Law and International Relations

Law and International Relations is a combination that addresses two of the most important dimensions of how the world is governed. Law provides the systematic study of legal rules, institutions, and processes, both domestic and international, and trains you to reason carefully about rights, obligations, and justice within complex normative frameworks. International Relations examines the structures and dynamics of the global political order, exploring how states, international organisations, and other actors interact on questions of security, trade, human rights, environmental governance, and conflict resolution.

Together, they give you the tools to understand both how the international system operates and the legal frameworks through which it is regulated and contested.

At the University of Edinburgh, this four-year full-time programme reflects Scotland's distinctive legal tradition as well as its strong international outlook. Edinburgh Law School is one of the most respected in the UK, and the international relations programme benefits from the university's substantial research presence in global politics and security. You will study Scots and English law alongside public international law, European law, and the legal dimensions of international trade, human rights, and humanitarian affairs.

In the international relations component, you will explore international political theory, foreign policy, conflict and security, international political economy, and the politics of the global South. The degree includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study in a different legal and political environment and develop the international perspective that both disciplines require.

Graduates from Law and International Relations at Edinburgh go on to careers in law, diplomacy, the foreign service, international organisations such as the United Nations and the European Union, NGOs, human rights advocacy, journalism, policy, and academia. Many pursue legal professional training in Scotland or England and Wales, while others go directly into roles in international affairs, development, or policy research. Postgraduate study in international law, international relations, or human rights law is also a common direction.