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United Nations Online Courses

If you want to work for the United Nations one of the best ways to get an understanding of the organisation, and gain the skills needed to apply, is to do an online course. Here we’ve put together a list of our top recommended online courses for people who want to get a job with the United Nations.  

These courses are also ideal for people who are studying the UN and want to get a better understanding of the organisation, how it works and what it’s current failings may be.

Global Diplomacy: The United Nations In The World – SOAS University of London

SOAS is one of the top universities in the world for international relations. You can now study an online course with SOAS on Global Diplomacy: The United Nations In The World. The course provides a broad overview of the United Nations system. It is ideal for anyone wanting to build a career within the UN or who wants to better understand how the UN operates.

This course teaches students the UN’s functions, operations and goes over the structure of the United Nations. As well as being ideal for anyone wanting to work for the UN, it is also great for those who want to better understand the UN system from an academic or research perspective. The SOAS Global Diplomacy: The United Nations In The World course also teaches students practical skills needed to understand UN affairs.

The Global Diplomacy: The United Nations In The World online course by SOAS takes around 12 hours to complete. It is aimed at beginners with little prior knowledge needed. Students study at their own pace and can begin the course at any time. The course is in English, with subtitles available in Arabic, French, Portuguese, Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish, and Japanese. Upon completion of the course students receive a certificate.

United Nations Jobs Guide

This online course is aimed at anyone looking to get a job with the United Nations. It begins with an introduction to the careers available at the UN and maps out the different roles available within the organisations. It then takes students through the UN application process, as well as the evaluation criteria used by the UN to select candidates.

Students on the United Nations jobs guide online course see examples of the kind of jobs that are open at the UN and get tips on how to be successful candidates. The course also teaches students how to search, prepare and apply for jobs within the UN system. There is also a section on assessments and interviews, giving advice on how students can prepare for the UN recruitment process.

The United Nations Jobs Guide online course takes around two hours to complete. It can be accessed on a computer or mobile phone. Students receive life-time access to the course so can return to it whenever they need. Upon completing the course students receive a certificate.

Impact Measurement and Management for the SDGs – Duke University

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) were established by the United Nations in 2015. They form the foundation for the UN’s work on poverty alleviation and development around the world. If you are looking to work for the UN, gaining a good understanding of the SDGs and their implementation, is key.

Duke University in the US offers an online course in impact measurement and management for the SDG. The course is designed in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Students on the course learn how governments, institutions and businesses can help implement the SDG. It also shows students how to monitor progress towards achieving the SDG and how to ensure their activities create long-term and lasting impact for poorer people around the world.

The Duke University Impact Measurement and Management for the SDGs online course is aimed at beginners and limited prior knowledge of the UN, or the SDGs, is needed. The course is flexible and students’ study at their own pace. Most students take around nine hours to complete the course. The Impact Measurement and Management for the SDGs by Duke University online course is available in English with English subtitles.

International Organizations Management – University of Geneva

The University of Geneva offers an online course in international organisation management. It introduces students to how major international organisations, including the United Nations, are ran. Students on the course learn about the internal operations of international bodies, as well as go over the main challenges organisations, such as the UN, have in their operations.

The International Organisation Management online course offered by the University of Geneva shows students the management systems used by major international organisations. It also goes over the global context in which organisations, such as the UN, operate. The course has a specific focus on the leadership processes used within the UN.

The University of Geneva International Organisation Management online course is ideal for those wanting to get an understanding of how the UN operates.  It is aimed at beginners, so no prior knowledge of the UN is needed. The course takes around nine hours to complete, and students can study at their own pace. The language of the course is English and there also English subtitles available. Upon finishing the course students receive a certificate.

The Changing Global Order – Leiden University

Leiden University in the Netherlands offers an online course called The Changing Global Order. It focuses on how international relations are changing in the current global context. It begins by taking students over the basics of international relations and it’s theories. It then goes on to show how major international and regional organisations, including the UN, are having to adapt to changes in the global international order.

Students on the Leiden University The Changing Global Order online course learn how organisations such as the UN, but also the European Union, and NATO, can prevent violent conflict from occurring. The course also covers the ongoing failures of organisations such as these at preventing armed violence, and how they can improve how they work in a changing global context.

The Leiden university online course The Changing Global Order takes around 30 hours to complete. Most students finish the course over a number of weeks. The course is entirely taught online, and students can complete it at their own pace. The course is aimed at intermediate level students and some prior knowledge may be needed. However, students with limited related prior experience may still benefit from the course. The course is taught in English and there are subtitles available in French, Portuguese, Russian, English, and Spanish. When students finish the course, they receive an online sharable certificate.

Introduction to International Relations

The Introduction to International Relations online course is aimed at those who want to get a broad understanding of international relations in the current global context. Students on the course learn the history and core theories of contemporary international relations. They also investigate how international relations are linked to war, peace, economic prosperity, and the idea of national sovereignty.

Students on the Introduction to International Relations online course go over the major debates currently being had around international relations. They also cover key topics related to international diplomacy including liberalism, neo-liberalism, realism, constructivism, and feminism. They also learn how ideas such as modern statehood has evolved, and what the modern global world order means for international relations today.

The Introduction to International Relations online course takes around four and a half hours to complete. It is made up videos, articles, and downloadable resources. Students receive life-time access to the course so can return to it at any time.  The course can be accessed on a computer or mobile phone. When students have finished the course, they receive a certificate.