Politics and International Relations with a Year In Industry

Politics and international relations is the study of power: how it is organised within states, how it is contested between them, and how it shapes the lives of people at every scale from local communities to global institutions. It asks why governments make the choices they do, what drives international cooperation and conflict, how democracy functions and fails, and what forces are reshaping the international order. The discipline draws on political theory, history, economics, and sociology, and it asks its students to engage seriously with the most contested questions in public life.

At the University of Kent, this four-year full-time programme includes a year in industry, giving you a sustained period of professional experience alongside the academic study of politics. You will engage with political philosophy and theory, comparative politics across different national systems, international relations theory, foreign policy analysis, global governance, and the politics of specific regions and issues. The year in industry places you in a professional environment, whether in government, an NGO, a think tank, a political organisation, or a business with significant public affairs engagement, giving you the practical understanding that academic study alone cannot provide.

Graduates from politics and international relations programmes go on to careers in the civil service, parliament, government relations, international organisations, journalism, policy research, think tanks, the charity sector, and international business. The analytical, research, and communication skills the degree develops are valued across many professions, and the year in industry often provides direct connections to employment. Postgraduate study in politics, international relations, security studies, law, and public policy is a common progression for those who wish to specialise or pursue research.