Politics and International Relations with Foundation

Politics and international relations examines how power is organised and exercised within and between states, how conflicts arise and are resolved, and how international institutions, norms, and agreements shape the behaviour of nations. It is a discipline that engages directly with the defining challenges of the contemporary world, including climate diplomacy, migration, conflict, trade, and the changing distribution of global power. Combining politics with international relations gives you a framework for understanding both the domestic structures that shape political life and the broader global order in which those structures are embedded.

At the University of Westminster, this four-year full-time programme includes a foundation component that prepares you for advanced study, developing your academic skills and introducing you to the core concepts of the discipline before the main degree begins. Across the programme you will study political theory, comparative politics, international relations theory, foreign policy analysis, and the workings of international institutions. Westminster's London location gives the course a natural connection to the world of policy, diplomacy, and international organisations.

A placement or work experience year is included, and a year abroad is also available, adding practical and international dimensions to your studies.

You will develop the ability to analyse political events and structures critically, to evaluate competing theoretical frameworks, and to construct well-evidenced arguments in writing and discussion. The combination of theoretical grounding and practical experience prepares you well for engaging with complex political realities in a professional context.

Graduates from politics and international relations programmes pursue careers in diplomacy and the foreign service, the civil service, think tanks and policy institutes, international organisations, journalism and media, non-governmental organisations, and the third sector. The analytical and communication skills developed through the degree are also valued in law, consultancy, and business. Postgraduate study in international relations, politics, or public policy is a common pathway for those who want to deepen their expertise.