Established in 1955, the School of International Studies is the oldest School of the University. During the forty eight years of its existence, the School has established itself as one of the premier institutions in the country for the study of international relations and area studies. The School has made pioneering contributions in promoting the study of international relations as an academic discipline in India and in advancing knowledge and understanding of international affairs in an interdisciplinary perspective. The School is also the first institution in the country to promote “Area Studies” and to develop expertise on various countries and regions of the world. It has also acquired an international reputation as a centre of advanced learning.

To begin with, the School was affiliated to the University of Delhi. From September 1961 till the School merged with Jawahalal Nehru University in June 1970, it functioned as a deemed university. Following the merger, the prefix “Indian” was dropped from the name of the School and it became the School of International Studies of the Jawaharlal Nehru University.

For a long time, the academic programme of the School focused exclusively on research and the only degree it awarded was Ph.D. Soon after the School became a part of the Jawarharlal Nehru University, the M.Phil curriculum was introduced in 1971-72. In the following academic year 1973-74, the School started offering a 2 year M.A. (Politics: International Studies) programme. Much later in 1995-96, a new and unique M.A. programme in Economics (with specialization on World Economy) was introduced by the Economics Division of the Centre for Studies in Diplomacy, International Law & Economics.

Presently, there are around 100 faculty members in the School. We also have emeritus Professors and distinguished scholars in the School. In the recent years, several Chairs have been instituted in School. These are Appadorai Chair, Nelson Mandela Chair, State Bank of India Chair and Chairs in Environmental Law and Space Law. Members of the faculty of the School have contributed to the advancement and dissemination of knowledge in International Studies not only through their teaching and research supervision but also by publishing books and journal articles of highest international repute.

The School holds national and international seminars from time to time on important aspects of area studies, Inter-country relations and on themes relating to the study of international relations as an academic discipline.

The School also holds a series of Hriday Nath Kunzru Memorial (Extension) Lectures every year on a theme relating to contemporary international relations. Under an endowment funded by Asia Publishing House, Bombay, it also holds lectures in memory of the great poet and patriot, Sarojini Naidu and invites a distinguished scholar or statesman to deliver the memorial lecture.

The School publishes a quarterly journal "International Studies". Founded in July 1959, this journal has acquired world-wide reputation as the leading Indian academic journal in the field.