UBC International Relations

UBC International Relations International Relations is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program in the Faculty of Arts at UBC.

International Relations is the study of the global interactions between states, non-state actors, and economic and social structures and processes. International Relations is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program at UBC. Students can pursue either the IR Major or IR Minor in conjunction with a Bachelor of Arts. This page is intended for all people in the IR community: prospective IR students,

current IR students, IR Alumni, and IR profs. It is meant to offer a forum for discussion and to disseminate information on events and the IR community. Cover Photo By Yann (talk) 14:23, 28 March 2009 (UTC) (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Last week we were delighted to welcome back to campus IR graduates from 2020 and 2021 for their make-up convocation cere...
11/21/2022

Last week we were delighted to welcome back to campus IR graduates from 2020 and 2021 for their make-up convocation ceremony. It was fantastic to see so many of you at our reception in the Alumni Centre and we look forward to seeing you at our future alumni events!

The IR community is excited to announce Jaerin Kim as this year’s winner of both the Jessie Evelyn Drew Clark Memorial S...
11/17/2022

The IR community is excited to announce Jaerin Kim as this year’s winner of both the Jessie Evelyn Drew Clark Memorial Scholarship and the Liu Lin Ping Memorial Scholarship. The former is awarded annually to an outstanding woman studying International Relations, with the latter scholarship being awarded to an exceptional student in the field of International Relations, Anthropology or Geography whose studies are concerned with advancing cross-cultural understandings. Jaerin was selected on the basis of her incredible academic achievements, her related co-curricular and extra-curricular work in the field of International Relations, as well as her contributions to projects that seek to analyze and promote understanding between cultures. Notable examples of her contributions in these areas include her work with UNITED for Intercultural Action, a pan-European NGO supporting the rights of minorities as well as her work at the UBC Centre for Migration Studies’ Narrative Research Group where she continues to explore her scholarly interests in diversity and inter-culturalism. On top of her own achievements inside and outside of the classroom, Jaerin also works as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Political Science where she plays a pivotal role in supporting first year students as they begin their own scholarly journey. Please join us in congratulating Jaerin on winning these two prestigious award!

Please join us in congratulating Agam Gill, the winner of this year’s Gerald N. Savory Prize in International Relations....
11/14/2022

Please join us in congratulating Agam Gill, the winner of this year’s Gerald N. Savory Prize in International Relations. This prestigious prize is awarded to an outstanding graduating student in the International Relations Major Program for both their academic accomplishments and their wider contribution to the International Relations community. Alongside her truly exceptional academic achievements, including her designation as a Trek Excellence Scholar, Agam has made numerous contributions to the UBC International Relations community, UBC student government, and the wider IR policy community. Notable accomplishments include her work as a Junior Policy Officer in the Crime and Terrorism Division within the International Security and Political Affairs Branch of Global Affairs Canada and her volunteer work with a Federal MP. Agam is also active in her community, having volunteered with a range of local organizations on a number of causes. Congratulations, Agam!

“As with all students, the pandemic was a significant learning moment in adaptability and adjusting to online learning. ...
06/03/2021

“As with all students, the pandemic was a significant learning moment in adaptability and adjusting to online learning.

When the pandemic first hit, I had two days to pack up my studio in Paris, where I had been studying on exchange, and move back to the U.S. to stay with my family.

After I graduate I am looking forward to moving to Geneva to pursue a Master in International Affairs at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies."

UBC IR '21
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“I chose to study IR because it is an interdisciplinary field where I can pick courses from various departments that wou...
06/02/2021

“I chose to study IR because it is an interdisciplinary field where I can pick courses from various departments that would tailor to my IR interest – peacekeeping and humanitarian aid!

Aside from classes, I most enjoyed meeting new friends and creating different events in . IRSA played such a major role in my IR years, I can’t imagine how my undergrad years would be without meeting these people.”

Timmy Chang, UBC IR '21
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“I want to share the knowledge and skills I learned from the IR program with future global leaders: I am currently enrol...
06/02/2021

“I want to share the knowledge and skills I learned from the IR program with future global leaders: I am currently enrolled in UBC’s BEd program where I hope to become a teacher!

While some of my colleagues are heading into law, and some going into public administration, I’ve decided to pursue a career in education with my IR degree. I believe IR majors are critically needed in the education field to help educate future generations about the issues that our world currently faces and to help encourage them to take action in making our world a better place.”

Megan Delfin, UBC IR '21
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“At the risk of sounding cliched, the most significant learning moment during my degree was the pandemic. As uncomfortab...
06/01/2021

“At the risk of sounding cliched, the most significant learning moment during my degree was the pandemic.

As uncomfortable and weird as the new way of things was, it very quickly became clear to me that my studies would be incredibly important in helping the world back onto its feet in the post-pandemic era, especially in the face of strained international relations throughout this difficult time."

UBC IR '21
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"Find your focus and what you’re good at. Learn the languages of the region(s) you’re interested in, and travel to that/...
06/01/2021

"Find your focus and what you’re good at. Learn the languages of the region(s) you’re interested in, and travel to that/those region(s). Don’t be afraid of changing your mind on issues. Read Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, The Economist, The Diplomat, or another practitioner-oriented magazine on international affairs. Find as much volunteer and/or paid work opportunities in the field as you can during undergrad.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to your professors for advice, career opportunities, or even just to discuss issues you’re curious about. Also, always try to understand perspectives you disagree with, no matter how reprehensible you might perceive them to be. Don’t fall for clichés, and don’t become one. Finally, get out of your ideological bubble as often as you can. To do so, attend as many speaker series events as you can, especially if you disagree with the speaker, and make friends of varied ideological traditions and backgrounds."

Joseph Bouchard, UBC IR '21
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"I was born into the unheard majority of the global community. And a degree in International Relations at UBC enables me...
04/14/2021

"I was born into the unheard majority of the global community. And a degree in International Relations at UBC enables me to represent the urgent needs of those people.

[...] The privilege of being able to study global issues in a world-class educational institution bestows upon us the responsibility to dedicate our passions and talents towards implementing urgent, real, and long-lasting political change. Personally, I believe that some of the most powerful ways to make an impact is by embracing bold and new ideas around social entrepreneurship that challenge the inequality plaguing our political and socio-economic organizations locally and transnationally."

is a 4th year IR major, set to graduate this spring. Click in the link in bio to find the full interview with Maryo. ✨

"While trying out a range of different activities available to me on campus, I ended up stumbling across . This allowed ...
04/13/2021

"While trying out a range of different activities available to me on campus, I ended up stumbling across . This allowed me to discover my interest for radio, and I am currently a part of the podcast team, creating the Global Get Down podcast with bi-weekly episodes on international affairs related topics with the insights of experts and involved community members.

While abroad, I also got to host 2 other radio shows and learned more about programming. Without initially setting out to get involved in programming, I found myself in a position I thoroughly enjoyed, and have built a portfolio with multiple shows. I would not have been able to embark on these projects without exploring opportunities on campus."

, a 3rd year IR major, discovered her interest in radio when she decided to get involved on campus.

"Be a part of your community. It is often intimidating to partake in events or join an organization but it pays off. Not only do you get to develop your skills but you meet like-minded people, and work on projects that inspire you. Start of small and be open to more, you might discover a love for radio programming!"

Click the link in bio to find the full interview with Gizel. ✨

Join us for our last IR Tea Social of the term with Dr. Kelebogile Zvobgo on Monday April 26, 2pm. 🫖 Link in bio for mor...
04/08/2021

Join us for our last IR Tea Social of the term with Dr. Kelebogile Zvobgo on Monday April 26, 2pm. 🫖

Link in bio for more information & to RSVP.

“I am 38 years old. I love life, fun, education, people, cultures, politics, building relations globally, and justice, w...
03/19/2021

“I am 38 years old. I love life, fun, education, people, cultures, politics, building relations globally, and justice, which I hold dear to my integrity and values. I was always involved in some sort of activism throughout my life. I love serving societies and people, especially women, vulnerable people, and minorities. Furthering my education was one of my dreams since a young age, but I couldn’t afford to achieve it. I’ve been through a lot to be able to go back to school. I was privileged to thrive in Canada, which opened so many doors and opportunities for me. My background experience is in banking & accounting, which wasn’t my passion.

[...] I saw myself as I was born to major in IR. Studying IR with further specialization or doing a double major will enhance and transform my learning experience academically, and equip me to be ready for a future career that fulfills me and helps me make a positive change in the world."

Meet .f.george and learn about her journey and her passion for education, activism, and justice.

Click the link in bio to find the full interview with Mira. ✨

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