International Relations and Development

International relations and development sits at the intersection of two connected fields: the study of how states, international organisations, and non-state actors interact in the global system, and the study of what drives economic and social development in poorer countries and how international actors can support or hinder it. It is a discipline shaped by some of the most pressing challenges of our time, from conflict, migration, and climate change to debt, trade governance, and the politics of aid and humanitarian intervention. Understanding both the political architecture of the international system and the development challenges that system must address is essential for anyone who wants to engage seriously with global affairs.

At Westminster you will study this three-year full-time programme, with a year abroad providing you with international exposure and the opportunity to study in a different national and institutional context. You will examine international relations theory, the politics of international organisations, human rights, foreign policy, and the major contemporary challenges to global order. Your development studies will engage with the political economy of development, global poverty, inequality, debt and trade, and the complex interactions between international donors, recipient governments, and the populations they seek to support.

The programme combines theoretical rigour with attention to real policy debates and contemporary events.

Graduates enter careers in international organisations, NGOs, foreign ministries and diplomatic services, development agencies, human rights organisations, journalism, international business, and policy research institutions. The combination of international relations analysis and development knowledge is particularly valued in roles that require navigating the intersection of politics, economics, and humanitarian concern in global contexts. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in international relations, development studies, international law, or public policy, building on the interdisciplinary foundation the degree provides.