Catherine Mounier-Desrochers G'19

I was born in Ottawa and I grew up in the beautiful province of Quebec, Canada. I have lived most of my life in Canada, but I was lucky enough to travel around the world from an early age. Before studying at AUP, I completed an internship in Paris at TV5 Monde, a study trip to Brussels and an exchange with Uppsala University in Sweden.  

I moved to Montreal for undergrad to study political science and international development studies at McGill University and lived in that great city for four years. During my time at McGill, I developed a strong interest in Canadian politics, and I had the chance to complete two internships in Ottawa working in the Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and in the Office of the Prime Minister.  

After this experience, I knew I wanted to shift my focus to international issues. I looked at many programs, but most of them lacked the practical aspect I was seeking. What made me choose the MA in Diplomacy and International Law at AUP was the incredible curriculum. The University’s pedagogical approach – based on obtaining foundational knowledge of international law along with a thorough understanding of international affairs – as well as the emphasis on hands-on experience through workshops like The Hague Practicum and the Oxford International Human Rights Law Summer School, convinced me that the course would be the one to best prepare me for an international career. I truly believe that I could not have found the training and experiences I will benefit from in this program elsewhere.