Politics and International Relations (BSc)

At Southampton, you won’t just be reading about politics—you’ll live it. This degree is designed to take you beyond the classroom, giving you chances to see how politics works in the real world and helping you build the skills employers are looking for. From exploring the halls of Westminster to working with real policy projects, you’ll gain practical experiences that make your studies come alive.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• See politics up close: Join field trips to places like Whitehall and Westminster, where you’ll witness policy and decision-making first-hand.

• Get hands-on with research: Through modules like Qualitative Research in Politics & International Relations, you’ll learn how to conduct interviews, run case studies, and analyse political discourse—skills that are directly used by researchers and policy experts.

• Learn in small groups: Interactive seminars complement lectures, giving you the chance to debate global issues with peers, sharpen your arguments, and practise presenting ideas clearly.

• Try out an internship: With UoS Internships and Public Policy | Southampton placements, you can step into roles with NGOs, startups, or government offices. Past students have worked on digital campaigns, policy briefs, and research communications.

• Tap into expert support: The University’s Careers and Employability team works closely with Politics students, offering tailored CV guidance, volunteering opportunities, and direct links to employers.

• Be part of research communities: You’ll connect with active research centres on democracy, political ethnography, and behavioural studies, and attend weekly seminars with guest speakers from academia, politics, and policy.

• Use world-class resources: The Hartley Library gives you access to thousands of books, specialist politics databases, and collaborative study spaces—perfect for both solo research and group projects.

• Build analytical skills: Alongside qualitative methods, you’ll also develop confidence in quantitative data analysis, preparing you to handle statistics and political datasets used in professional contexts.

Studying Politics and International Relations at Southampton really opens doors. Our graduates go on to build careers in government, international organisations, the private sector, and beyond. Within 15 months of finishing, 95% of students are employed or continuing their studies, and the average starting salary sits at an impressive £29,000. Typical roles include working as a policy lead in government, a management consultant, communications officer, technical analyst, or even lecturing and research positions.

And that’s just the beginning — here’s how Southampton helps you take the next step:

• Dedicated Careers Support: The university’s Careers, Employability & Student Enterprise service runs tailored workshops, CV reviews, mock interviews, and networking events with employers.

• Year in Employment option: You can add a paid placement year to your degree, with salaries ranging from £18,000–£21,000, gaining valuable experience that goes straight onto your degree transcript.

• Proven outcomes: Graduates earn a median salary of around £28,000 after 15 months, rising to £38,000 within five years, showing steady progression.

• Strong sector links: Southampton has an excellent track record of graduates entering the Civil Service, think tanks, NGOs, campaign groups, and consultancy firms.

• Reputation that lasts: The Department of Politics and International Relations is research-led, globally respected, and highly ranked for employability — a name that employers take seriously.

Further Academic Progression:
If you’re keen to keep studying, Southampton offers fantastic options:

• One-year master’s courses like MSc International Security and Risk, MSc Politics, or the Master of Public Administration (MPA).

• Research routes (MPhil or PhD) if you want to shape policy, publish research, or move into academia.

With this degree, you’re not just learning about politics and international relations — you’re setting yourself up for a career that can truly make an impact on the world.