International Relations and Politics

International relations and politics together form one of the most relevant combinations of study for understanding the world as it actually operates. International relations examines how states, international organisations, and non-state actors interact across borders, what drives foreign policy, how conflicts arise and are resolved, and what international law and global governance can and cannot achieve. Politics provides the domestic and comparative dimension, exploring how power is organised within states, how democratic institutions function, and what the relationship is between government, citizens, and the political ideas that shape both.

This part-time programme at the University of Derby allows you to study both subjects at a pace that fits around other commitments. The programme includes a foundation component for those who need additional preparation before the degree proper, a sandwich year and work placement activity that connect your learning to professional environments, and a year abroad that takes you into a different political and international context, deepening your understanding in ways that classroom study alone cannot replicate. You will develop skills in research, analysis, and argument that are applicable across a wide range of professional contexts.

Graduates of international relations and politics programmes go on to careers in diplomacy, international organisations, the civil service, government, journalism, policy research, international development, NGOs, and the private sector. The combination of international and domestic political analysis makes you particularly valuable in roles that require understanding how decisions at one level of governance affect outcomes at another. Many graduates proceed to postgraduate study in international relations, political science, international law, or public policy, and some pursue doctoral research.

The part-time format often allows graduates to enter professional life while completing their studies, building relevant experience from an earlier stage.