International Relations with a Year Abroad

International relations is the study of how states, international organisations, and other actors interact across borders, and why those interactions take the forms they do. It draws on political science, history, economics, and philosophy to examine war and peace, trade and development, human rights, environmental governance, and the institutions and norms that shape global order. The discipline is both theoretical, asking fundamental questions about the nature of power and cooperation, and practical, engaging with the most urgent challenges facing the contemporary world.

At the University of East Anglia, this four-year full-time programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study at a partner institution in another country and to develop a genuinely international perspective through direct experience as well as academic study. You will examine the major theoretical traditions in international relations, including realism, liberalism, constructivism, and critical approaches, alongside substantive areas such as international security, global governance, foreign policy analysis, and the politics of global issues including climate change, migration, and conflict. UEA has a strong reputation in the social sciences and provides a rigorous and engaged academic environment for this kind of study.

A typical entry tariff of 120 points makes the programme accessible.

Graduates of international relations programmes work in diplomacy, the civil service, international organisations including the United Nations and European Union, journalism, NGOs, think tanks, development agencies, and the private sector in roles that require international awareness and analytical rigour. The year abroad is a significant advantage in a competitive graduate job market, demonstrating adaptability and international experience. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in international relations, security studies, international law, or public policy, building on their undergraduate foundation to develop specialist expertise.