International Relations

International relations is the study of how states, international institutions, and non-state actors interact on the global stage, and of the forces, from diplomacy and trade to conflict, ideology, and international law, that shape those interactions. It is a discipline that has pioneered new critical approaches to understanding global politics, moving beyond the assumption that states are unitary rational actors to examine the role of ideas, identities, norms, and power asymmetries in shaping international outcomes.

At the University of Sussex, this three-year full-time programme is taught in one of the world's largest dedicated international relations departments, giving you access to an exceptionally wide range of specialist expertise. The programme includes a foundation year and also offers a sandwich placement year and a year abroad, making it both accessible and practically oriented. Sussex's approach encourages you to take electives from other subjects, including philosophy, law, and modern languages, broadening your intellectual perspective and allowing you to tailor your degree to your own interests.

You will engage with the critical and theoretical approaches that have made Sussex a leading centre for the discipline, developing your ability to analyse international events and structures with rigour and creativity.

Graduates of this programme go on to careers in diplomacy, international organisations, the civil service, journalism, NGOs, think tanks, international business, human rights work, and policy research. The theoretical depth and critical orientation of the Sussex programme is particularly valued in roles that require independent and creative thinking about how the international system works and how it could be changed. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in international relations, security studies, international law, or global governance, building on the undergraduate degree to develop more specialised expertise for academic or professional roles.