Politics and International Relations BA

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Royal Holloway University of London

Program Overview

If you’re someone who’s always questioning how governments make decisions, why conflicts happen between countries, or how global events shape our everyday lives, this degree is made for you. The Politics & International Relations programme at Royal Holloway gives you a deep understanding of power, diplomacy, public policy, and international affairs, while helping you develop the skills to debate, analyse, and think like a real political professional.

What You’ll Study – Year by Year

Year 1 – Your Foundation Year
You start by building a strong base. You’ll explore how political systems work (Introduction to Politics and Government), how countries interact on the world stage (Introduction to International Relations), and discover famous political thinkers and ideologies—from Plato to modern-day theories. This year is all about understanding the basics of power, democracy, the global system, and how the world really functions.

Year 2 – Diving Deeper
In the second year, things become more analytical. You’ll study International Relations Theory, where you'll examine ideas like realism, liberalism, feminism, and more—basically, different lenses through which experts explain world politics. You can also choose modules such as International Political Economy or US Government & Politics to start shaping your own special interests.

Year 3 – Specialise & Research
Your final year is where you take control. You’ll work one-to-one with a supervisor to write a dissertation on a topic you care about—whether that’s climate diplomacy, terrorism, the European Union, or global human rights. You can also choose advanced modules like Politics in Action (placement), European Union Public Policy, or regional studies such as Politics of South Asia to match your career goals.

Focus Areas (You Can Tailor Your Degree Towards):

• Global politics and diplomacy
• Public policy and government decision-making
• War, security, and peace studies
• Political ideologies and theories
• International organisations (UN, EU, NATO)
• Political research and data analysis

What You’ll Gain (Learning Outcomes):

• Confidence in analysing political events and international crises
• Strong research and writing skills—ideal for law, journalism, policy, or diplomacy
• The ability to debate, present arguments, and think critically
• A clear understanding of how governments, institutions, and global power structures actually work

Professional Alignment / Industry Relevance

Although the course doesn’t require a formal accreditation like engineering or medicine, it’s built to closely match careers in:
✔ Government, public policy & civil service
✔ International organisations (UN, EU, NGOs, think-tanks)
✔ Political journalism, diplomacy, and public affairs
✔ Research, advocacy, and global development
The department is highly respected and well-connected to public policy circles and political research networks.

Reputation & Rankings

• 2nd in the UK for research in Politics and International Relations
• 11th in the UK for Politics – Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
This means you'll be learning from academics who don’t just teach politics—they help shape it.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Royal Holloway, studying Politics and International Relations isn’t just about writing essays or memorising theories—you actually get to experience how politics works in the real world. From working with MPs or NGOs to debating global crises in small seminars, the course is designed to help you think like a policymaker, researcher, or diplomat. You’ll learn from academics who are actively involved in political research and use real case studies, international events, data, and media to bring lectures to life.

As you grow through the programme, you’ll start applying what you learn to real issues—whether that’s through placements, political simulations, research projects, or your final-year dissertation. And since classes are taught in smaller discussion groups and workshops rather than just large lectures, you’ll always be encouraged to ask questions, challenge ideas, and develop your own opinions.

Hands-On Learning Opportunities Include:

Here’s how your learning becomes genuinely practical:

Real-world work placements – Students get the chance to gain experience in the offices of Members of Parliament (MPs), local councils, government departments, NGOs, and political organisations.
Politics in Action module – In your final year, you can choose a placement-based module that lets you work with a political, charity, or public policy organisation while earning academic credits.
Dissertation with expert supervision – You’ll choose a political issue you're passionate about—like climate policy, elections, terrorism, or diplomacy—and work one-on-one with an academic supervisor to produce original research.
Research-active department – You’re taught by lecturers who publish research in areas like international security, global governance, human rights, and political communication. Many students get to use real political data and case studies in their coursework.
Digital and discussion-based learning tools – The department has used innovative tools like the Potluck online debate platform to make political discussions more inclusive during seminars.
Small-group seminars and debates – Instead of just lectures, you’ll spend a lot of time in smaller classes where you debate current events, present case studies, and work in groups on political simulations.
Access to world-class library and archives – The university’s Emily Wilding Davison Library provides political journals, UN reports, parliamentary papers, and digital archives—96% of students said learning resources supported their studies (Discover Uni).

Progression & Future Opportunities

A Politics and International Relations degree from Royal Holloway doesn't just teach you how governments or global organisations work — it teaches you how to think critically, communicate with impact, and understand the world from multiple perspectives. That’s why graduates from this course go on to careers where people, policy, and global change intersect. You’ll find alumni working as Policy Officers, Diplomats/Future Foreign Service Officers, Political or Data Analysts, NGO and Charity Coordinators, and even Journalists covering international affairs.

Here’s how Royal Holloway helps you get there:

Career coaching from day one – The university’s Careers & Employability Service offers one-to-one guidance, CV and LinkedIn workshops, mock interviews, and employer networking events.
Real political experience – Through modules like Politics in Action, students have completed work placements with MPs, local government offices, NGOs, policy think tanks, and advocacy groups.
Graduate success and salary – According to Discover Uni data, Politics & IR graduates from Royal Holloway earn a median salary of around £26,000 within 15 months of graduation.
Industry recognition – Royal Holloway is part of the University of London and has a strong reputation in political research, meaning your degree is respected by employers in government, international organisations, and the media.
Where graduates go – Past students have entered the UK Civil Service, BBC and global news media, the United Nations system, Amnesty International, public affairs firms, consultancy, and political communications roles.

Further Academic Progression

If you want to continue your studies after graduation, you’ll be in a strong position. Students often progress to:

Master’s programmes in International Relations, Diplomacy, Global Governance, Public Policy, Human Rights, or Security Studies (Royal Holloway also offers these postgraduate pathways).
Law conversion courses (GDL/LLM) if you're considering legal careers, international law, or human rights law.
Research degrees (MPhil/PhD) for those who want to go into academia, political research, or policy advisory roles at the government or institutional level.