History and International Relations with Placement Year

History and international relations is a degree that connects the study of the past with the analysis of the present, asking how the events, decisions, and structures of history have shaped the international order in which we live and through which we continue to make consequential choices. History provides the depth of context that prevents international relations from being merely the analysis of current events, while international relations gives history a forward-looking relevance by asking how the patterns of the past illuminate the challenges of the present and future.

At Brunel University London, this four-year full-time programme with a placement year includes a structured professional placement before your final year, giving you the opportunity to apply your skills in a working environment relevant to your interests and career ambitions. The placement might be with a government department, an international organisation, a think tank, a media organisation, or another body where historical and political understanding are valued. You will study the history of the modern international system, the theory and practice of international relations, the making of foreign policy, international law, diplomacy, and the empirical study of conflict, cooperation, and global governance, alongside historical scholarship that traces the deeper roots of the world as it is today.

Graduates are well-placed for careers in the civil service, diplomacy, journalism, international organisations, think tanks, policy research, and the charity sector. The combination of historical understanding and political analysis is valued in any field that requires serious engagement with why the world is as it is and how it might change. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in history, international relations, or law, and some pursue research or academic careers in these disciplines.