Research is an integral part of international specialist's training. The scholars of the Institute explore the theoretical and applied issues of international relations and Ukrainian foreign policy, country studies, international business relations, international law, and contemporary humanitarian problems and linguistics. The research results are widely used in the teaching process to develop new general and specialised courses.
Scientific potential consists of nearly 170 professors, among them: 1 – full-member of the National Academy of Ukraine, 2 – corresponding members of the  Academy of Law of Ukraine, 1 – full-member of the Ukrainian Academy of Technology, 29 – Doctors of Sciences, Professors, 57 – PhD, Associated Professors. The Institute has a special research department with 29 scientists (15 – researches, 14 - specialists).  
When fostering the renewal of the academia and training of the most highly qualified specialists in international affairs, the Institute pays close attention to post-graduate, doctor training, and to continuing education of the trainers. Every year the Institute enrols more than 60 Ukrainian and foreign post-graduate students; circa 50 members of the departments work as aspirants seeking the Candidate of Sciences Degree, and 5 – that of the Doctor of Sciences Degree. There are 3 specialised Councils for Defending Theses, namely, Political Problems of International Systems and Global Development; World Economy and International Economic Relations; International Law; Civil Law and Civil Process, Family Law, International Private Law.
Refresher training and continuing education of the teaching staff is an inherent part of training and research. The Institute promotes continuing learning of its staff both at appropriate Ukrainian establishments, foreign higher educational institutions which are partners of the University, based on bilateral and multilateral agreements on co-operation. Annually, about 20 members of the academia undertake overseas refresher or continuing training courses.
The academia of the Institute contribute greatly to the development of the Ukrainian national studies. The Institute hosts international conferences, symposia, workshops, and round table discussions of international law, international relations, international economic relations and international information on a regular basis. The Institute has up-to-date facilities to publish scientific literature, textbooks, manuals and methodological literature. Every year the academia prepare up to 40 treatises and textbooks, publish more than 300 scientific articles. Transactions of the Institute and Collections of research papers are published. They are: Visnyk Kyivskoho Universytetu. Mizhnarodni Vidnosyny (Herald of Kyiv University. International Relations) and Aktualni Problemy Mizhnarodnykh Vidnosyn (Current Issues of International Relations). The Chairs contribute to a number of international projects of TEMPUS-TACIS, INTAS, NATO, UNESCO, Renaissance Foundation, etc. The Institute hosts the UNESCO task force on democratic governance and culture of peace.
The academia actively participated in drafting the Constitution of Ukraine, they have been involved in drafting numerous state programmes and laws, have worked in the Commissions of the Verkhovna Rada where they have ample opportunities to implement the results of their research. The Centre for International and European Studies has been established to make scientific prognostic research of major political problems in international relations and policy of Ukraine, the issues of European integration.
The students of the Institute take an active part in the research. As members of research circles, of task forces at the departments, they participate in students research conferences, round table discussions, Days of Humanities and Arts, Shevchenko Days, International Olympiads, etc. The Student and Post-Graduate Student Research Society promotes students' works, and students are awarded scholarships and grants to do research at the Institute and to study abroad, and publish the most interesting works. Students research papers are published in Aktualni Problemy Mizhnarodnykh Vidnosyn Collection.