Law with International Relations
Law with international relations is a combination that reflects the increasingly global nature of legal practice. Law provides rigorous training in legal reasoning, the analysis of cases and statutes, and the doctrinal principles of the English legal system. International relations adds a framework for understanding the political world in which law operates, examining how states interact, how international institutions function, and how questions of sovereignty, human rights, and global governance are contested and resolved.
Together they prepare you for a world in which legal problems routinely cross borders and require both legal expertise and political awareness.
At Royal Holloway and Bedford New College this three-year full-time LLB programme combines a qualifying law degree with international relations content that develops your analytical understanding of world affairs. You will study the core areas of English law, including contract, tort, criminal law, and constitutional and administrative law, alongside international relations theory and contemporary global politics. The course includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad, and a work placement component, giving you substantial opportunities for professional development and international experience before you graduate.
The typical entry tariff of 120 points provides an indication of the entry standard.
You will develop the precise analytical and argumentative skills that legal training demands, alongside the broader contextual awareness and research capabilities that international relations brings. This is a genuinely useful combination for anyone interested in how legal systems interact with political realities at a global level.
Graduates go on to qualify as solicitors or barristers, subject to completing the required professional training, as well as pursuing careers in international organisations, diplomacy, the civil service, NGOs, policy research, and journalism. Postgraduate study in international law, public international law, or international relations is also a common pathway.