Applicants to one of our master’s degrees should have an undergraduate degree preferably in the field of social sciences. Please check the specific entry requirements for each master’s programme on the individual programme pages.

You will find a list with the minimum grade requirement on the Admissions section of our website. Slightly lower average grades may be considered on an individual basis, if the Admissions Committee agrees that either the evidence provided in the academic transcript or a particularly strong motivation letter, are sufficient reasons to use its discretion. 

With regard to the full-time programmes, the Admissions Committee regards professional experience as an asset rather than a requirement for admission. As for the part-time programme, an applicant’s professional experience will be taken into account. 

Candidates applying for the bilingual or the part-time option of the Master’s in International Relations should be proficient in both English and Spanish, since classes are taught in both languages. Candidates applying for the English-language programmes have to provide evidence of their proficiency in English only.

IBEI accepts the following language certificates:

• TOEFL: 90 iBT (IBEI code: 6567).
• IELTS: 6.5 or more.
• Cambridge English Qualifications: C1 Advanced CAE or C2 Proficiency CPE.

TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years, whereas any of the Cambridge English exams should have been taken within five years of the application deadline.

A certificate is not required if you are a native English speaker or you completed your undergraduate degree in English.

IBEI’s institutional TOEFL code is 6567. Please keep in mind that TOEFL scores are only valid for 2 years. 

Students who are native English speakers, or have studied their complete undergraduate degree in English, do not have to submit an English exam result.

Students applying for the bilingual programme have to submit the Diploma in Spanish as a Foreign Language Certificate (DELE or SIELE), Level B2.

Applicants may be exempt from this requirement if they are native Spanish speakers or if they have completed their undergraduate degree in Spanish in a Spanish-speaking country.

The motivation letter is a 500-1,000-word document, in which you have the opportunity to provide additional information apart from your CV and academic transcripts. You should explain your motivation for postgraduate study, and particularly in the field of international relations/development/security, and outline what you have achieved in your undergraduate studies, emphasizing your strengths and accomplishments, and giving an outlook on your professional objectives.

You must submit two, preferably academic, reference letters.

• If you are in your last year of undergraduate studies, the reference letters must be provided by professors from your current university.
• If you have recently completed your degree and have been working for the past four years, you may submit one academic and one professional reference letter.
• If you have completed your degree more than five years ago, you can submit two letters from professional referees.

Reference letters should be written by academics or professionals who can give us more information regarding your skills and experiences than your CV or transcript(s) can convey. Choose your referees carefully, bearing in mind that the Admissions Committee gives more importance to a referee who knows you well and can speak about your particular strengths and accomplishments than to someone with a well-known name or title.

Your referees will be able to submit their reference letters through the online application system. You will have to provide their professional details in the respective section of the application form and the system will then contact your referees directly with instructions on how to submit their reference letters. Please remember that you must state the institutional email address of your referee, as IBEI does not accept reference letters sent from Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail etc. accounts.