# What can you do with an International Relations degree?

> Source: https://coursetojob.co.uk/courses/international-relations/ — updated 2026-09-25. Published by CourseToJob (independent; not affiliated with UCAS, HESA or GOV.UK).

**Quick answer:** An International Relations degree commonly leads to roles such as policy assistant, nGO programme assistant and political risk researcher (entry). DfE does not publish a separate International Relations row in its subject-level earnings data, so we do not show a salary figure for it.

International relations covers states, institutions, and conflict. Graduates often start in research, NGOs, and policy support. Official figures appear when an extract is loaded.

## What jobs can you get with an International Relations degree?

- **Policy assistant**: Tracks a policy file, drafts backgrounders, and supports roundtables. Skills often asked for: monitoring, event notes, stakeholder maps.
- **NGO programme assistant**. Skills often asked for: grant logs, partner emails, indicator tables.
- **Political risk researcher (entry)**. Skills often asked for: country notes, source logs, client decks.
- **Research officer**. Skills often asked for: literature, interviews, ethics forms.

## How much do International Relations graduates earn?

DfE's subject-level LEO data has no separate International Relations row, so CourseToJob publishes no salary figure for it.

## Is International Relations the right degree for you?

You may enjoy it if:
- You want to study power across borders with theory and cases.
- You like briefing notes more than only protest slogans.
- You are willing to read treaties, not only news alerts.

It may not suit you if:
- You expected an automatic Diplomatic Service posting.
- You dislike theory and history.
- You wanted a language-only interpreter course.

## Interview questions for International Relations graduate roles

Policy, NGO and research interviews usually test briefing, sources, and discretion. These prompts are editorial illustrations.

- You have three conflicting news reports. How do you write a 200-word update? (What it tests: Sourcing, dating, and saying what is unconfirmed.)
- A partner organisation asks you to share an unpublished briefing. What do you do? (What it tests: You check authority; you do not forward it to be helpful.)
- How would you explain a sanctions regime to a non-specialist trustee? (What it tests: Mechanism and limits, not a tour of IR theory.)
- Your event speaker pulls out 24 hours before. What is your method? (What it tests: Operations under embarrassment, which programme assistants live.)
- When would you not use a striking statistic from social media in a paper? (What it tests: Verification before amplification.)

## Frequently asked questions

### What jobs can you do with an International Relations degree?

Common starting roles include policy assistant, nGO programme assistant, political risk researcher (entry) and research officer. These are examples, not guaranteed jobs: your experience, location and further training matter.

### How much do International Relations graduates earn in the UK?

DfE's subject-level LEO data does not include a separate International Relations row, so CourseToJob does not publish a International Relations salary figure. Check related subjects and individual job adverts, and treat any single salary figure with caution.

### Can international students study International Relations in the UK?

Yes, most UK universities accept international applicants, but entry requirements, recognised qualifications, English-language evidence and overseas tuition fees depend on the university and programme. Check the university course page and international admissions team, then check visa requirements on GOV.UK.


Apply for undergraduate courses on UCAS: https://www.ucas.com/explore/search/courses?query=International%20Relations