Politics & International Relations
Politics and international relations is a combination that addresses both how power works within states and how it operates between them. Politics explores the theories, institutions, and actors that shape domestic political life, from the philosophy of democracy to the comparative analysis of different governmental systems. International relations examines the world beyond national borders, asking what drives states to cooperate or conflict, how international organisations function, and what global challenges like climate change, migration, and security require of the international community.
At Liverpool Hope University this three-year full-time degree mixes the study of political ideas with how countries engage on the world stage, exploring important global issues including globalisation, climate change, and security, and considering the people and organisations working to address them. You will develop your analytical skills and your ability to argue from evidence, engaging with both theoretical frameworks and real-world political events. The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, giving you substantial professional and international experience before you graduate.
These structural features make the degree particularly strong preparation for careers that require both analytical depth and practical engagement with complex organisations.
Graduates of politics and international relations programmes go on to careers in the civil service, government, diplomacy, international organisations, NGOs, journalism, policy research, international business, and the charitable sector. The analytical skills developed also suit roles in consulting, finance, and communications. The year abroad gives you international experience and connections that are directly valuable in careers with a global dimension, and the sandwich year provides professional context for your academic learning.
Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in international relations, political science, global policy, or law.