Geography and International Relations

Geography and international relations together address some of the most fundamental questions about how the world is organised and how human societies relate to the environments in which they live. Geography asks how our planet came to look the way it does, how human activity is reshaping physical landscapes and ecosystems, and how the spatial distribution of resources, populations, and economic activity shapes the opportunities available to different places and people. International relations examines how states and other actors interact across borders, what drives cooperation and conflict, and how international institutions attempt to manage the problems that no single country can address alone.

At Aberdeen, which is situated in a region closely connected to both the natural environment and the global energy economy, you will engage with both disciplines across a four-year programme. Geography will develop your understanding of physical processes including geomorphology, hydrology, and climate, as well as human geography covering development, urbanisation, and environmental change. International relations will introduce you to theories of world politics, European integration, human rights, international economy, and the analysis of global challenges from security to climate governance.

The combination gives you both the scientific and social scientific tools to engage with questions about the relationship between environment, place, and power. The four-year full-time programme includes a year abroad, giving you an international perspective that is particularly valuable for a degree focused on global processes.

Graduates go on to careers in international organisations, government, environmental agencies, NGOs, research, journalism, energy and environmental consultancy, and global development organisations. Many continue to postgraduate study in international relations, geography, environmental management, or development studies.