International Relations and Politics
International relations and politics addresses the forces that shape the world we live in: how states interact, how international institutions are built and sustained, how conflicts arise and are resolved, and how the global balance of power shifts over time. Politics provides the foundational frameworks for understanding power, governance, and collective decision-making within and between societies. International relations extends these frameworks to the global level, examining diplomacy, security, international law, trade, development, and the growing role of non-state actors from multinational corporations to NGOs and social movements.
This three-year full-time programme at Northumbria University includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement, giving you a degree with exceptional professional and international breadth. You will study international relations theory, comparative politics, foreign policy, global governance, security studies, international political economy, and the research methods used to analyse political and international phenomena. The year abroad takes you to a partner institution in another country, developing your international awareness directly, while the sandwich year and placement give you professional experience in an organisation where political and international understanding is directly relevant.
Graduates from this programme pursue careers in government and the civil service, diplomacy and international organisations, journalism and media, NGOs and development agencies, think tanks, the law, and international business. The combination of political analysis and international awareness is directly applicable to a very wide range of roles, and the practical experience gained during the sandwich year and placement significantly enhances graduate employability. Postgraduate options include international relations, security studies, political science, law, and public policy, and the programme provides strong preparation for any of these routes.