Sociology with Global Affairs, Politics and International Relations

Sociology with global affairs, politics, and international relations is a degree that explores both the structures of society and the forces that shape our interconnected world. Sociology provides the analytical tools to understand inequality, culture, identity, and the social structures through which power operates in everyday life. Global affairs, politics, and international relations extend that analysis to the level of states, international institutions, and global processes, examining how decisions made by governments and multinational organisations affect people across the world.

Together, the disciplines help you understand your place in a complex, interdependent global society.

At the University of Chester, this three-year full-time degree is described as pioneering, designed for students who aspire to understand and engage with the complexities of the global world around them. You will develop sociological theory and research methods alongside political analysis, engaging with topics including global governance, social inequality, geopolitics, migration, human rights, and international development. The degree includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study at an international partner institution and experience a different social and political environment at first hand.

Graduates from this combination go on to work in the civil service, international organisations, NGOs, policy research, journalism, social services, education, and the voluntary sector. The combination of sociological depth and global political awareness is valued wherever organisations need to understand human behaviour in its social and political contexts, whether that is in development, diplomacy, or domestic policy. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in sociology, international relations, social policy, or development studies, deepening their expertise for academic or specialist professional careers.