International Relations

International Relations is the study of how states, international organisations, and other actors interact in a world without a single governing authority. It asks why wars occur and how they end, how trade and economic interdependence are managed across borders, what drives the behaviour of great powers and smaller states alike, and how international institutions from the United Nations to regional bodies shape and constrain state action. It draws on political science, history, economics, law, and philosophy to build a rigorous understanding of global politics.

At the University of Glasgow, this four-year full-time programme includes a year abroad and is taught within a research-intensive environment. You will study the main theoretical frameworks that scholars use to understand international politics, including realism, liberalism, constructivism, and critical approaches, and you will apply these frameworks to contemporary and historical cases, from nuclear deterrence and great-power competition to climate change negotiations and humanitarian intervention. The year abroad gives you direct experience of a different political and academic culture, which enriches both your understanding of the discipline and your personal adaptability.

Glasgow's location in Scotland, and its strong connections to European and global institutions, provides a rich context for the study of international politics, and the programme draws on strong faculty in security studies, international political economy, and global governance.

Graduates in International Relations move into careers in diplomacy and the foreign service, international organisations including the UN and the EU, non-governmental organisations, the civil service and public policy, journalism and media, think tanks, defence and security, and international business. The analytical, research, and communication skills that the degree develops are genuinely transferable, and the ability to understand political dynamics across national boundaries is valued wherever organisations work internationally. Postgraduate study in international relations, security studies, international law, or area studies is also a common next step.