Bachelor in History - Concentration: International Relations

BachelorUndergraduateHistory & International Relations

About This Programme

A three-year French-taught Licence in history with an international-relations concentration, awarded by Sorbonne Universite.

Course Highlights

  • History taught from antiquity to the present with an international-relations focus.
  • Two certifying tracks: Geopolitics and International Security, or Diplomacy and Political Science.
  • Mandatory 2-month internship and Erasmus+ mobility from Year 2.
  • Degree awarded by Sorbonne Universite.

What You'll Study

A three-year French-taught Licence in history with a concentration in international relations, taught from antiquity to the present through a multidisciplinary, globally connected approach. Students choose one of two certifying tracks and complete a mandatory 2-month internship; the degree is awarded by Sorbonne Universite.

First Year

  • History of Major Political Structures
  • Christian and Muslim Worlds in the Middle Ages
  • Introduction to the History of Globalisation: From the World Empires of Eurasia to the World Economy
  • Connected History of Europe and the Modern World
  • The Age of Revolutions and the Birth of Modern Political Thought
  • History of Propaganda, Media, and Information in the Age of Extremes

International Relations Concentration-

  • Introduction to Political Science
  • From the International System to the Regional Diplomacy of the Gulf State
  • Introduction to Geopolitics and International Security
  • New Global Geopolitical and Security Challenges
  • Foreign Languages, Sports, Cultural Events, Historian’s Workshop, Introduction to Research Methodology

Second Year

  • History of War and Peace
  • From the Industrial Revolution to the Digital Revolution
  • Colonisation and Colonial Legacy: Memory Diplomacy from Subaltern Studies to Cancel Culture
  • International Relations from Europe to the Russian and Ottoman Empires
  • Between Violence and Tolerance: Anthropological History of Religious Wars
  • Connected History from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean
  • History of Environmental and Climate Changes
  • The Cold War World: From the UN to the Fall of the USSR

International Relations Concentration-

  • Hard, Smart & Soft Power: The Diplomacy of Powers
  • Professional Study Project: Exploring Careers in Diplomacy
  • Information and Communication from Queen Victoria to Elon Musk
  • Scientific Diplomacy: From Concorde to Space Exploration
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Professional Study Project: Preventive Diplomacy and Defence Diplomatic Networks
  • The International System and Conflict Management
  • Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Economic Intelligence
  • Foreign Languages, Sports, Cultural Events, Introduction to Digital Humanities, Historian’s Workshop, Diplomatics, Advanced Research Methodology…

Third Year

  • Political Power and Christian Religion in Antiquity and the Middle Ages
  • From Mecca to Baghdad: Ideologies and Practices of the Caliphate
  • The Anglo-Saxon Worlds: From American Imperialism to Brexit
  • Turkey, Asia, and Europe: From Constantinople to Istanbul
  • China in International Relations

International Relations Concentration-

  • Political Dynamics and Societal Changes in the Maghreb and the Middle East (20th–21st centuries)
  • Supervised Study Project: Political Evolutions and Transformations in the Arab and Mediterranean World
  • Terrorism and Society from the French Revolution to September 11, 2001
  • Supervised Study Project: Understanding International Security Issues through Role-Playing
  • Foreign Languages, Sports, Cultural Events, Digital Diplomatics, Methodology for the Internship Report

Entry Requirements

Academic: French Baccalaureate with a minimum average of 12/20 or an equivalent qualification with 12 years of schooling.

Selective admission; a SUAD entrance test may apply.

Careers

Leads to careers in diplomacy, international organisations, NGOs, journalism and research, or a related Master.

Accreditation & Professional Recognition

Accredited by the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) and the French Ministry of Higher Education (HCERES); the degree is awarded by Sorbonne Universite.

Programme Details

Award

Licence (Bachelor), 180 ECTS

Start Date

September (annual intake)

Typical Offer

French Baccalaureate 12/20 or equivalent; French B2

Duration

3 years

Qualification

Bachelors

Subject Area

History & International Relations

Study Pattern

Full time

Delivery Format

In person

Tuition Fee

AED 215,100 total

Apply online at sorbonne.ae. Non-refundable application fee of AED 200. Deadline in late August (21 August 2026) for the September intake.

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