Embassies, negotiations, missions abroad. Diplomacy sparks curiosity, and it usually starts with the same question: what do you actually have to study to get there?
The answer surprises many people: there’s no single required degree.
Spain, which we use as a documented example throughout this article, asks for a university degree but not a specific field. Among all the university degrees out there, none opens the door exclusively, and none closes it. Your degree is the first step. After that comes a demanding selection process, and it pays to understand it from day one.
In this article, we explain how entry requirements work, what the path to a diplomatic career looks like, and which degrees give you a strong foundation.
Requirements to Become a Diplomat
Each country sets its own entry requirements for its diplomatic service, so the first step is to check the official entry requirements for your country’s diplomatic service.
To show what that looks like in practice, here are the main requirements for Spain, based on the selection process run by Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 2025 call published in the Official State Gazette (BOE):
- Spanish nationality.
- A university degree: a bachelor’s degree, licenciatura, engineering or architecture degree, or being in a position to obtain one by the end of the application period. No specific field is required.
- Recognition of foreign degrees. Applicants with a degree earned abroad must hold the official credential of homologation or a certificate of equivalence.
- General public service requirements, such as having the functional capacity for the job and not being disqualified from public office.
Details can change from one call to the next, so always review the rules of the most recent one. If your country has different rules, or you aren’t a Spanish national, there are other international career paths, such as working for the European Union.
How to Build a Diplomatic Career
A diplomatic career isn’t a degree. It’s a professional path.
The exact format varies by country. In Spain, the path has three steps:
- Earn a valid university degree. It’s the foundation for everything that follows, and the field you choose will shape how you approach the next step.
- Pass the competitive exams. There are four elimination-stage exams, based on a broad syllabus that runs from international law and the European Union to economics, history, and international relations:
- A multiple-choice test on the syllabus (100 graded questions).
- A language exercise, written and oral. English and French are mandatory, with a minimum of 5 points out of 10 in each. German, Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese and Russian are optional and add bonus points.
- A current affairs essay, written under time pressure and then read aloud before the panel.
- An oral presentation of four syllabus topics drawn at random.
- Complete the required training course. Candidates who pass the exams become trainee civil servants and take a practical course at the Diplomatic School lasting up to six months. Only those who pass it join the Diplomatic Career.
For context, Spain’s 2025 call offered 36 free-access positions.
What Degree Should You Study to Become a Diplomat?
Spain’s call asks for a university degree but no specific field. Even so, some degrees connect more directly with what the exams cover. Each one gives you a different perspective:
| Degree | What it gives you | It may fit you if you’re interested in… |
|---|---|---|
| International Studies or International Relations | An interdisciplinary view of international politics, relations Between countries and global challenges. | Understanding how politics, economics, history and cultures connect, and Exploring careers in international organizations, cooperation or international analysis. |
| Law | A foundation for understanding the rules, institutions and agreements that govern relations between states. | Studying international law, treaties and the legal dimension of public affairs. |
| Political Science | The study of political systems, institutions and public decision-making. | Analyzing foreign policy, public policy and political systems. |
| Economics | Tools to analyze markets, economic policies and international economic relations. | Understanding trade, economic development and the effects of economic decisions between countries. |
| History | Context to interpret relations between countries and the evolution of conflicts and institutions. | Researching and analyzing historical processes and understanding where events come from. |
There’s no single “right” degree, only the one that best fits the way you think and what the exams cover. International Relations is particularly interdisciplinary because it brings politics, economics, history, and law together in a single curriculum.
Political Science focuses more on political systems and institutions, while International Relations looks at the global stage, a nuance we unpack when comparing Political Science and International Relations.
And studying International Relations doesn’t commit you to diplomacy: the other career paths in International Relations, from international organizations to consulting or cooperation, are highly varied.
Why Study International Studies If You Want to Become a Diplomat?
If diplomacy is your goal, you need a foundation that teaches you to understand the world and move through it.
At CIS University, our International Studies degree works on exactly that combination: international politics, global economics, history, and relations between countries, in a 100% English-taught program in the heart of Madrid.
These are some of the most relevant skills for a diplomatic career, and how they’re built here:
- Communication and negotiation. In our debate club, you defend positions, build arguments, and listen, skills that will also help you in an oral exam before a panel.
- Working English. It’s mandatory in Spain’s exams, and at CIS University you use it every day in class, assignments, and presentations. Our language exchange program lets you practice with other students. French, also mandatory in Spain’s call, is worth working on separately.
- Intercultural sensitivity. You study alongside classmates from more than 45 nationalities, which trains the empathy and cultural adaptability this work demands.
- Critical thinking and analysis. Small classes are built around debate and real case analysis, not memorization.
- An international environment. Madrid is home to embassies, organizations, and institutions with global reach, which makes a difference when you study international relations on the ground and not just in a classroom.
One important detail: International Studies is a degree from the U.S. higher education system. If you plan to apply to a national diplomatic service, check whether your degree needs to be officially recognized in that country.
Spain, for example, requires an official homologation credential or a certificate of equivalence for foreign degrees. We recommend talking to our admissions team before you decide.
Discover the International Studies degree at CIS University
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Diplomat
Before choosing your path, here are the questions we hear most often from students considering this career:
It depends on the country, so always check the official entry requirements.
In **Spain’s 2025 call**, **English and French were mandatory**, both written and oral, and you needed **at least 5 out of 10 in each**. You could also take **German, Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese or Russian** as optional languages, which added bonus points to your language score.
If your whole degree is taught in English, you’ll walk into that exam with a real head start, don’t you think?
Not in Spain. The call only requires a **bachelor’s-level degree** (or the equivalent licenciatura, engineering or architecture degree).
A master’s can help you go deeper into topics covered by the exams, but it **isn’t a requirement** there. Rules vary by country, so check the requirements for the one you’re aiming for. Either way, choosing the right bachelor’s gives you a solid foundation from day one.
Yes. Spain’s call **doesn’t ask for a specific degree**, just a valid university one. If you study something else, you can prepare the syllabus on your own or with specialized help.
Keep in mind the syllabus is broad (**law, economics, history and international relations**), so it’s best to start with time to spare. A related degree lets you build part of that foundation while you study.
Not sure which degree fits your goal? Our admissions team can help you find the right path.
Some people watch the news and think, “I wish I were there.” And maybe one day you will be: sitting at a negotiating table, representing your country, helping two very different positions find common ground.
That path is long and demanding, but it starts well before any exam: with a solid foundation, a language that opens doors, and an environment that teaches you to see the world differently. If it feels like yours, this is the moment to take the first step.
Want to see the full curriculum, courses, and internship options in the International Studies program?
Explore the International Studies programs at CIS University