Kate is a student on the MSc Diplomacy & International Security programme...

Tell us a little bit about your background...

I studied an MA (Hons) in French and German at the University of St Andrews. Languages have always been an area of interest for me, from the moment I started learning German in secondary school. While I am interested in the basic linguistic principles of language-learning, I am fascinated by the cultural knowledge you discover as you practise a language. Across the five-year period of my undergraduate degree I really developed an interested not only in European cultures but also in politics and international relations, which I developed through writing for the St Andrews Foreign Affairs review. It was this cultural discovery which drove me to look for multidisciplinary masters programmes in the wider field of International Relations, at which point I found the MSc in Diplomacy and International Security.

What inspired you to study the MSc Diplomacy & International Security?

Over and above a wish to pursue my interest in politics and international affairs, which I had discovered at undergraduate level, part of what drew me to the MSc Diplomacy and International Security course was its multidisciplinary nature. It is specifically designed to bring together students from all different academic backgrounds, which I think adds greatly to the academic experience on the course. It means that historians, politics students, and linguists, among others, can all come together to consider the pressing international issues which affect society today. These additional perspectives foster a really encouraging and inclusive approach to learning across a broad range of themes.

What were the most enjoyable parts of your course?

Firstly, I was fortunate to be part of a very friendly cohort, who socialised a lot during our free time. This made both the educational and overall experience a really positive one. Secondly, my favourite optional module was the Red Continent, which focused on the impact of the Cold War in Africa. I have personal family connections to southern Africa, so studying a period through which members of my family had lived was fascinating. Finally, I was really pleased that I was able to further my interest in German culture through my dissertation, which focused on the evolution of Germany’s international leadership role over the last 20 years. It felt like there was a direct connection between my undergraduate skills and the new material I was studying at postgraduate level.

Tell us a little bit about engaging with diplomats and other practitioners...

Practitioner engagement is a key strand of the MSc Diplomacy and International Security. We were visited by the German Consul as well as Leigh Turner, former Ambassador to Austria. We also heard from Lord Ricketts, former British Ambassador to France and the first National Security Advisor under David Cameron. Additionally, I joined the committee of the newly formed Diplomacy and International Security Society as Tour Officer. As one of three committee members tasked with organising diplomacy-focused trips for the society, I worked to acquire funding which enabled us to go to the British Ambassador’s Residence in Paris. At the Residence, we met the Deputy Ambassador to France, heard from other diplomats about their career paths, and had a tour of the house and grounds.

Tell us a little bit about your experience on work placement...

I worked for the European Movement in Scotland to support their work as the secretariat for the Cross-Party Group on Europe at Holyrood. My key project was organising an event at the Scottish Parliament to celebrate Europe Day in May and the European Month of Diversity. This involved curating an invite list, as well as supporting operations on the day. We had speeches from MSPs, as well as performances from a Central-European music collective. Separately to this I also surveyed MSPs’ stances on Europe and contacted civil society groups with the aim of growing the membership of the CPG in order to encourage Scottish Parliament engagement with Brussels.

What specialist knowledge or professional skills have you developed whilst studying the course?

The weekly Ambassador reports which are written throughout the course came in useful almost immediately at my new job, as an intern at Chatham House, where I have regularly been asked to provide briefing notes for events my team is either hosting or participating in. The report trains you to cast a wide yet detailed net to produce a short overview of a certain topic. The group presentations we undertook drove home to me the importance of communication in the workplace and of honestly assessing both your own capacity and strengths in order to support your team. The course gives an excellent overview of a wide variety of topics within International Relations, the breadth of which has served me very well in my current role.

What do you think of the support available?

From the moment you arrive, the programme encourages you to think not only about the topics you want to cover during the masters, but also where you want it to take you next. This kind of support is really valuable because it helps you to tailor your year to your goals and aspirations. I found all my tutors to be open and helpful, as well as keen to discuss their specialisms, of course. Feedback in essays was clear and tutors would sit and go through your work with you if you wanted to have a conversation in more depth. I also valued the support given to choose your own dissertation topic. There is such a variety of specialisms covered by staff on this course that it felt like you could choose anything.

What is it like working at a think-tank and how do you think your time at Strathclyde has helped you achieve your goals?

Working as an intern at Chatham House has been a fascinating next step for me. My favourite aspect of think tanks generally is the overlap between research, convening events, and communicating with government. My team focuses on British foreign policy, as well as looking at the international impact of domestic political developments. The organisation has a wide range of expertise, so I also get to witness and contribute to events covering new and unfamiliar topics. By doing the MSc Diplomacy and International Security I was able to channel my interest in politics and culture. It was therefore an ideal stepping stone towards the next stage in my career path. Strathclyde’s emphasis on ‘useful learning’ meant that I left the programme feeling ready for the workplace and equipped with a knowledge of international affairs which influences how I consider contemporary issues.

What would be your advice for someone considering applying for this course?

You will cover topics you never expected but you can also continue to pursue topics of interest from your undergraduate studies. One of the programme’s key strengths is its multidisciplinary structure. It lends the course a flexibility which enables you to fit the course to your needs and make it work for you. You will study with people from all sorts of academic backgrounds, which means that each student can bring their own perspective to the classes. If you are interested in how the world works, why it is the way it is today and where our diplomatic institutions have developed from, then this is the course for you.