An international relations degree will help you to gain appreciation of how states, international organisations, and non-state actors interact on the global stage. This course is about using theories and models to best explain and understand power in the world, why the world is the way it is, and how we can change it. This takes place at all levels, from individuals to whole global systems, and understanding this allows us to question what we think we know, what we think matters, and how we can develop a better world. Supported by knowledgeable and passionate staff, youll start by looking at the core critical and emancipatory theories of international relations and their underlying methods. Youll get a broad grounding in the key issues of todays world and the contested historical development of world politics studying topics informed by staff research such as terrorism, security studies, human rights, cultural politics, and many others. A wide variety of options means that you can pursue your own interests – with things becoming increasingly flexible as you progress through the course, and in your final year, you will engage more directly with current academic debates and contemporary political developments. We place a heavy emphasis on employability and offer valuable practical skills training, including advanced analytical approaches, which many employers look for when offering placement opportunities. This, alongside the possible opportunity to study abroad – with all the experience that it brings – means that an International Relations degree opens doors to a range of interesting and rewarding career possibilities. You can also combine international relations with another subject and broaden your outlook still further, and in your third year, you may have the opportunity to take a placement year with an employer or study abroad, broadening your horizons and boosting your employability.

Career prospects

Most international relations graduates go straight into employment and/or further study. Previous graduates have gone into a variety of careers in the fast-track civil service, the armed forces intelligence corps, publishing, recruitment, journalism, media, charities, academic research and company management.

There is also the opportunity to engage in further study and professional training, for example some of our graduates go on to study MA International Relations and Global Communications and MSc Digital Society (with specialisms in Digital Politics and Digital Sociology), where we have a growing, innovative research cluster focusing on digital society and culture.