Politics & International Relations
Politics and international relations together provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the exercise of power, the organisation of states, and the dynamics of the global order. Politics examines how governments are formed and contested, how institutions function, what ideologies shape political thought, and how citizens engage with the systems that govern their lives. International relations extends this analysis to the level of states, international organisations, and global forces, asking how countries interact, what drives conflict and cooperation, and how global challenges are managed or mismanaged.
At Liverpool Hope this four-year full-time programme includes a foundation year providing a supportive entry route for students who need additional preparation before progressing to the main degree. You will study stimulating and contemporary topics, combining theoretical perspectives on politics and international relations with the analysis of real institutions and case studies that illustrate both the power and the limits of theory in practice. The course is taught by a diverse team of staff with specialist research knowledge and global perspectives, enriching the curriculum with a wide range of viewpoints.
The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, giving you substantial professional and international experience during your studies.
Graduates from politics and international relations programmes go on to careers in government, diplomacy, the civil service, international organisations, journalism, public affairs, think tanks, and non-governmental organisations. The analytical and communicative skills you develop are valued across a very wide range of sectors, and many graduates also enter careers in law, finance, education, and business where political and international awareness is an asset. Postgraduate study in politics, international relations, public policy, or law is a natural continuation for those wishing to develop their knowledge further.