Classical Studies and International Relations

Classical studies and international relations is a combination that brings the foundational cultures of ancient Greece and Rome into dialogue with the analytical frameworks for understanding the contemporary international order. Classical studies examines the literature, history, philosophy, religion and art of the ancient Graeco-Roman world, tracing its influence on subsequent civilisations and exploring the universal and particular dimensions of human experience that the ancient texts illuminate. International relations provides the theoretical and empirical tools for analysing how states, international organisations and other actors interact in the modern world, covering questions of power, security, cooperation, human rights and global governance.

At the University of St Andrews you will study across four years of full-time study, including a year abroad that broadens your scholarly and personal horizons. You will engage with the extraordinary range and depth of classical studies, from the power of Greek tragedy and the complexity of Roman political thought to the reception of antiquity in the modern world, alongside the theoretical and empirical content of international relations. St Andrews is a leading institution for both disciplines, and the combination is supported by expert teaching in each.

Graduates in classical studies and international relations bring an unusually rich combination of historical depth, analytical rigour and contemporary awareness to their careers. The diplomatic and foreign service, international organisations, think tanks, journalism, policy research, law, academia and cultural institutions are all natural destinations. The classical foundation provides a perspective on human affairs that is distinctive in a field often dominated by social science perspectives, and the international relations component ensures that historical learning is connected to contemporary analytical relevance.

Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in international relations, classical studies, history or law, where the cross-temporal perspective the degree develops is genuinely valued.