This course brings together best practice in academic learning and professional expertise.
A unique feature of the face-to-face and practical aspect of the course is weekend seminars, which maximise your opportunities for discussion of key issues and flexible delivery. The suite of modules includes diplomatic simulations and negotiation exercises, which can also be taken à la carte.
The Doctor of Diplomacy degree consists of two parts. Full-time students can expect to complete the degree in three to four years. The taught part of the course will last for two academic years if you’re a full-time student. In your final year (with the option of applying for a one-year extension), PhD candidates will complete a thesis within about one year. This thesis will enable you to reflect on pertinent issues of diplomacy in light of the theory and conceptual knowledge you have gained over the course of your degree – as well as through your independent research.
Most working professionals are likely to choose part-time study for this degree. If you choose the part-time degree pathway, the completion of the Doctor of Diplomacy will take proportionately longer.
Top reasons to study with us
Course objectives
The key objectives are to:
- offer a professional development opportunity for medium-level and senior professionals working in diplomacy and related field who seek to enhance and utilise their research expertise;
- introduce students to the theoretical foundations that underpin research on the history and theory of international relations and diplomacy;
- develop students’ understanding of research from the proposal stage to the dissemination of the findings;
- provide students with the skills and knowledge base required to independently collect, analyse and report qualitative data, taking account of ethics, reliability and validity;
- develop students’ understanding of the relationship between research and policy and the meanings of evaluation, its terminology, practice and use;
- enable students, with supervision, to independently conduct and write up a research project;
- enable students to critically reflect on their own practice in the diplomatic field and thereby advance their professionalism.
Flexible learning
If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.
Research overview
In REF 2021, 87% of the University's research was judged as having an outstanding or very considerable impact on society.
- More than 80% of Stirling research is world leading or internationally excellent.
- Joint 4th in Scotland and joint 43rd in the UK for research impact (Times Higher Education REF 2021: Impact Scores rankings).
- Research environment at Stirling commended for enabling excellence and delivering impact.