International Relations

International relations is the study of how states, international organisations, non-governmental actors, and global forces interact to shape the world beyond national borders. It draws on political theory, history, economics, and sociology to ask why wars happen, how international cooperation is achieved, what drives foreign policy, how global institutions work, and how power is distributed and contested in a world of sovereign states and interconnected economies.

This three-year full-time programme at Newcastle University includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement, making it one of the most practically and internationally enriched international relations degrees available. The combination of professional experience through the sandwich and placement years, and intellectual formation through the year abroad, means that you graduate not just with theoretical knowledge but with direct experience of how international and political organisations actually work. With a typical tariff of 152 points, the programme is selective and expects both academic ability and a genuine engagement with global affairs.

You will study international relations theory, foreign policy analysis, global security, international political economy, human rights, and global governance, developing the analytical tools to understand how the international system functions and why it sometimes fails. Newcastle's strong social science faculty and its connections with government, international organisations, and the business community provide a well-rounded environment for this kind of education.

Graduates from international relations programmes at Newcastle move into careers in the diplomatic and civil service, international organisations including the United Nations and European Union bodies, think tanks, non-governmental organisations, journalism, international business, consultancy, and policy analysis. The placement year often provides a direct pathway into employment, and the year abroad adds a layer of international formation that many employers actively value. Postgraduate study in international relations, security studies, development, or law is a common next step for those who want to specialise.