International Relations

International relations is the study of how states, international organisations, non-governmental actors, and other forces interact in the global arena. It examines the causes of conflict and cooperation, the role of institutions like the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation, the dynamics of foreign policy, the politics of trade and development, and the ways in which global forces, from climate change to terrorism to financial crises, connect and affect all parts of the world. It is a field in which rigorous academic analysis and real-world relevance are unusually closely joined.

This University of London online programme, designed by the London School of Economics, is delivered through distance learning, making it accessible to students who cannot commit to full-time campus study. The LSE's curriculum and research strengths underpin the programme, giving you access to some of the best international relations scholarship available while allowing you to study on a flexible timetable from anywhere in the world. You will engage with the major theoretical frameworks of international relations, including realism, liberalism, constructivism, and critical theories, as well as with substantive knowledge of international security, global political economy, international law, and the histories that have shaped the current world order.

Graduates from international relations programmes go on to work in diplomacy, international organisations, government, journalism, think tanks, NGOs, international business, and the military and intelligence services. The LSE credential is highly regarded across these sectors globally, and the distance learning format means that many students pursue the degree alongside professional careers, applying their learning directly in their working lives. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in international relations, law, development, or security studies.