Academia Diplomática del Perú
Javier Pérez de Cuéllar

Diplomatic Academy of Peru

JAVIER PÉREZ DE CUÉLLAR

Who we are

Diplomatic Academy of Peru Javier Pérez de Cuéllar

The Diplomatic Academy of Peru Javier Pérez de Cuéllar (ADP) is the higher education and research institution of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responsible for the professional training of Peru’s diplomats.

It constitutes the sole pathway for entry into the Diplomatic Service of the Republic and is entrusted with the comprehensive training of candidates for the Diplomatic Service, as well as with the continuous professional development of its officers.

Admission to the Academy is granted strictly on the basis of merit through an annual public competition. Candidates must successfully pass seven stages of evaluation and obtain one of the positions made available each year by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Founded in August 1955, the Academy has trained more than 1,175 diplomats as of the end of 2024. By the close of the twentieth century, all active career ambassadors of Peru were graduates of the institution; today, all Peruvian career diplomats have received their training at the Academy.

The Academy began its academic activities in April 1956 under the leadership of the distinguished diplomat and jurist Ambassador Alberto Ulloa Sotomayor. Since its establishment, the institution has had 34 Directors. The current Director is Ambassador Silvia Alfaro Espinosa, who assumed office on 1 April 2025.

Among the promoters of the ADP, Ambassador Pedro Ugarteche Tizón (1902–1971) stands out. From within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and through numerous publications, he advocated—since the late 1930s—for the prompt establishment of the Diplomatic Academy of Peru. Dr. Ugarteche later served as Director of the Academy during the second half of the 1960s.

Our History

  • 1955 – The Diplomatic Academy of Peru was established by Supreme Decree No. 326 of 18 August 1955, signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. David Aguilar Cornejo. The first regulations governing the institution are approved.
  • 1956 – The Academy begins operations under the direction of its first Director, Ambassador Alberto Ulloa Sotomayor (1892–1975), an eminent diplomat, jurist, scholar, author, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and former Senator of the Republic.
  • 1958 – The Academy graduates its first class, named “Raúl Porras Barrenechea.” Among its graduates was Martha Reynoso Castañeda, the first woman career diplomat in Peru.
  • 1994 – The first cohort of students enrolled in the Master’s Program in Diplomacy is admitted.
  • 1995 – The first class graduates with the Master’s Degree in Diplomacy.
  • 2004 – The Academy relocated to its current headquarters, known as the “Ambassador Igor Velásquez Rodríguez House.”
  • 2005 – The Academy is formally authorized to confer the professional title of Career Diplomat and the Master’s Degree in Diplomacy and International Relations.
  • 2011 – The institution adopts the name “Diplomatic Academy of Peru Javier Pérez de Cuéllar” in honor of the distinguished Peruvian diplomat who served twice as Secretary-General of the United Nations, as well as President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru.
  • 2015 – The Master’s Degree in Diplomacy and International Relations offered by the Academy receives official recognition from the National Assembly of Rectors.

Recognitions and Benefactors

  • The building that hosts/serves as the headquarters of the Academy bears the name “Ambassador Igor Velásquez Rodríguez House” in recognition of the distinguished Peruvian diplomat (1933–2005), who generously donated the funds that made the acquisition of the property possible.
  • Another major benefactor was Ambassador Gonzalo N. de Arámburu y Rosas (1899–1980), who established in his will that part of his estate be used to create a foundation supporting the activities of the Diplomatic Academy of Peru.
  • The awards granted to the top students of each graduating class bear the names of these distinguished benefactors.

Academic Programs

  • Master’s Degree in Diplomacy and International Relations
    A two-year graduate program that combines academic rigor with professional training and is recognized by the Peruvian university system.
  • Professional Development Courses
    Advanced training programs designed for officers of the Peruvian Diplomatic Service. These courses are mandatory within the diplomatic career track and are taken into consideration in promotion processes.

Given that many diplomatic officers serve abroad, these courses are frequently delivered through virtual learning platforms, in coordination with the Human Resources Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  • Student Exchange
    Through agreements with partner governments, the Academy receives international students who undertake one or two years of study within the Master’s program alongside Peruvian candidates to the Diplomatic Service, fostering academic exchange and cooperation with future diplomats from other countries.

Excellence in training for the Diplomatic Service

The program of studies at the Academy leads to a Master’s Degree in Diplomacy and International Relations and lasts four semesters (two academic years). Students are required to devote themselves full-time  to their studies throughout the program.

The Academy is supported by a highly qualified faculty, and its curriculum is structured according to a competency-based approach.

* Some courses are delivered in English.

Upon the successful completion of the two-year graduate program and the defense of their thesis, graduates of the Academy receive dual qualifications:

  • A Master’s Degree in Diplomacy and International Relations, recognized by the national university system
  • The professional title of Career Diplomat

Graduates are subsequently incorporated into the Diplomatic Service with the rank of Third Secretary.

After two years of service within the Diplomatic Service, these young officers are appointed to serve in Peru’s missions abroad, including:

  • Embassies
  • Consulates
  • Permanent Representations to international organizations

A Comprehensive Training Experience.

  • Extracurricular Activities
    Students participate in seminars and conferences on diplomatic practice delivered by distinguished Peruvian and international experts.
  • Study Tours
    To complement academic training, students undertake annual study visits to various regions of the country in order to gain first-hand knowledge of Peru’s national reality.
  • Professional Internships
    Between January and March each year, students who have completed the first year of the Master’s program undertake professional internships in various offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as in Peru’s diplomatic missions abroad.
  • International Events
    Students are given opportunities to participate in international events of diplomatic relevance organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Student Benefits

Students admitted to the Academy receive the following benefits:

  • A full scholarship funded by the Peruvian State
  • A monthly stipend
  • Health insurance
  • Scholarships for study abroad for the top-ranked students
  • Study trips within Peru and abroad
  • Official uniform
  • Lunch on class days
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