Bachelor in History : Concentration in International Relations

Programme duration : 3 years
Delivery language : French
Degree awarded : Bachelor in History
Accreditation : The curriculum follows the European ECTS system and the degree is awarded by Sorbonne University in Paris. This programme is accredited by the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation.
•    Deadline to apply : 22 August 2025

The Bachelor’s degree in History is awarded by Sorbonne University Paris and is taught in French at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi by internationally renowned professors. This degree offers a concentration in international relations with a choice between two tracks: Political Science and Diplomacy, or Geopolitics and International Security. Prepared for understanding and analyzing the contemporary world, students can consider pursuing a Master’s degree and a career in the broad field of international relations.

The Bachelor’s degree adopts a multidisciplinary, global, and connected approach, spanning from Antiquity to the present day. Each course is selected for its relevance to current political, economic, social, religious, cultural, and diplomatic issues through workshops dedicated to analyzing contemporary events. These workshops are designed to decipher and address current events using innovative pedagogical approaches. Elective courses allow students to tailor their academic journey by adding skill sets in digital humanities, digital diplomatics, research methodology, and foreign languages.

Professional development is a significant component, with the introduction of a mandatory 2-month internship in the final semester, either in the UAE or internationally, through our Erasmus + partnerships. Study projects encourage students to engage with professionals through seminars and to work on topics that help them consider their career paths, depending on the chosen track.

The courses are taught by internationally renowned professors who are recognized experts in their fields, meeting the standards of excellence and rigor characteristic of the French educational system. The program follows the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), and the degree is awarded by Sorbonne University in Paris.

First Year

Core Courses

  • History of Major Political Structures
  • Christian and Muslim Worlds in the Middle Ages
  • Introduction to the History of Globalization : 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

Geopolitics and International Security Track

  • Introduction to Geopolitics and International Security
  • New Global Geopolitical and Security Challenges

Electives

  • Foreign Languages, Sports, Cultural Events, Historian’s Workshop, Introduction to Research Methodology…

Second Year

Core Courses

  • History of War and Peace
  • From the Industrial Revolution to the Digital Revolution
  • Colonization 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

Political Science and Diplomacy Track

  • 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

Geopolitics and International Security Track

  • Conflict Resolution
  • Professional Study Project: Preventive Diplomacy and Defense Diplomatic Networks
  • The International System and Conflict Management
  • Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Economic Intelligence

Electives

  • Foreign Languages, Sports, Cultural Events, Introduction to Digital Humanities, Historian’s Workshop, Diplomatics, Advanced Research Methodology…

Third Year

Core Courses

  • 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

Political Science and Diplomacy Track

  • 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

Geopolitics and International Security Track

  • Terrorism and Society from the French Revolution to September 11, 2001
  • Supervised Study Project: Understanding International Security Issues through Role-Playing

Mandatory 2-Month Internship

  • In the UAE or abroad

Electives

  • Foreign Languages, Sports, Cultural Events, Digital Diplomatics, Methodology for the Internship Report…
To be eligible for this Bachelor’s degree, students must have the following:

  • French Baccalaureate with a minimum final average of 12/20 or High School Diploma with a minimum 80% average (or equivalent)*.
  • French Aptitude Certificate:
    minimum score of B2 level (accepted certificates: DU issued by Sorbonne University, DELF, TEF, TCF and SELFEE). Students with a French Baccalaureate are exempted from the language proficiency exam**.
  • *Students not meeting this requirement may be accepted following a review of high school subject results, supporting exams scores and a student’s personal statement .

    **Students not meeting the required French Aptitude Certificate will be admitted conditionally in the programme, subject to passing a Foundation Programme in the French Language (French Intensive Course).

for more details : admissions@sorbonne.ae .

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi is committed to considering applications from all students regardless of their country of origin, income, gender, religion or physical condition.

Programme tuition fees (per semester)*:
AED 215,100 (approximately US$ 58,615)
Payment of fees: click here

*The fees presented for each program do not include administrative fees. Terms and conditions apply.

Scholarships*

HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Scholarship for Emirati students

Admitted Emirati nationals and children of Emirati mothers’ are awarded a full scholarship covering tuition and study related fees for their Bachelor Programmes (and Foundation year, if any)

Current high school students may apply through NAPO, whereas the graduates of previous years can apply on the Apply Now page.

Academic Excellence Scholarships (for the 1st semester of enrolment)

• 15% scholarship on tuition for the 1st semester of joining

New joiners with excellent academic results in high school are eligible following the below criteria. Starting from the second semester, they can apply for the 25%-75% academic excellence scholarship scheme.

  • Government schools: 90% in the advanced stream, or 95% in the general stream.
  • American system: CGPA of 3.6 out of 4.0 or minimum average of 90%.
  • British system: “A” grade or higher in three “AS-Level” subjects or “A” in the equivalent “A-Level” Subjects, plus “B” grade or higher in six O level subjects.
  • SABIS: minimum average of 85%.
  • International Baccalaureate: IB diploma with minimum score of 5 out of 7 in all courses – three of those subjects must be higher-level courses.
  • French Baccalaureate: minimum average of 14 out of 20.

Academic Excellence Scholarship (starting from the 2nd semester of enrolment)

• 25%-75% Academic Excellence Scholarship

Based on the academic results obtained during the previous semester at SUAD, students are eligible to the academic excellence scholarship granted semester by semester. The scholarship scheme is progressive (25% to 75% and the minimum average grade to be eligible is 12/20. A specific scholarship is available for the 2nd semester of the Foundation Year. For more information, please contact admissions@sorbonne.ae

Other Scholarships

10% French Curriculum Schools Scholarship for the 1st semester of enrolment

Students holding a French baccalaureate obtained in one of the GCC countries are eligible for a 10% discount for their first semester. Starting from the second semester, they can apply for the 25%-75% academic excellence scholarship scheme.

Sponsored scholarships

Total, Chalhoub and Ardian Foundation, offer specific scholarships based on academic excellence and/or financial circumstances to selected students.

The deadline for submitting an application is communicated by University email each semester to all enrolled students. Applications are submitted via the online application form. Incomplete and late applications will not be assessed.

Scholarships can’t be combined. For more information, please contact admissions@sorbonne.ae

Preferential rate: 10% Family discount

Students who have a first-degree relative currently enrolled in an undergraduate or a postgraduate programme are eligible for a 10% discount.

*Conditions apply


This Bachelor’s degree plays a significant role in the development of intelligence and reasoning which opens the doors to numerous career opportunities.

Far from being restricted to professions and training directly linked to history, this degree provides a unique opportunity for working in a variety of sectors including journalism, communication and media, political science, diplomacy and NGOs and public service and administration. Graduates can also work in education, publishing, heritage institutions, international tourism and trade.

This degree provides graduates with several options to pursue further academic studies at Sorbonne Abu Dhabi and other overseas institutions.

For more information, please contact:

The Career Centre
Tel: +971 (0) 2 656 9104/9342
Email: careercentre@sorbonne.ae