International Relations and Irish
International relations and Irish is a pairing that illuminates both global and local dimensions of political life. International relations examines how states, international organisations, and non-state actors interact in a world without central government, asking why conflicts start and how they end, how international cooperation is achieved, and how global forces such as trade, migration, and climate change operate across national borders. Irish, as a language and cultural tradition, connects you to one of the oldest continuous literary and linguistic traditions in Europe, and to the political, historical, and cultural dynamics of the island of Ireland in ways that no other subject quite makes available.
At Queen's University Belfast, this three-year, full-time programme draws on the university's distinctive position in Northern Ireland, a location that gives international relations and Irish a particular resonance and immediacy. You will study political theory, international institutions, globalisation, humanitarian issues, and the dynamics of conflict and cooperation alongside the linguistic and literary tools needed to engage with Irish language and culture directly. The combination of political analysis and linguistic-literary inquiry, as the programme itself notes, illuminates how the two types of understanding complement each other in making sense of political and historical developments.
A typical entry tariff of 136 points reflects the academic standard expected.
Graduates go on to careers in the civil service and foreign office, journalism, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, political communications, law, education, and cultural organisations. The combination of international relations and Irish is particularly relevant for careers in Irish language media, cross-border governance, and the public and community sectors in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in international relations, Irish studies, or related fields.