A student takes part in a Model UN debate, seated at a desk with a placard reading General Assembly, a folder and a small stand of national flags, while other delegates sit in the background.

DEGREE GUIDE

International Relations

What do International Relations degrees involve?

International Relations degrees teach you how countries, governments, and global organisations interact, shaping diplomacy, conflict, and international cooperation. You will study key areas such as global politics, international law, security studies, human rights, and foreign policy. These courses help you develop strong analytical, research, and communication skills while exploring how international institutions respond to global challenges such as climate change, migration, and conflict resolution. As you progress, you may specialise in areas such as international development, global governance, or regional politics. You will also gain hands-on experience through policy analysis, simulations, and opportunities for study abroad, preparing you for careers in diplomacy, government, NGOs, and international business.

Example
Modules

Introduction to International Relations: Explore core ideas like power, conflict, and diplomacy, examining how states, global institutions and non-governmental actors shape world affairs.

International Security, Interdependence, and Organisation: Investigate how countries respond to threats, the role of the UN and NATO, and the growing need for cooperation in a globalised world.

Perspectives of Political Economy: Analyse how politics and economics collide in global trade, development, inequality, and resource distribution.

Common Degree Names

💼 Some courses offer placement years in think tanks, NGOs, or government and policy organisations.
🌍 Study abroad is widely available.

BA (Hons) International Relations

BA (Hons) War Studies

BA (Hons) Peace Studies
BA (Hons) International Relations and Politics
BA (Hons) International Relations and History
BA (Hons) International Relations and Sociology
BA (Hons) International Relations and Economics

A desk laid out for studying international relations, with a book titled Foreign Policy, a stack of closed books, an official document bearing a seal and signature, a teal fountain pen, and a stand of national flags including the United Nations flag.

Level 3 (A-level / IB Diploma (HL) / Scottish Highers)

International Relations (IR) degrees explore global politics, diplomacy, conflict, cooperation, and international organisations. Entry requirements are typically flexible; universities are looking for strong reading, writing, and critical thinking skills rather than specific subjects.

Subjects that can strengthen your application:

Politics or Government & Politics – directly relevant to global systems and policy
History – excellent for analytical writing and understanding how conflicts and alliances develop
Geography – useful for understanding global systems, development, and geopolitics
Economics – relevant for international trade, development, and political economy
Sociology or Philosophy – helpful for understanding societies, ethics, and political theory
Modern Languages – valuable for international engagement and study abroad opportunities

✨ You don't need to have studied Politics or International Relations before – a mix of essay-based and analytical subjects works well and shows you can handle reading, discussion, and argument.

Universities may also accept:

BTEC Extended Diplomas (widely accepted), though some universities require A-levels alongside.
BTEC National Extended Certificates or National Diplomas alongside relevant A-Level subjects
T-Levels on a case-by-case basis
IB Career-related Programme (IBCP) with any two IB subjects at Higher Level (minimum two, ideally three) alongside your Career-Related Study

Entry requirements vary, especially for combined courses (e.g. International Relations with Economics or a Language). Always check specific course requirements.

Level 2 Qualifications (GCSE / MYP / National 5)

Most courses ask for:

GCSE English Language and Maths at grade 4/C or above, or equivalents such as National 5s or MYP

📘 Strong English is important for essays and presentations. GCSE (or equivalent) Geography, History, or a Modern Foreign Language can help, but aren’t essential.

💬 Interviews
Formal interviews aren't usually part of the application process. However, some universities may invite you for a short conversation, either online or in person, to learn more about your interest in the subject.

🔍 Work Experience

You don't need work experience to apply for International Relations. If you're looking for practical ways to explore the field, taking part in Model United Nations, debating societies, or youth councils gives you a feel for how diplomacy and negotiation work in practice. If you have a school placement to fill, an organisation involved in international affairs, politics, or community advocacy gives you useful context.

✨ Personal Statement Tips

What interests you about how countries and global actors interact? International relations explores power, conflict, cooperation, and how the world is governed - from diplomacy and war to trade, climate agreements, and international institutions. If you've followed global events and found yourself wanting to understand why things happen the way they do, think about what sparked that curiosity. Reading about international affairs, listening to podcasts that analyse global politics, or exploring different theories about how the world works can show genuine engagement. Admissions tutors want to see that you're curious about the dynamics between states and other actors, not just following the news passively.

If your qualifications don't match the usual entry requirements, there are some other possibilities.

🌱 Foundation Year in Social Science or Humanities

Many universities offer a foundation year if you don't have the required subjects or grades. This adds an extra year but leads directly into the full degree.

🎓 Access to HE Diploma (Social Science, Humanities or Politics)

Widely accepted by universities offering International Relations. Choose a pathway with essay-based units and aim for Merits and Distinctions in your graded units.

Is this degree right for you?

Members can explore whether this degree fits who they are:

Skills you'd develop and whether they match your strengths
How this aligns with your interests, motivators and values
Career paths and where graduates end up

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Skills you would develop in X degree

Skill Name

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Is this a good fit for you?

Use the tabs to explore the kind of person that this would be a good fit for. Do you share the Interests, Motivations, Values, Work identity and skills that people who thrive in this course tend to have?

Not sure what these things are? Explore your Identity Tree with us first.

Interests that connect well with an International Relations degree

Students who enjoy this degree often share these interests. You don't need to feel strongly about all of them, and interests develop over time. If one or two catch your curiosity, or sound like something you'd like to know more about, that's a good sign.

Global Issues & International Affairs: The degree is built around understanding how the international system works: how nations relate to each other, what causes conflict and cooperation, and how institutions like the UN and NATO attempt to manage global challenges from security threats to climate change.

Fairness, Justice & Rights: Human rights, international law, and global justice are actively examined throughout the degree. You'll study how the international community responds to war crimes and mass atrocities, how rights are upheld or violated across borders, and whether global institutions are fair or in need of reform.

Money, Markets & How Economies Work: International political economy is a core strand of the degree. You'll study how global trade, finance, and development shape relations between countries, why some nations prosper while others remain in poverty, and how economic power translates into political influence on the world stage.

Mathematics, Patterns & Data: Data analysis and research methods are woven through the degree, and some UK programmes offer dedicated quantitative research methods pathways working with real-world datasets on conflict, migration, and global governance.

Students who thrive in an International Relations degree are often motivated by

Analysing and Investigating

You're energised by making sense of information, looking for evidence, spotting patterns, and piecing together how things connect. Whether it's pulling apart data, questioning assumptions, or tracing a problem back to its source, you find energy in the process of understanding what's really going on. You'd rather dig into the details than accept things at face value.

Curiosity and Learning

You're energised by the activity of learning itself: diving into a subject you've never explored, watching documentaries, taking apart how something works, or constantly asking "why?" The process of learning gives you energy, not just the outcome. You don't just want the answer; you want to understand how things connect, why they matter, and what's underneath the surface explanation.

Working Internationally

You're energised by work that crosses borders and connects you with people from different countries, backgrounds, and systems. That might be collaborating with international colleagues, working in a place that isn't your own, using another language professionally, or tackling problems that don't stop at a single country's borders. You come alive when the work you're doing reaches beyond your own patch of the world.

Influencing and Persuading

You're energised by convincing others of your ideas, selling a vision, or motivating people to take action. Whether it's through a well-crafted argument, a compelling presentation, or a one-to-one conversation, you find energy in changing someone's mind or getting buy-in for something you believe in. The challenge of working out what will actually land with this person, in this moment, is part of what makes it satisfying.

What makes International Relations click for the students who love it?

Why do countries that need each other still end up at each other's throats? That kind of question is what they can't leave alone. They follow world events closely, wanting to know why things happen and how a crisis can look completely different from one capital to the next. They are happy with politics, economics, history and security all in play, and want their work to reach well beyond their own country. And they want to be in the room where it is settled, drafting the resolution or building the coalition that wins a vote.

These are the skills that students who love this degree tend to enjoy using. You don't need to be great at them already, but if they sound like you, that's a good sign.

Skill Name

Skills that suit this degree

You don't need to be great at these already — but if you enjoy using them or want to get better at them, that's a good sign.

Are you curious about how people in other countries see the world — and do you enjoy trying to understand perspectives very different from your own?
Do you find yourself thinking about why countries make the choices they do — forming alliances, going to war, or making trade deals?
Do you enjoy analysing complicated situations where there's no clear right answer and lots of different sides to consider?
Are you interested in how agreements get made — whether that's in everyday life or on the world stage?

Careers an International Relations degree could lead you to

International Relations

What do International Relations degrees involve?

Example Modules

Common Degree Names

Is this degree right for you?

Skills you would develop in X degree

Skill Name

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Is this a good fit for you?

Careers an International Relations degree could lead you to

Example
Modules