Ms. Liis Lulla
Programme Manager
liis.lulla(at)edk.edu.ee
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: 2025/26 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.
| 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 |
| Cybersecurity: Technology, Diplomacy and Law | Merle Maigre | e-Governance Academy | 04.02-07.02.25 | 3 | Essay TBC |
| Foreign Policy Analysis | Amb ret Taavi Toom | 11.02-14.02.25 | 3 | Essay 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 |
| Intelligence and Counterintelligence: An Overlooked Dimention of Foreign Relations | Ivo Juurvee, PhD | ICDS | 11.03-13.03; 24.03.25 | 3 | Groupwork 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 and the Great Power Rebalancing | Louis Wierenga | Baltic Defense College | 25.03-28.03.25 | 3 | Essay TBC |
| Public speaking and Communication with Media | Hannes Rumm | Estonian Journalist | 08.04-11.04.25 | 3 | In-class grading |
| Public and Digital Diplomacy | Amb ret Taavi Toom | 14.04-17.04.25 | 3 | In-class grading | |
| Diplomatic Skills | Amb Michael Roberts | Centre for Political and Diplomatic Studies, Ambassador (ret) UK | 06.05-09.05.25 | 3 | In-class grading |
AUTUMN-TERM 2025
| Subject | Lecturer | Institution | Time 16.45 - 19.45 PM | CP | Form of examination | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Negotiations | Paul Meerts, PhD | Clingendael, Netherlands Institute of International Relations | 14.10-17.10.25 | 3 | In-class grading | |
| International Relations | Martin D. Brown | Visiting Professor | 28.10-31.10.25 | 3 | Policy brief | |
| Artificial Intelligence and International Politics: Perspectives, Debates, Challenges | Toni Čerkez, PhD | Tallinn University | 04.11-07.11.25 | 3 | Essay TBC | |
| International Economics | Meelis Kitsing. PhD | Estonian Business School | 11.11-14.11.25 | 3 | Essay TBC | |
| Cybersecurity: Technology, Diplomacy and Law | Merle Maigre | e-Governance Academy | 18.11-21.11.25 | 3 | Essay TBC | |
| Cyberspace Considerations for National and International Security | Amb. Shota Gvineria | Baltic Defense College | 26.11-28.11.25 | 3 | Essay TBC | |
| Economic Diplomacy | Hele Karilaid | MoFA | 02.12-05.12.25 | 3 | Essay TBC | |
| International Law | René Värk, Dr. Iur | Tartu University | 09.12-12.12; 16.12-19.12.25 | 6 | Closed books written exam |
| 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 | 13.01-16.01 20.01-23.01.26 | 6 | Essay TBC Written closed book class room exam TBC |
| Terrorism and Hybrid Warfare in the EU and its Neighbourhood | Tomas Jermalavicius | ICDS | 27.01-30.01.26 | 3 | Essay TBC |
| Foreign Policy Analysis | Amb ret Taavi Toom | 17.02-20.02.26 | 3 | Essay TBC | |
| Intelligence and Counterintelligence: An Overlooked Dimention of Foreign Relations | Ivo Juurvee, PhD | ICDS | 25.02-27.02; 09.03.26 | 3 | Groupwork TBC |
| Protocol and Etiquette | Riina Aasma | Chief of Protocol, Office of the President | 03.03-06.03.26 | 3 | Essay TBC |
| "Defense and Security in Northern Europe: Current Baltic, Nordic and Arctic Security Issues" | TBC | ICDS | TBC | 3 | Essay TBC |
| Asia Pacific and the Great Power Rebalancing | Louis Wierenga | Baltic Defense College | 24.03.-27.03.26 | 3 | Essay TBC |
| Public speaking and Communication with Media | Hannes Rumm | Estonian Journalist | 07.04-10.04.26 | 3 | In-class grading |
| Public and Digital Diplomacy | Amb ret Taavi Toom | 14.04-17.04.26 | 3 | In-class grading | |
| The MENA Shatterbelt: Between Domestic Turmoil and Power Projection | Wolfgang Mühlberger, MA | Senior Advisor MENA & Strategy at CMI | 27.04-30.04.26 | 3 | Essay |
| Diplomatic Skills | Amb Michael Roberts | Centre for Political and Diplomatic Studies, Ambassador (ret) UK | 05.05-08.05.26 | 3 | In-class grading |
