15 Best International Relations Courses Online
Choosing an online course in International Relations can feel overwhelming given the variety of topics and providers. This page brings together fifteen options from Coursera and edX, covering areas such as foreign policy, political economy, global health diplomacy, and United Nations studies. Prices for the listed courses range from $39.00 to $49.00, reflecting the providers' current listings at the time of writing.
The selection includes both short professional modules and full degree programmes, so you can match the depth of study to your goals. Whether you are looking for a single‑course overview or a longer commitment like a Bachelor or Master of Arts, the courses listed here aim to provide a solid foundation in the theory and practice of international relations, while highlighting the different institutional perspectives offered by universities in India, the UK, the US, and beyond.
- Courses compared
- 15
- Price range
- $39.00 – $179.00
- Providers
- Coursera, edX
- Last updated
- 26 Sep 2026
How these 15 courses were chosen
Every course below is a real, currently listed course from Coursera, edX, matched to "international relations" by our catalog and ordered by our CourseAsk score. Courses whose own title names the topic rank above those only tagged with it.
The grade on each entry scores how much the provider publishes about the course before you pay — the length and detail of the description, whether it lists learning outcomes and objectives — and whether a named university or institution stands behind it. A is fully documented and institution-backed; E is little more than a title and a price. Courses with almost nothing published are left ungraded rather than marked down, because an unknown course and a poor one are not the same thing.
There are no star ratings on this page — the course feeds we license do not include them, and we would rather leave a column out than fill it with a number we cannot stand behind. What we do have is price: these range from $39.00 to $179.00, as listed by the provider when we last updated the page.
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1
Power and Foreign Policy in International Relations
Offered by O.P. Jindal Global University
How do global powers shape world politics—and why do countries make the foreign policy choices they do? In this course, you’ll explore the relationship between power and foreign policy in international relations and lear...
$49.00listed price -
2
Business, International Relations and the Political Economy
Offered by London School of Economics and Political Science
Curriculum: Overcome globalisation challenges and capitalise on international market opportunities. 100% online: 7–10 hours per week of interactive videos, module notes and more. Guided by LSE faculty: Learn from indus...
Price on site -
3
Bachelor of Science in International Relations
Offered by University of London
This Bachelor's in International Relations offered on edX explores the intricate dynamics of global politics, economics, and cultures. It aims to provide students with a solid foundation in understanding international re...
Price on site -
4
Master of Arts in International Relations
Offered by American University
The Master of Arts in International Relations program offers a rich exploration of global politics, diplomacy, and international collaboration. You'll engage with key issues influencing international relations today, enc...
Price on site -
5
International Communication and East Asian Affairs (2)
Offered by National Taiwan University
"International Communication and East Asian Affairs: Current Political and Economic Conditions" is an online course provided by the Graduate Institute of Journalism, National Taiwan University, and Radio Taiwan Internati...
$49.00listed price -
6
Global Health Diplomacy
Offered by The State University of New York
Having completed this course, learners will be able to: Describe and analyze the opportunities, challenges and limits of Global Health Diplomacy. Examine the diplomatic, financial, and geopolitical context that underlies...
$49.00listed price -
7
Global Diplomacy: the United Nations in the World
Offered by SOAS University of London & University of London
The course offers a well-researched and broad-ranging primer to the United Nations system. Consisting of an introduction to the complex UN family and its history, and a series of ‘snapshots’ of key UN functions, which ar...
$49.00listed price -
8
Foreign Policies of Great, Middle, and Small Powers
Offered by O.P. Jindal Global University
Why do some countries shape the global order while others punch above their weight? Learn how power, national interests, domestic politics, and the international system shape foreign policy—and apply these ideas to real-...
$49.00listed price -
9
Global Affairs Explained
Offered by Council on Foreign Relations
Global Affairs Explained is a three-course specialization created by the Council on Foreign Relations. By completing this self-guided series, you will understand fundamental principles that shape global affairs, the ways...
$49.00listed price -
10
Model United Nations
Offered by University of Bayreuth
Are you a future policymaker, consultant, negotiator, or diplomat? If so, this course is for you! You will acquire skills in negotiation, public speaking, creative thinking, and leadership. Model United Nations (MUN) is...
$39.00listed price -
11
The Threat of Nuclear Terrorism
Offered by Stanford University
Former Secretary of Defense William J. Perry and a team of international experts explore what can be done about the threat of nuclear terrorism in this free course, for which you can earn a signed Statement of Accomplish...
$50.00listed price -
12
Foundations of Ethical Decision-Making: Government and Political Issues
Offered by Georgetown University
Globalization has dramatically increased the influence of international corporations in political, economic, and sociocultural spheres. More than ever, global managers are faced with profound choices about their impact....
$179.00listed price -
13
Global Affairs Explained: Managing the International System
Offered by Council on Foreign Relations
Policymakers today need to navigate an increasingly complex landscape as they pursue their goals. “Global Affairs Explained: Managing the International System” is designed to provide learners with a detailed understandin...
$49.00listed price -
14
Moneyball and Globalization
Offered by University of Colorado Boulder
This course will explore baseball’s historical connections to money and globalization, two of the most powerful forces in the modern era. Baseball may be a child’s game, but it has been inextricably intertwined with mone...
$49.00listed price -
15
Small States and Leadership
Offered by The University of Iceland
Do you want to learn about leadership in small states? Join our course, where we explore how small states can use clever leadership to transform smallness into an asset when promoting their interests at home and abroad.
$59.00listed price
Best International Relations Courses Online compared
| # | Course | Provider | Offered by | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Power and Foreign Policy in International Relations | Coursera | O.P. Jindal Global University | $49.00 | View → |
| 2 | Business, International Relations and the Political Economy | edX | London School of Economics and Political Science | — | View → |
| 3 | Bachelor of Science in International Relations | edX | University of London | — | View → |
| 4 | Master of Arts in International Relations | edX | American University | — | View → |
| 5 | International Communication and East Asian Affairs (2) | Coursera | National Taiwan University | $49.00 | View → |
| 6 | Global Health Diplomacy | Coursera | The State University of New York | $49.00 | View → |
| 7 | Global Diplomacy: the United Nations in the World | Coursera | SOAS University of London & University of London | $49.00 | View → |
| 8 | Foreign Policies of Great, Middle, and Small Powers | Coursera | O.P. Jindal Global University | $49.00 | View → |
| 9 | Global Affairs Explained | Coursera | Council on Foreign Relations | $49.00 | View → |
| 10 | Model United Nations | edX | University of Bayreuth | $39.00 | View → |
| 11 | The Threat of Nuclear Terrorism | edX | Stanford University | $50.00 | View → |
| 12 | Foundations of Ethical Decision-Making: Government and Political Issue... | edX | Georgetown University | $179.00 | View → |
| 13 | Global Affairs Explained: Managing the International System | Coursera | Council on Foreign Relations | $49.00 | View → |
| 14 | Moneyball and Globalization | Coursera | University of Colorado Boulder | $49.00 | View → |
| 15 | Small States and Leadership | edX | The University of Iceland | $59.00 | View → |
Prices shown are the provider's listed price when we last updated this page. Confirm on their site before enrolling.
What the prices here tell you
The 12 priced courses on this page run from $39.00 to $179.00, with the middle of the range around $49.00 — a spread of $140.00. That is a wide gap for one subject. A higher price on this page usually reflects who is behind the course rather than how much material it contains, so it is worth opening two or three at different price points and comparing their syllabus before deciding.
Who is behind these courses
These courses come from Coursera and edX. The platforms differ in how they sell: some charge once per course, others expect a subscription, and the listed price is not always what you pay at checkout after a promotion. 13 of these are produced by a named university or institution, including O.P. Jindal Global University, London School of Economics and Political Science and University of London — which usually means a fixed syllabus and a recognised certificate, rather than an individual instructor’s own course.
Before you enrol
Open the provider’s own page and check three things this comparison cannot tell you: when the course was last updated, what the syllabus actually covers in its later sections, and what recent learners say. Prices shown here are the provider’s listed price when we last rebuilt this page on 26 September 2026 — they change often, and a promotion can move them substantially. We earn a commission if you enrol through our links, which costs you nothing and never affects the order courses appear in.