Which is better for studying international relations as an undergraduate: UVA or American University?

For a student whose priority is undergraduate international relations training tied to day-to-day policy work, American University is often the more direct fit. Its School of International Service is built around international affairs, and its Washington, D.C., location makes internships, guest speakers, and networking with government agencies, embassies, nonprofits, and policy organizations part of the regular college experience. AU can be especially compelling for someone who wants to explore diplomacy, international development, human rights, security, or regional studies from the first year onward.

American’s advantage is not just being in D.C.; it is the concentration of classmates, faculty, courses, and career programming focused specifically on global affairs. A student who expects to pursue policy internships during the academic year, rather than mainly in summers, may find the access especially valuable.

UVA suits a student who wants international relations within a broader liberal-arts university experience. Its strong offerings in politics, foreign affairs, history, economics, languages, and area studies can provide excellent preparation for diplomacy or policy, while allowing more room to combine IR with another academic interest. UVA’s academic culture, alumni network, and opportunities such as Washington-based programming can also support policy ambitions, but Charlottesville does not provide the same immediate, semester-long access to D.C. institutions.

Choose UVA when you value a larger, more traditional campus environment and want a broad academic foundation before narrowing your policy interests. Choose American when you already know that international affairs is central to your college plan and want D.C. engagement, internships, and a specialized IR community woven into your undergraduate experience.