International Relations and Psychology

International relations and psychology is an unusual combination that connects the macro-level study of world politics with the micro-level science of individual thought, emotion, and behaviour. International relations asks how states interact, what drives conflict and cooperation, and how international order is maintained or disrupted. Psychology asks how individuals perceive, reason, and act, what motivates human behaviour, and how cognition and emotion shape decision-making.

The two disciplines converge at questions that neither can answer alone: how do leaders make decisions under uncertainty, what are the psychological dimensions of conflict and peacemaking, how do group identities and intergroup dynamics shape international behaviour, and what psychological factors influence public opinion about foreign policy?

At St Andrews this four-year MA (Hons) programme introduces you to the full breadth of contemporary psychology, covering perception, cognition, motivation, development, social psychology, and the foundational theories of the discipline. Research methods and practical classes are central from the outset, ensuring you develop the scientific skills that psychology requires. The international relations strand provides an in-depth grounding in international political theory and the empirical study of world affairs, examining the dynamics of power, security, governance, and cooperation at the global level.

A year abroad is embedded in the programme.

Graduates pursue careers in international organisations, diplomacy, government, NGOs, journalism, consultancy, research, and conflict resolution, as well as in psychology-related fields including counselling, research, and human factors work. The combination is particularly valuable for roles at the intersection of political decision-making and human behaviour analysis. Many graduates also go on to postgraduate study in psychology, political psychology, or international relations.