, Institutions, and Policy-Making | Stefano Braghiroli, PhD | University of Tartu, Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies | 16.01-19.01, 23.01-26.01.24 | 6 | Essay 26.02.24 Exam 04.03.24 |
Cyberspace Considerations for National and International Security | Amb Shota Gvineria | Baltic Defence College | 30.01-02.02.24 | 3 | Presentation 02.02.24 Essay 18.02.24 |
Defense and Security in Northern Europe: Current Baltic, Nordic and Arctic Security Issues | Martin Hurt | ICDS | 05.02-06.02; 08.02-09.02.24 | 3 | Essay 01.03.24 |
Intelligence and Counterintelligence: An Overlooked Dimension of Foreign Relations | Ivo Juurvee, PhD | International Centre for Defence & Security (ICDS) | 13.02-15.02, 26.02.24 | 3 | Group work 26.02.24 |
Foreign Policy Analysis | Amb ret Taavi Toom | 27.02-01.03.24 | 3 | Essay 22.03.24 | |
US Foreign Policy | Matthew Crandall, PhD | Tallinn University | 05.03-08.03.24 | 3 | Essay Date 31.03 |
Asia-Pacific and the Great Power Rebalancing | Monika Reinem | 12.03-15.03.24 | 3 | Essay Date 07.04 | |
The MENA Shatterbelt: Between Domestic Turmoil and Power Projection | Wolfgang Mühlberger, MA | Senior Advisor MENA & Strategy at CMI | 02.04-05.04.24 | 3 | Essay Date TBC |
Public and Digital Diplomacy | Amb ret Taavi Toom | 09.04-12.04.24 | 3 | In-class grading 12.04.24 | |
Public speaking and Communication with Media | Hannes Rumm | Estonian journalist | 16.04-19.04.24 | 3 | In-class grading 19.04.24 |
Diplomatic Skills | Michael Roberts, MA | Centre for Political and Diplomatic Studies, Ambassador (ret) UK | 07.05-10.05.24 | 3 | In-class grading 10.05.24 |
Subject | Lecturer | Institution | Time 16.45 – 19.45 PM | CP | Form of examination | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
International Negotiations | Paul Meerts, PhD | Clingendael, Netherlands Institute of International Relations | 15.10-18.10.24 | 3 | In-class grading | |
International Relations | Martin D. Brown | Visiting Professor | 29.10-01.11.24 | 3 | Policy brief | |
Small States in International Relations | Matthew Crandall, PhD | Tallinn University | 05.11-08.11.24 | 3 | Essay TBC | |
Cyberspace Considerations for National and International Security | Amb. Shota Gvineria | Baltic Defence College | 12.11-15.11.24 | 3 | Essay TBC | |
International Law | René Värk, Dr. Iur | Tartu University | 19.11-22.11; 26.11-29.11.24 | 6 | Written closed book class room exam TBC | |
International Economics | Meelis Kitsing, PhD | Estonian Business School | 03.12-06.12.24 | 3 | Essay TBC | |
Economic Diplomacy | Hele Karilaid | MoFA | 10.12-13.12.24 | 3 | Essay TBC | |
Protocol and Etiquette | Riina Aasma | Head of Protocol, Office of the President of the Republic of Estonia | 17.12-20.12.24 | 3 | Course work TBC |
Subject | Lecturer | Institution | Time | CP | Form of examination |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
EU History, Institutions, and Policy-Making | Stefano Braghiroli, PhD | University of Tartu, Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies | 14.01-17.01 20.01-23.01.25 | 6 | Essay TBC Written closed book class room exam TBC |
US Foreign Policy | Matthew Crandall, PhD | Tallinn University | 28.01-31.01.25 | 3 | Essay TBC |
Foreign Policy | Amb ret Taavi Toom | 11.02-14.02.25 | 3 | Essay TBC | |
Intelligence and Counterintelligence: An Overlooked Dimention of Foreign Relations | Ivo Juurvee, PhD | ICDS | 18.02-20.02; 03.03.25 | 3 | Groupwork TBC |
The MENA Shatterbelt: Between Domestic Turmoil and Power Projection | Wolfgang Mühlberger, MA | Senior Advisor MENA & Strategy at CMI | 04.03-07.03.25 | 3 | EssayTBC |
Cybersecurity: Technology, Diplomacy and Law | Merle Maigre | e-Governance Academy | 11.03-14.03.25 | 3 | Essay TBC |
“Defense and Security in Northern Europe: Current Baltic, Nordic and Arctic Security Issues” | Martin Hurt | ICDS | 18.03-21.03.25 | 3 | Essay TBC |
Asia Pacific | TBC | 25.03-28.03.25 | 3 | Essay TBC | |
Public and Digital Diplomacy | Amb ret Taavi Toom | 08.04-11.04.25 | 3 | In-class grading | |
Public speaking and Communication with Media | Hannes Rumm | Estonian journalist | 14.04-17.04.25 | 3 | In-class grading |
Diplomatic Skills | Michael Roberts, MA | Centre for Political and Diplomatic Studies, Ambassador (ret) UK | 06.05-09.05.25 | 3 | In-class grading |