History and International Relations

History and international relations together offer a powerful set of analytical tools for understanding the world as it is and how it came to be. History teaches you to read evidence critically, construct arguments from complex material and understand events in their social, economic and cultural context. International relations provides theoretical frameworks for analysing how states, international organisations and other actors interact, covering questions of power, conflict, security, trade, human rights and global governance.

Studied together, the disciplines complement each other: historical depth enriches the analysis of contemporary international affairs, while international relations theory sharpens the questions historians ask of the past.

At Queen Mary University of London you will study across four years of full-time study, examining the state system, security, globalisation and cultural change through both historical and contemporary lenses. You will engage with case studies ranging across centuries and continents, from the Haitian Revolution to the global financial crisis, learning to apply theory to real-world situations and to understand the long historical roots of present-day tensions and alliances. The programme develops your ability to research independently, analyse primary and secondary sources, and communicate complex ideas in clear, well-structured written form.

Graduates are well positioned for careers in journalism, the foreign office and diplomatic service, international organisations, NGOs, think tanks, policy research, law, the civil service and a wide range of organisations that deal with international affairs or require a sophisticated understanding of contemporary history. The combination of historical literacy and international relations analysis is also valued in finance, strategic communications and consulting. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in international relations, security studies, history, international law or diplomacy, building on the dual foundation the undergraduate degree provides.