Politics and International Relations

Politics and international relations asks how power works, both within states and between them. Politics examines how governments are formed, how policy is made, how democracy functions and why it sometimes fails. International relations asks how states, international organisations, and non-state actors interact, why conflicts arise, how cooperation is achieved, and what drives the foreign policies of different nations.

Together they provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the forces that shape the world we live in, from local government decisions to global trade agreements and military alliances.

At the University of Kent, this programme is offered part time, which means you can study politics and international relations at a serious academic level while managing other commitments. The part-time format suits those who are working, caring for others, or returning to education after a break, and the University of Kent has a strong tradition of supporting students who study in this way. The programme is driven by a clear purpose: it is for people who are driven to improve lives, whether in local communities, in national politics, or on the world stage.

Kent has particular strengths in international relations, law, and human rights, and its location in the South East provides proximity to London, Brussels, and the international institutions that are the subject matter of the degree.

You will develop skills in political analysis, policy evaluation, research methods, and written and verbal argument. Studying political theory alongside comparative politics and international relations gives you both the normative and the empirical tools to understand political phenomena at multiple scales.

Graduates from politics and international relations programmes work in the civil service, diplomatic service, international organisations, journalism, think tanks, non-governmental organisations, local government, public affairs and a wide range of commercial and public sector roles. Further study at postgraduate level in politics, international relations, security, development, or law is a well-established next step for those who want to specialise.