Politics and International Relations

Politics and international relations address the central questions of power and order in the modern world. Politics examines how authority is organised and contested within states: how governments are formed and held to account, how policies are made, how parties and social movements compete for influence, and what ideas and ideologies underpin different political arrangements. International relations extends this to the relationships between states and the global institutions, norms and forces that shape them: security and conflict, international law, diplomacy, trade, human rights, and the governance of global problems like climate change.

Together, they give you a comprehensive framework for understanding the major forces that shape political life at every scale.

At York St John University, this part-time programme, which is available with a foundation year, allows you to develop your knowledge and analytical skills while managing other commitments. The part-time mode is particularly well suited to students who are working, caring for others, or who simply need more time to develop their academic confidence alongside their studies. A foundation year is available for those who benefit from additional preparation before entering the main degree.

A sandwich year placement, a year abroad, and a work placement are all available within the programme, giving you significant professional and international experience to complement your academic study.

You will develop strong analytical, research and communication skills, engaging with political theory, empirical analysis and the kinds of evidence-based policy debate that political life demands. The programme addresses both the conceptual foundations of politics and the pressing contemporary issues that make the discipline so relevant today.

Graduates move into the civil service, politics and public policy, international organisations, journalism, diplomacy, NGOs, the third sector, law, business, and a wide range of careers where the ability to analyse complex situations and communicate clearly is valued. Postgraduate study in politics, international relations, law or public policy is a common pathway.