International Relations and History

International relations and history are disciplines that illuminate how the world has been shaped by power, conflict, diplomacy, and ideas across time. Together they provide a uniquely rich lens: history anchors you in evidence and change over time, while international relations gives you the analytical tools to understand how states, institutions, and non-state actors interact on the global stage. Studying both at the School of Oriental and African Studies means you engage with perspectives that centre the Global South, challenging assumptions rooted in Western-centric accounts of world affairs.

Throughout the three-year programme you will examine the development of the international system from colonial empires to post-Cold War multilateralism, exploring how historical forces continue to shape contemporary geopolitics. You will analyse primary sources, diplomatic records, and theoretical frameworks from realism and liberalism to constructivism and postcolonial thought. The course includes a foundation year, giving you a solid grounding in both disciplines before you move into more specialist study.

You will develop skills in critical reading, structured argument, and the ability to situate current events within longer historical processes.

Graduates from this kind of joint programme are well placed for careers in government, the civil service, international organisations, think tanks, journalism, non-governmental organisations, and the diplomatic service. Many go on to postgraduate study in international law, development, security studies, or history, building on the analytical depth the joint degree provides.