Foreign affairs is a fascinating topic, and it has a whole branch of Political Science – International Relations – devoted to it. One of the key professions – perhaps the key profession - in this sphere is diplomacy. Diplomacy is the art of negotiation between the representatives of states; it the means by which international relations are mediated. Diplomats conduct diplomacy on behalf of their government; representing the interests of their government, reporting back to their government about affairs in their host country, taking part in negotiations, facilitating agreements, and providing consular support to citizens of their home country. If you wish to enter this exciting profession, how do you go about it?
Diplomats come from a broad range of backgrounds, normally having taken degrees in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Qualifications in disciplines like International Relations, Politics, International Trade, International Law, Social Anthropology, and Sociology are all highly valued, but are by no means mandatory. A degree in Modern Languages can be a significant asset, but as diplomats are normally sent abroad to many different countries, this is not a requirement. The main thing to bear in mind as far as qualifications are concerned is not what you take your degree in, but rather how good your grades are – foreign affairs is an intensely competitive field, and a strong academic track record to an advanced level of study at a respected university is highly important. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) prefers candidates with a PhD, especially if this involved conducting fieldwork abroad.
In addition to your university qualifications, diplomats are civil servants, who are required to take entry exams as part of the hiring process.
In addition to having conducted academic research on a foreign nation through your degree, Foreign Ministries look favourably upon those who have experience of other nations or statecraft gained through other means. If you have spent time abroad – perhaps in a professional or voluntary capacity – this is an advantage. It is also possible to apply for internships at Foreign Ministries or International Bodies like the EU or the UN even before you graduate; experience of the kind can be a significant asset.
As you’d expect, the most important quality in a prospective diplomat is the ability to be diplomatic! You need to be good at working with other people, including members of the public, in sometimes tense or difficult situations. You need to be good at thinking on your feet, and be prepared to travel. A willingness to learn and an ability to be persuasive are fundamentally important.
The best route to becoming a diplomat is through applying directly to your Foreign Ministry or equivalent. Many countries have a fast-track process, so that highly qualified graduates who show promise can be swiftly trained in the arts of government, and assigned to posts where they can apply their skills and knowledge.
You will need to be a citizen of the country whose government you seek to work for. There will also be security clearance checks for diplomatic work.
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