Ria Kapadia – alumna (B.S. International Affairs ’25) – was accepted into the Master’s in International Relations degree program at IE University in Madrid, Spain, beginning in fall 2026.
In addition to her acceptance, Kapadia was awarded a €5000 (nearly $6,000) merit-based scholarship from the university.
“This scholarship means a lot to me because it means that IE University sees the potential I have and my passion for my field, so it’s great to know I have the support of the university in taking on whatever courses and projects I end up doing.”
Kapadia graduated in December 2025 through FSU’s Degree in Three program, earning her degree at 20 years old.
Kapadia spent her first year at FSU abroad in Valencia. Studying abroad helped her decide her major of International Affairs and influenced her to apply to the master’s program in Spain.
“My semester abroad in Valencia, Spain, truly changed my life. The people, culture, and knowledge I gained will stay with me and have shaped my goals for the future,” said Kapadia. “The lessons I learned while abroad shape the decisions I make today, and I will always continue to seek out new ideas, perspectives, and views from the places I travel to and learn about.”
Along with studying abroad, Kapadia spent a summer in Washington, D.C., through the Washington Center, where she met FSU Alumni that introduced her to a potential career path.
“With the specialized coursework from the International Affairs major, I feel prepared and knowledgeable on a variety of global topics and issues,” said Kapadia. “FSU gave me a good foundation and strong abilities to be confident enough to take on a degree abroad.”
The International Affairs program helped Kapadia to narrow down which aspect of the industry she wanted to focus on and helped her gain specialized skills in intelligence and foreign languages, which were beneficial when applying to her master’s degree in Spain.
While at FSU, Kapadia was a member of the COSSPP Women’s Leadership Network and Women in Government. She also completed the Global Citizenship, US Intelligence Studies, and Experience Recognition Certificate Programs.
“The time I spent at the Center for Global Engagement and the Career Center has given me a strong foundation to pursue my master’s degree abroad.”
Kapadia hopes to pursue a career with the United Nations (UN) or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), contributing to efforts that prevent military conflict and promote global stability.
To learn more about FSU’s International Affairs program, visit: cosspp.fsu.edu/internationalaffairs.