International Relations and Psychology
International relations and psychology is a combination that brings together the study of political behaviour at the global scale with the scientific investigation of individual and collective human behaviour. International relations examines the global system: how nation-states interact, the causes and consequences of war and cooperation, the role of international institutions, and the norms and laws that shape relations between states and peoples. Psychology asks how individuals think, feel, and act, and how those individual processes scale up to produce collective behaviour in groups, institutions, and societies.
At Liverpool Hope University, this programme draws on both disciplines in a genuinely integrative way. International relations draws on history, sociology, anthropology, media, law, and economics to build a multi-dimensional understanding of global politics, while psychology equips you with the scientific rigour to investigate the human dimensions of that politics: how leaders make decisions under pressure, how public opinion forms and shifts, how group dynamics and identity shape conflict and cooperation, and how trauma affects individuals and communities caught in political violence. The programme runs over four years with a foundation year at the outset, providing a well-supported entry into a demanding curriculum.
The course includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement, giving you a rich range of professional and international experiences. The typical entry tariff is 104 UCAS points.
Graduates go on to careers in international organisations, NGOs, diplomacy, journalism, the civil service, human rights work, research, and the charity sector. The combination of political analysis and psychological understanding is increasingly valued in conflict resolution, development work, and international communications. Further study options include postgraduate degrees in international relations, political psychology, peace and conflict studies, and development studies.