Politics with International Relations

Politics is the study of how power is organised, contested, and justified, and how collective decisions are made at every level from the local to the global. Combined with international relations, it gives you both the tools to understand how political systems work within states and the analytical framework to examine how states interact with each other and with international institutions. The combination is particularly well-suited to understanding a world in which domestic politics and global forces are increasingly difficult to separate.

At the University of York, this three-year, full-time programme gives you a deep understanding of political concepts, institutions, and processes, challenging you to examine your preconceptions about justice, power, security, political economy, and ethics. You will study comparative politics, political theory, international relations, and the political dimensions of issues such as security, trade, human rights, and environmental governance. A sandwich placement year is built into the programme, giving you professional experience in a relevant context, alongside a year abroad option and work placement opportunities that broaden your engagement with politics beyond the university.

York's strong research culture means you will engage with cutting-edge questions in political science and international relations, developing not just factual knowledge but the analytical skills to interpret complex events and arguments. Graduates go on to careers in government, the civil service, diplomacy, political research, journalism, the charity sector, international organisations, and public affairs. The combination of political knowledge and analytical rigour is also valued in law, finance, and consultancy.

Many graduates proceed to postgraduate study in political science, international relations, public policy, or law, building on the foundation the undergraduate degree provides.