Politics and International Relations

Politics and international relations is a discipline that asks some of the most important and contested questions about how power is organised in the modern world. Politics examines the institutions, processes, and ideologies through which societies make collective decisions, comparing how different political systems and cultures approach democracy, authority, and governance. International relations extends this analysis beyond the nation-state, asking how states interact, why conflicts arise, what sustains international cooperation, and how power is distributed in a world of multiple actors and interests.

Together they offer a comprehensive education in political analysis at every level from the local to the global.

At the London School of Economics and Political Science, this three-year full-time programme benefits from one of the world's most distinguished social science environments. The LSE has long been central to the study of politics and international affairs, and its London location places you in one of the world's leading diplomatic, financial, and political capitals. You will study political theory and ideologies, comparative politics across different cultures and countries, international relations theory, and the workings of international institutions and norms.

A year abroad is built into the programme, giving you the opportunity to study at a partner institution and to experience political life in another context. You will develop rigorous analytical and argumentative skills, engage with political science methodology, and learn to write and reason about complex political questions with clarity and precision.

Graduates from LSE politics and international relations programmes enter careers across a wide range of fields. The civil service, diplomacy, international organisations, journalism, NGOs, think tanks, law, financial services, and political research are all well-established routes. The analytical, research, and communication skills developed are valued across private and public sectors.

Postgraduate study in international relations, international law, public policy, or political science is a natural continuation for those seeking specialist professional or academic careers.