Politics and International Relations

Politics and international relations is a discipline that examines how power is organised within and between states, how decisions are made and contested at the national and global levels, and what the consequences are for the citizens, communities and nations caught up in those processes. From the functioning of democratic institutions to the management of international conflicts, from the politics of climate change to the governance of the global economy, the questions the subject addresses are among the most consequential of our time.

At Loughborough University this three-year programme develops your understanding of political theory, comparative politics, international relations and global governance alongside empirical knowledge of the domestic, international and global challenges that states and citizens face in the twenty-first century. You will engage with the major theoretical traditions that political scientists and IR scholars use to make sense of the world, and you will apply them to the analysis of real political events, institutions and conflicts. Loughborough's research-active department means you will encounter current thinking from academics who are contributing to these debates, and the programme develops not only substantive knowledge but the analytical, research and communication skills that political inquiry demands.

Graduates of politics and international relations pursue careers across a wide range of sectors. The civil service, Parliament, government agencies, international organisations and NGOs are among the most direct destinations for those interested in public life. Journalism, think tanks, policy consultancy, public affairs and political campaigning draw those who want to engage with political processes professionally.

Law, finance, the charitable sector and business also recruit from this discipline, valuing the analytical rigour and understanding of complex systems that the degree develops. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in politics, international relations, law, security studies or public policy.