Economics and International Relations

Economics and international relations is a pairing well suited to the interconnected world in which global trade, financial flows, and political relationships shape each other in ways that neither discipline can fully illuminate alone. Economics provides rigorous analytical tools: the microeconomic logic of individual and firm behaviour, the macroeconomic frameworks for understanding growth, inflation, and monetary policy, and the quantitative methods needed to work with real data. International relations adds the political and institutional dimension, examining how states interact, how international organisations function, and how the distribution of power shapes global order.

At the University of St Andrews this four-year MA (Hons) programme provides a structured, cumulative, and rigorous foundation in economic analysis alongside sustained engagement with the theory and practice of international relations. You will develop your analytical and decision-making abilities through training in quantitative and model-based economic methods while also building the historical and theoretical understanding of international affairs that IR demands. The degree includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to deepen your understanding of both disciplines in a different academic and cultural environment.

St Andrews has a strong international student body and a distinguished academic reputation, particularly in international affairs.

You will develop strong quantitative and analytical skills alongside the ability to think carefully about political economy, institutional design, and the international dimensions of economic policy. This combination is increasingly valued by employers who need people who understand both markets and the political contexts in which they operate.

Graduates pursue careers in international organisations, the civil service and diplomatic service, international finance, development economics, consultancy, think tanks, and journalism. Postgraduate study in economics, international political economy, international relations, or public policy is a common and natural next step.