What graduates say about MAIN
From diplomacy and international organizations to academia, journalism, public policy, and private-sector research, graduates of our International Relations Master’s study program (MAIN) are shaping the world in meaningful ways. Their experiences highlight the program’s defining features: among others, diverse environment, a wide range of courses, dedicated and knowledgeable lecturers, an option of double degree, and also the program’s positive impact on their careers.
Diverse environment
One of the features the MAIN graduates highlight most often is the diverse environment of the classes, which enriches the academic discussions. For Alexander Auböck from Austria, “the most rewarding experiences of the programme are definitely the classroom discussions on societal and political issues with my peers from all over the world.” Nayan Anand from India says: “Being a part of the MAIN program was one of the best decisions I made for both my personal and professional growth. Studying alongside students from across the globe and engaging in a dynamic academic environment really helped me get a new perspective about the world we live in.” Natália de Figueiredo Coelho Macie from Brazil also appreciates that “MAIN stimulated meetings with students from previous years which was an interesting experience.” Several people stress out that their classmates became their lifelong friends.
Wide range of courses
MAIN consists of compulsory, elective and optional courses. While the compulsory courses provide a thorough grounding in the field, the wide range of elective and optional courses gives students “liberty to explore, research, and discuss fascinating topics,” as Stefan Köbke puts it. Amedeo Gasparini from Switzerland says: “Students obtain an in-depth perspective on the key issues in International Relations, but the program is also very inclusive – its great advantage is precisely that it offers a comprehensive and wide-ranging insight into such diverse topics as International Relations theories, Conflict Studies, nongovernmental organisations, the structures and history of the European Union, environmental issues as well as Cold War politics.”
Among the most popular courses are International Law, Conflict Studies, and Crisis Games, which the favourite both as a course and as experience: “a weekend-long geopolitical summit simulation in the mountains, gives a sense of the hectic challenges of diplomacy. This course is a must for MAIN students,” says Keith Prushankin from the US.
Dedicated lecturers
The academic quality of MAIN is supported by its lecturers. The graduates highlight both their knowledge and dedication to the program. Amedeo Gasparini says that the program is “intense but highly rewarding” and “professors are very kind and well-motivated, especially available to exchange ideas.” According to Matthew Delmastro from the US, the small cohort size allows for quality teaching and easy access to the lecturers and he appreciates “the friendly and supportive atmosphere both on the part of faculty and administration.”
Students are encouraged to specialize in their interests: “I appreciated the chance to develop my academic interests in the Central European regional context and to work with recognised experts in my field. The faculty are supportive of students’ individual development and there is plenty of room for you to pursue your interests and learn new skills that will be invaluable in the future,” confirms Keith Prushankin.
On the other hand, the program is open to students from different fields of study as well – as the experience of Gabrielle Franck from France shows: “I found dedicated teachers happy and willing to accompany their students in the best way they can. Coming from a different study area, I most of all appreciated the feeling of being given a chance, the good-will installed within the classes and the spaces we had to exchange and learn from different perspectives.”
Option of double degree
MAIN offers an option of a double degree with the University of Konstanz in Germany. Applicants are selected, based on merit, after the first semester. Successful graduates will obtain Master’s degrees from both universities. Those of our graduates who decided to participate would recommend it as a great opportunity. Matthew Delmastro says: “I participated in the MAIN programme in the second year of my Master’s after completing my first year in Germany, thus receiving two degrees upon graduation. Such a unique and valuable opportunity – which speaks to the programme’s international profile and extensive networks – allowed me to explore different academic fields and make new contact in both countries.”
Impact on professional development
For some graduates, their progress from studies to their professional life was very straightforward and they see MAIN as important for their career. For Matej Žganec from Croatia, knowledge gained in MAIN “was invaluable to quickly grasp the interplay between industry, governments, citizens, international organisations in policy areas ranging from energy and transportation, to foreign policy and migration. Most importantly, it allowed me to seamlessly transition between the roles of lobbyist, analyst and civil servant in the EU bubble.”
Stefan Köbke from Luxembourg says: “Studying at Charles University opened the door for me to a cool internship at my country’s embassy in Berlin, led me to a job at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and eventually got me my current position at Europe’s largest all-cargo airline.” Natália de Figueiredo Coelho Maciel concurs: “Taking part in the MAIN programme was extremely important to my career. It was during the programme that I increased my interests in migration-related topics and that led me to my current work on migration for the IOM.”
Nayan Anand has used the knowledge acquired in MAIN in his current field of Market Research at Kantar, and Tom Morin-Robinson from Canada in the field of international security. Thomas Vann from the US stayed in academia, his PhD research at the University of Buffalo being “centered on improving international responses to genocidal events to better serve the victims of these atrocities.”
Prague
Academic qualities of the program are the most important factor for our graduates but they also appreciate “the backdrop of the magnificent city of Prague,” as Matthew Delmastro puts it. Some of our graduates even learnt Czech – Keith Prushankin says: “The location of the university in historic and beautiful Prague gave me an unforgettable experience, lifelong friends, and skills in the Czech language.” Will Fridlund even feels that MAIN prepared him for a career in International Relations by giving him “the opportunity to live in a global city.”
As these graduates’ experiences show, MAIN is more than an academic program. Whether inspired by the diverse classroom debates, the wide-ranging curriculum, the supportive faculty, or the unique international opportunities, students leave MAIN well-prepared for their careers. If you seek a rigorous, internationally oriented degree – and a community that stays with you long after graduation – MAIN stands out as an exceptional choice.
