Politics and International Relations

Politics and international relations is a discipline that examines how power is organised, exercised, and contested at every level from local government to global institutions. It asks how states make decisions, how international organisations shape the behaviour of nations, what drives conflict and cooperation between states, and how political ideas and ideologies inform the choices of governments and citizens. It draws on philosophy, history, economics, and sociology, and it brings rigorous analytical tools to the questions that are constantly in the news: elections and democratic backsliding, war and diplomacy, inequality and social movements, climate politics and migration.

At the University of Hull, this three-year full-time programme gives you the opportunity to engage deeply with both the domestic and international dimensions of political life. You will study political theory and ideology, comparative politics, international relations theory, and the detailed analysis of specific issues and regions. Hull offers distinctive opportunities alongside the academic programme, including the chance to study abroad and a unique Westminster internship, giving you direct exposure to political institutions and professional environments.

The degree develops the analytical, research, and communication skills that are central to understanding and engaging with political life.

You will develop the ability to evaluate complex arguments, to handle conflicting evidence, and to construct and defend your own interpretations of political events and structures. These capabilities are valuable across a wide range of professional contexts.

Graduates go on to careers in politics, the civil service, public policy, international organisations, journalism, law, NGOs, think tanks, business, and diplomacy. The analytical and written skills that a politics and international relations degree develops are valued by employers across every sector that needs people who can think clearly about the world. Postgraduate study in politics, international relations, international law, or security studies is a common next step.