International Relations and Law

International relations and law is a combination of two disciplines that illuminate different but complementary dimensions of the global order. International relations examines how states, institutions, and other actors behave in the international arena, exploring questions of power, security, diplomacy, trade, and the challenges of global governance. Law provides the normative and institutional framework within which those actors operate and their conflicts are resolved, encompassing international law, human rights, treaty obligations, and the role of international courts and tribunals.

Together they provide a uniquely powerful lens on how the world is governed, contested, and governed.

At the University of Derby, this three-year programme engages directly with the major forces reshaping the world: climate change, habitat loss, social media and its political effects, new and sustainable technologies, and movements for racial and social justice. You will develop both the theoretical understanding of international affairs and the legal knowledge to engage with international law in its many dimensions. The programme includes a foundation year for those who benefit from additional preparation, a sandwich placement year providing professional experience in a law, policy, or international affairs context, and embedded work placement opportunities throughout.

Graduates are well placed for careers in international organisations, the civil service and diplomatic service, international law firms, NGOs, think-tanks, human rights organisations, journalism, and policy research. The combination of analytical and legal skills is particularly valuable in roles that require understanding the legal frameworks governing international affairs and the political realities in which those frameworks operate. Many graduates pursue further vocational legal training or postgraduate study in law, international relations, or human rights, building on the foundations the degree provides.