International Relations

International relations is the study of how states and other actors interact in the global arena, exploring the structures, processes and ideas that shape world politics. It combines political science, history, economics, law and philosophy to address questions about war and peace, cooperation and conflict, diplomacy, international institutions, global justice and the changing nature of sovereignty in an interconnected world. The discipline asks how the society of states developed historically, why it looks the way it does today, and how it is being challenged and transformed by forces including globalisation, the rise of non-state actors and shifting power dynamics between established and emerging powers.

The University of Leeds offers this programme over three years full time, with a structure that includes a sandwich year with embedded work placement opportunities and a year abroad. Leeds has a strong research presence in international relations and global politics, and the combination of placement and international study makes this programme particularly well suited to students who want to combine academic rigour with professional and international experience. The typical entry tariff is around 152 UCAS points.

You will develop a solid historical understanding of the international system alongside the theoretical frameworks, including realism, liberalism and constructivism, that scholars use to explain state behaviour and international outcomes. Topics such as global governance, human rights, nuclear security, environmental politics and the political economy of development are likely to feature alongside core international relations theory and the history of diplomacy and conflict. The placement year provides direct experience in an internationally oriented organisation, and the year abroad gives you first-hand exposure to a different national and international perspective.

Graduates of international relations programmes work in diplomacy and the foreign service, international organisations including the UN and EU, NGOs and development agencies, think tanks and policy research, international journalism, the civil service, finance and consultancy in internationally oriented contexts, and academic research. Leeds's emphasis on professional experience through placement means graduates typically arrive in the labour market with a practical grounding that complements their analytical skills well.