International Relations and Global Development

International relations and global development are fields that examine how the world is organised and why so much of it remains deeply unequal. International relations focuses on the interactions between states, international organisations, and other actors, exploring how power, diplomacy, conflict, and cooperation shape global affairs. Global development asks why poverty, inequality, and vulnerability persist in a world of extraordinary wealth, and what individuals, governments, and international institutions can do about it.

Together, they give you a framework for understanding some of the defining challenges of our time.

At the School of Oriental and African Studies, this three-year full-time programme brings a distinctive focus on the Global South to the study of world affairs, drawing on SOAS's unparalleled expertise in the languages, cultures, histories, and politics of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. You will engage with major theories of international relations and development, examine the political economy of global inequality, and study the institutions, movements, and ideas that have shaped the contemporary international order. The foundation year provides an extended introduction to the disciplines and to the intellectual demands of university-level study, making it a strong route for those who want to build a solid academic foundation before entering the main degree.

You will develop skills in critical analysis, research, and argument that are central to working in these fields.

Graduates from international relations and global development programmes go on to work in international organisations, NGOs, government departments, think tanks, journalism, consultancy, and the humanitarian sector. Many pursue postgraduate study in international relations, development studies, law, or public policy, and a number go on to research careers or diplomatic roles. The combination of analytical rigour and awareness of global inequality prepares you well for any career that requires engagement with the complexity of the contemporary world.