International Relations and Economics
International relations is the study of how states, international organisations, and non-state actors interact across borders, and of the forces, norms, and power structures that shape those interactions. It asks how wars start and end, how global governance works, how economic interdependence changes political relationships, and how ideas like sovereignty, human rights, and development travel across different political contexts. Combining it with economics adds a powerful analytical dimension, connecting international political analysis to the study of how global markets, trade, and financial flows are organised and what consequences they have.
At the University of Derby, this four-year full-time programme, which includes a foundation year, takes a transdisciplinary approach to world affairs. The international relations component equips you to interrogate significant global issues with depth and critical awareness, developing an understanding of the dynamic processes and trends that affect human societies across the world. The economics element brings rigorous analytical tools for understanding how global economic systems operate, how resources are allocated, and how economic policy is shaped and evaluated.
Together, the two disciplines prepare you to engage with the most important and difficult questions in global affairs, from climate negotiation and conflict resolution to development economics and international financial governance. The foundation year provides a supported starting point for students who need additional preparation before the main degree. With a typical entry tariff of 104 UCAS points, the programme is accessible to a wide range of students.
Graduates from international relations and economics programmes are well placed for careers in international organisations, the foreign office and diplomatic service, government departments, NGOs, think tanks, international businesses, development agencies, journalism, and the civil service. The combination of political and economic analytical skills is particularly valuable in roles that require understanding the interaction between policy and markets at a global level. Postgraduate study in international relations, global economics, development studies, or public policy is a common next step.