History and International Relations

History and international relations is a combination that brings the analytical depth of historical study to bear on the contemporary world of global politics, while using the frameworks of international relations theory to illuminate the longer patterns of how states and peoples have organised their relationships with one another. History shows you how the world came to be as it is, why great powers rise and fall, and how the legacies of nationalism, imperialism, colonisation, and decolonisation continue to shape international life. International relations provides the conceptual tools to analyse those dynamics in the present: how states balance power, how international institutions function, and what the conditions of peace, security, and justice require.

The four-year full-time History and International Relations programme with Foundation Year at Liverpool Hope University allows you to explore many periods from the Early Modern era to today, covering key themes including nationalism, imperialism, colonisation, decolonisation, gender, and identity. The course encourages you to engage with and challenge historical interpretations, recognising that history is always being revised in light of new evidence and new questions. The foundation year supports students who need additional academic preparation before entering the main degree.

A sandwich year, year abroad, and work placement options provide substantial professional and international experience at different stages of the programme.

With a typical entry tariff of 88 points, the programme is accessible to a range of students. Graduates pursue careers in the civil service, diplomacy, international organisations, journalism, education, heritage, and public policy. Many also go on to postgraduate study in history, international relations, or a related discipline.