Politics and International Relations

Politics and international relations together address the most consequential questions about how power operates, both within societies and between them. Politics examines how governments are formed and held to account, how policies are made, how political ideas have evolved, and how institutions shape the choices available to citizens and leaders. International relations extends this to the global stage, asking how states interact, what drives conflict and cooperation, how international organisations and law constrain national behaviour, and what role non-state actors play in a world that no single power controls.

At Nottingham you will engage with both disciplines rigorously, developing skills in political analysis, critical thinking, and research alongside a broad understanding of the international system. You will study political theory, comparative politics, British and European institutions, international security, global political economy, and the theory and practice of diplomacy and international organisations. The three-year full-time programme includes a sandwich placement year and a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to gain professional experience in a relevant organisation and to study or work in a different national context, both of which are important preparation for careers in international affairs and public life.

Graduates go on to careers in government and the civil service, international organisations, diplomacy, journalism, NGOs, think tanks, political campaigning, public affairs, research, and the private sector. The combination of analytical rigour and international awareness that this degree develops is valued across a wide range of employers who need people capable of understanding complex political and global dynamics. Many students continue to postgraduate study in politics, international relations, security studies, or public policy.