Hey everyone,

I’m currently studying Computer Science in the U.S., and I just turned 20. I’ve been going through a bit of a life crisis lately, and I’m trying to figure out where to go next. I’ve been traveling a lot recently and realized I want a career that involves international travel and working with global issues.

I’m also interested in getting into the CIA (especially in a role that involves international work, missions, and maybe even intelligence). I know it’s a bit of a jump from Computer Science, but after doing some research, I came across International Relations as a potential major that seems to align with my goals.

Some things to note:

• I already speak 5 languages (some I can’t write but I can understand and speak them fluently).
• I’m planning to take out student loans and study overseas in Korea (I’m considering universities there and exploring whether a Global Affairs or International Relations major would be a good fit).

My main questions are:

1. Would a Global Affairs or International Relations degree be a good fit for someone looking to work in the CIA, especially in a global or field-based role?
2. How much can I expect to make after finishing this degree? Is it a high-paying field?
3. What’s the career progression like if I study abroad and want to land an international role (especially with an agency like the CIA)?

I’d really appreciate any advice or feedback from anyone who’s taken a similar path or knows more about the field. Thanks!

Hey everyone!
I’m reaching out to get some advice and insights from those who’ve been in a similar boat or are currently studying/working in the UK.

It’s been a while since I received multiple offer letters for a second master’s in International Security in the UK. My first master’s was in Politics and International Relations from my home country, and since graduating, I’ve been gaining experience through internships and working with global risk firms as a GSOC Analyst.

Now I’ve received offers from several UK universities, some with scholarships, and I’m honestly torn about which one to go for. I’m also still waiting for a few scholarship decisions to come in. My main goal is to eventually work in roles like GSOC Analyst or Political Risk Analyst in the UK. I understand it’s tough to get visa sponsorships in these sectors, but even landing one of these roles post-graduation would be a great starting point for me.

Here are the universities I’ve got offers from (with scholarship details where applicable):

1. University of Nottingham – Scholarship result pending
2. University of Exeter – £8,000 scholarship
3. University of Leeds – £6,000 scholarship
4. University of Southampton – £5,500 + possibly more pending
5. University of Bristol – Applied for scholarship, awaiting result
6. University of Birmingham – Waiting for scholarship updates
7. University of Glasgow – No scholarship mentioned yet

I’m particularly inclined towards Nottingham, Bristol, Birmingham, and Exeter, mainly because of their academic reputation and scholarship offerings. I’ve seen graduates from these schools go on to work in the kind of roles I’m targeting.

So, I have a few questions:

• Which of these universities do you think offers the best career support and alumni outcomes in International Security, especially for international students?
• Have any of you gone through a similar journey and found success in the UK job market in the security/political risk domain?
• Considering the visa and job market challenges, do you think it's a good idea to pursue this second master’s in the UK at this time?

Would really appreciate any advice or experiences you can share 🙏

Thanks in advance!

Hi,

My (28 y/o) passion ever since high school has been international relations and my dream is to work as a research associate at a think tank. I graduated with a BA in history and minors in MENA studies and Arabic language studies in 2018 but without having done any relevant internships (the only thing I really have going for me is extensive travel experience in the region + Arabic and Hebrew language skills albeit not fluency). I struggled after college for a while (was unemployed or underemployed in retail/food services for four years), went to grad school for a year (Arctic & Northern Studies) before dropping out due to mental health concerns and I've spent the last two years working a variety of jobs on remote polar research stations (station services & logistics). Currently, I'm set to work in Alaska for a summer before returning to Antarctica for a year and I intend to use the next two years to improve my language skills in Arabic & Hebrew. My question, is how realistic is it for someone at the age of 30 with a background like mine to try and transition into IR successfully? I've tried reaching out to employees of think tanks on LinkedIn/via e-mail for advice but I figured I'd also make a post here and see what people say.