Politics and International Relations and Human Resource Management

Combining politics and international relations with human resource management produces a graduate who understands how power, institutions, and people interact at every level, from global governance and diplomatic relations to the management of individuals and teams within organisations. The political science strand develops your ability to analyse how governments work, how policies are made, how power is distributed, and how international actors cooperate or come into conflict. The human resource management strand asks complementary questions about how organisations recruit, develop, motivate, and retain the people who make them function.

At Strathclyde, this four-year full-time degree gives you a thorough grounding in both areas. The politics and international relations component explores domestic and international institutions, the behaviour of those who govern, and the complex issues that define relations between states, from questions of security and conflict to trade, diplomacy, and global governance. The human resource management element covers the theory and practice of employment relations, organisational behaviour, workforce planning, and leadership, skills that are applicable in almost every professional context.

A year abroad is built into the programme, giving you first-hand experience of a different political and institutional environment and adding an international dimension to your personal and academic development. The typical entry tariff is 200 UCAS points.

Graduates are well prepared for careers in human resources, public affairs, the civil service, NGOs, trade unions, international organisations, management consultancy, and the voluntary sector. The combination of political literacy and people management skills is particularly valued in organisations that operate across borders or in complex regulatory and governmental environments. Postgraduate study in human resource management, public policy, international relations, or business is also a well-established path for graduates who want to develop specialist expertise.