In 1977, he entered the Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO). In 1982, upon his graduation, Ilham Aliyev continued his education as a postgraduate student at MGIMO. In 1985, he defended his dissertation and received a Ph.D. degree in history.
Between 1985 and 1990, he taught at the Moscow State University of International Relations.
From 1991 to 1994, Ilham Aliyev worked in the private business sector, heading a number of industrial-commercial enterprises.
Between 1994 and 2003, he was the vice president, and later the first vice president of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR). He had been actively involved in the implementation of "Heydar Aliyev`s oil strategy".
In 1995 and 2000, he was twice elected to the Milli Majlis (parliament) of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In 2003, he resigned from his post due to his appointment to the post of prime minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan by the parliament on August 4, 2003.
Since 1997, Ilham Aliyev is the President of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan. For his great contribution to the development of sports and Olympic movement, Ilham Aliyev was awarded the highest order of International Olympic Committee and "Grand Cordon" Order of Merit of International Military Sport Council.
He has been elected deputy chairman of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party in 1999, first deputy chairman in 2001, and the chairman of the party in 2005.
Between 2001 and 2003 he was the head of the Azerbaijani Parliamentary delegation to Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE).
In January 2003, Ilham Aliyev was elected deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) and member of the PACE bureau.
On October 15, 2003, Ilham Aliyev was elected president of the Republic of Azerbaijan. More than 76 percent of voters supported his candidacy during the elections. He assumed his post on October 31, 2003.
Ilham Aliyev was elected president of Azerbaijan for the second term, gaining 88 percent of votes in the elections, held on October 15, 2008. He assumed the duties of the president on October 24, 2008.
On October 9, 2013, Ilham Aliyev was elected president of Azerbaijan by an overwhelming majority of voters (84.54 percent) for the five years. He assumed the post on October 19, 2013.
Azerbaijani people made their choice. They voted for political stability, prosperity and sustainable socio-economic development.
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