Geopolitics

Geopolitics is the study of how geography, power and international relations interact to shape the political map of the world. It examines how the physical features of places, including their location, resources and territory, influence the strategic interests and behaviours of states and other actors, and how competing claims over space, identity and influence generate the conflicts and alliances that define global affairs. As a discipline, it draws on political science, international relations, human geography, history and strategic studies to produce a distinctive way of understanding why the world is ordered as it is and how it might change.

At Dundee, this four-year programme includes a year abroad, which gives you the opportunity to study geopolitics and international relations in a different national context, gaining comparative perspective on the questions the discipline raises. You will examine the theoretical foundations of geopolitics, the historical development of the international system, contemporary conflicts and alliances, resource politics, maritime and territorial disputes, the role of international organisations, and the geopolitics of regions including Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. The programme develops the analytical skills, geospatial literacy and political understanding that are increasingly valued in professional and research contexts.

The typical entry tariff is 168 UCAS points.

Graduates pursue careers in international organisations, diplomacy, the civil service, think tanks, intelligence analysis, journalism, policy research, NGOs, defence and security organisations, and consultancy. The ability to analyse complex global situations using geopolitical frameworks is a distinctive and genuinely useful skill in a world where the spatial and territorial dimensions of political conflict are increasingly prominent. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in geopolitics, international relations, strategic studies, geography or security studies.