Politics With International Relations

Politics with international relations is a discipline that asks how power is organised, contested, and exercised in the modern world, at the level of national institutions and governments and at the level of the international system that connects and divides them. Politics examines the ideologies, parties, institutions, and processes through which societies make collective decisions, while international relations extends that analysis to the interactions between states, the role of international organisations and non-governmental actors, and the forces that produce conflict, cooperation, and change in the global order. Together they give you the tools to understand the most pressing challenges of our time.

At Leeds Beckett University, this three-year full-time programme includes a year abroad, giving you direct experience of a different political and educational context that enriches your understanding of how politics operates in different societies. You will engage with climate action, migration, human rights, global conflict, the crisis of capitalism, and the future of democracy, questioning assumptions, challenging dominant narratives, and debating some of the most divisive issues of the present moment. The programme uses interactive learning, live projects, and industry exposure alongside academic content, developing both critical thinking and the practical skills that employers value.

You will develop analytical rigour, the ability to evaluate evidence and argument, strong written and verbal communication, and the political literacy needed to understand and engage with the world.

Graduates from politics and international relations programmes enter careers in the civil service, diplomacy, journalism, international organisations, NGOs, think tanks, law, finance, and a wide range of other fields. The analytical and communicative skills developed are valued across many sectors. Postgraduate study in politics, international relations, international law, or public policy is a natural continuation for those seeking specialist or research roles.