International Relations and Sociology
International relations and sociology address the same complex world from complementary perspectives. International relations examines how states, international organisations, non-state actors, and global forces interact: why wars begin and end, how alliances form, what international law can and cannot do, and how globalisation, migration, climate change, and the rise and fall of great powers reshape the international order. Sociology examines how societies are structured and how individuals are shaped by the social forces that surround them: inequality, culture, identity, institutions, and the dynamics of change at every scale from the local to the global.
At the University of Aberdeen you will follow a four-year programme that develops solid grounding in both disciplines, examining the role of power, states and governments in an ever-changing global context alongside a rigorous exploration of how the societies we live in shape us as individuals. The programme includes a year abroad, extending your comparative perspective on both international politics and social structure. You will develop skills in political analysis, social research methods, critical theory, and the ability to apply rigorous academic frameworks to real-world problems, in one of Scotland's oldest and most respected universities.
Graduates of international relations and sociology enter a wide range of careers. The civil service and diplomatic service, international organisations, NGOs and development agencies, policy research, journalism and broadcasting, public affairs, education, social work (with further training), human resources, and community development are all common destinations. The combination of international understanding and sociological analysis is particularly valuable in organisations that operate across national and cultural boundaries or that work on questions of inequality, migration, rights, and social change.
Postgraduate study in international relations, sociology, development studies, social policy, or law is a natural extension for those who wish to develop specialist expertise or pursue research careers.