We’re delighted to welcome Dr Zeynep Clulow as Course Director for our renowned Certificate in International Relations. As Zeynep explains, with so much at stake on today’s global stage, the course has never had greater currency.
While Zeynep might be a newcomer to the University of Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education (PACE), she certainly isn’t new to International Relations (IR).
“Growing up in Nottingham, I was always keen to explore other cultures,” she recalls. “So I took my undergraduate degree – in International Relations – at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara. I remember being particularly inspired by a teacher who got me engrossed in the politics of water and climate.”
With the fire now lit, Zeynep studied an MPhil at Cambridge under “wonderful” supervisor Dr Joanna Depledge, researching Turkey’s “ambiguous” identity in climate talks leading up to the Paris Agreement. “Then I did my PhD at Nottingham,” she continues, “Applying International Relations theory to the climate negotiations, trying to make sense of why states do what they do.”
Over the next decade, Zeynep deepened her own learning and started to share her expertise with others, holding teaching and postdoctoral roles before Cambridge beckoned again: “I came back as a Research Associate for the Energy Policy Research Group at Judge Business School. As a political scientist, it’s fascinating to work with economists and engineers. I’m bringing an IR lens to analysing global perspectives towards new climate technologies. Right now, we’re exploring stakeholder attitudes towards a rapidly expanding portfolio of carbon dioxide removal technologies.”
Flexible study, open to all
With such a wealth of experience and enthusiasm in her subject, it’s no surprise that Zeynep secured the Course Director role at PACE, joining in September 2025 just as this year’s IR students began their nine-month study journey.
“The current cohort is a wonderful, diverse mix of people with different educational backgrounds from all around the world,” says Zeynep. “They bring a big range of perspectives to conversations about sensitive and complex issues. When people with such varied life experiences exchange ideas in the same space, everyone benefits from the insight and mutual understanding.”
The part-time Certificate runs fully online through PACE’s popular virtual learning environment. It includes lectures, delivered by leading experts, that are pre-recorded so students can study at times to suit them. Live seminars bring everyone together to discuss key questions.
Beginning with a first-term grounding in traditional IR topics – the military, wars and physical security – the course opens out to cover some of the most pressing issues of our time, such as economic conflict and climate and energy security.
As the world changes, so does the learning
Importantly, Zeynep is always keen to connect students’ learning with real-world events, meaning seminars, in particular, often develop organically. It’s part of a deliberate approach that ensures the Certificate continually evolves.
“When I joined, the course was already very up to date, with lots of topical subjects like cybersecurity, ecomigration and populism,” notes Zeynep. “Recent events mean the discussions we’re having and the examples we draw on are very real. This year, we’ve added content about AI and ethics, which is a really important topic with relatively limited scholarship to work from. We’ll keep introducing new themes that reflect our ever-changing world.”
And that freshness matters, reflects Zeynep, as she considers why so many people discover their passion for International Relations at PACE: “We’re living through numerous interesting and important global challenges right now; people study the course to develop tools and skills that help them make sense of the world.
“It’s also a fantastic opportunity to have stimulating discussions with other, like-minded people who are invested in international politics. There’s such a profound eagerness to learn, and we’re unpacking issues together as they occur in real time.”
The course’s next cohort kicks off in October 2026, and applications are open now.
Develop your understanding of global politics and transform the world around you. Find out more about joining the flexible Undergraduate Award: Certificate in International Relations at PACE this autumn.