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Social sciences

What can you do with an International Relations degree?

Updated By the CourseToJob editorial team · Editorial policy

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.

See International Relations earningsCompare with another subject
Students in discussion around a seminar table.
On this page
  1. Jobs with an International Relations degree
  2. Graduate earnings
  3. Is it right for you?
  4. Interview questions
  5. Find vacancies
  6. Universities
  7. FAQs

What jobs can you get with an International Relations degree?

Graduates commonly start as policy assistant, nGO programme assistant, political risk researcher (entry) or research officer. International Relations also builds skills that employers outside the obvious routes ask for, so many graduates move into roles that do not name the subject at all.

Role examples and skills are CourseToJob editorial guidance, not a guarantee of a job. Pay for individual roles varies by employer and location; we do not attach a salary to a role unless an official source publishes one.

How much do International Relations graduates earn?

Official data

DfE's subject-level earnings data does not include a separate International Relations row, so we do not publish a International Relations salary figure. Median earnings: Awaiting official extract. We do not estimate a figure from a neighbouring subject.

Is International Relations the right degree for you?

Editorial

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

Editorial

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

  1. You have three conflicting news reports. How do you write a 200-word update?

    What it tests. Sourcing, dating, and saying what is unconfirmed.

  2. 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.

  3. How would you explain a sanctions regime to a non-specialist trustee?

    What it tests. Mechanism and limits, not a tour of IR theory.

  4. Your event speaker pulls out 24 hours before. What is your method?

    What it tests. Operations under embarrassment, which programme assistants live.

  5. When would you not use a striking statistic from social media in a paper?

    What it tests. Verification before amplification.

Most International Relations courses do not use a standard admissions interview. If a university invites you, it will say so — see UCAS on undergraduate interview invitations.

Illustrative question types for the roles above, not questions from a named employer.

Find International Relations graduate jobs

Searched by the entry-level roles above

Search UK vacancies connected to international relations. These are role matches, not guaranteed graduate-level jobs: read the experience, qualifications and work-permission requirements in each full advert.

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We have not added verified programme records for this subject yet. Use the official university catalogue for current courses, fees and entry requirements.

Explore the programme finder · Compare programme details · Research international scholarships

Make your next move

Planning to study International Relations in the UK?

Check the exact programme, entry requirements and total cost before applying. International applicants should also confirm qualification equivalence, English-language evidence and visa requirements.

Entry requirements & applicationsQualifications, English tests, documents and deadlines.International tuition & scholarshipsPlan fees, accommodation and funding.Student visas & work after studyUnderstand the next steps and find official guidance.

Find UK study guidance for your country · Compare international course-fee examples

Explore the international student guide · Build your study budget and checklist

Universities for International Relations in our index

126 universities

An editorial provision index, not a live UCAS catalogue: confirm current courses on UCAS. CourseToJob is not UCAS.Open International Relations in the full university explorer.

Show all 126 universities

Name, city, or a CourseToJob subject. Nothing is stored.

Nation

Showing all 126 universities.

Universities in this editorial provision index
UniversityCityNation
Abertay UniversityDundeeScotland
Aberystwyth UniversityAberystwythWales
Anglia Ruskin UniversityCambridgeEngland
Aston UniversityBirminghamEngland
Bangor UniversityBangorWales
Bath Spa UniversityBathEngland
Birkbeck, University of LondonLondonEngland
Birmingham City UniversityBirminghamEngland
Birmingham Newman UniversityBirminghamEngland
Bournemouth UniversityBournemouthEngland
Brunel University of LondonLondonEngland
Buckinghamshire New UniversityHigh WycombeEngland
Canterbury Christ Church UniversityCanterburyEngland
Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityCardiffWales
Cardiff UniversityCardiffWales
City St George's, University of LondonLondonEngland
Coventry UniversityCoventryEngland
De Montfort UniversityLeicesterEngland
Durham UniversityDurhamEngland
Edge Hill UniversityOrmskirkEngland
Edinburgh Napier UniversityEdinburghScotland
Glasgow Caledonian UniversityGlasgowScotland
Goldsmiths, University of LondonLondonEngland
Heriot-Watt UniversityEdinburghScotland
Keele UniversityKeeleEngland
King's College LondonLondonEngland
Kingston UniversityLondonEngland
Lancaster UniversityLancasterEngland
Leeds Beckett UniversityLeedsEngland
Leeds Trinity UniversityLeedsEngland
Lincoln Bishop UniversityLincolnEngland
Liverpool Hope UniversityLiverpoolEngland
Liverpool John Moores UniversityLiverpoolEngland
London Metropolitan UniversityLondonEngland
London School of EconomicsLondonEngland
London South Bank UniversityLondonEngland
Loughborough UniversityLoughboroughEngland
Manchester Metropolitan UniversityManchesterEngland
Middlesex UniversityLondonEngland
Newcastle UniversityNewcastleEngland
Northumbria UniversityNewcastleEngland
Nottingham Trent UniversityNottinghamEngland
Open UniversityMilton KeynesEngland
Oxford Brookes UniversityOxfordEngland
Plymouth Marjon UniversityPlymouthEngland
Queen Margaret UniversityMusselburghScotland
Queen Mary University of LondonLondonEngland
Queen's University BelfastBelfastNorthern Ireland
Regent's University LondonLondonEngland
Richmond American University LondonLondonEngland
Robert Gordon UniversityAberdeenScotland
Royal Holloway, University of LondonEghamEngland
Sheffield Hallam UniversitySheffieldEngland
SOAS University of LondonLondonEngland
Southampton Solent UniversitySouthamptonEngland
St Mary's University, TwickenhamLondonEngland
Swansea UniversitySwanseaWales
Teesside UniversityMiddlesbroughEngland
Ulster UniversityBelfastNorthern Ireland
University College LondonLondonEngland
University of AberdeenAberdeenScotland
University of BathBathEngland
University of BedfordshireBedfordEngland
University of BirminghamBirminghamEngland
University of BradfordBradfordEngland
University of BrightonBrighton and HoveEngland
University of BristolBristolEngland
University of BuckinghamBuckinghamEngland
University of CambridgeCambridgeEngland
University of ChesterChesterEngland
University of ChichesterChichesterEngland
University of CumbriaCarlisleEngland
University of DerbyDerbyEngland
University of DundeeDundeeScotland
University of East AngliaNorwichEngland
University of East LondonLondonEngland
University of EdinburghEdinburghScotland
University of EssexColchesterEngland
University of ExeterExeterEngland
University of GlasgowGlasgowScotland
University of GloucestershireCheltenhamEngland
University of Greater ManchesterBoltonEngland
University of GreenwichLondonEngland
University of HertfordshireHatfieldEngland
University of HuddersfieldHuddersfieldEngland
University of HullKingston upon HullEngland
University of KentCanterburyEngland
University of LancashirePrestonEngland
University of LeedsLeedsEngland
University of LeicesterLeicesterEngland
University of LincolnLincolnEngland
University of LiverpoolLiverpoolEngland
University of LondonLondonEngland
University of ManchesterManchesterEngland
University of NorthamptonNorthamptonEngland
University of NottinghamNottinghamEngland
University of OxfordOxfordEngland
University of PlymouthPlymouthEngland
University of PortsmouthPortsmouthEngland
University of ReadingReadingEngland
University of RoehamptonLondonEngland
University of SalfordSalfordEngland
University of SheffieldSheffieldEngland
University of South WalesCardiffWales
University of SouthamptonSouthamptonEngland
University of St AndrewsSt AndrewsScotland
University of StaffordshireStoke-on-TrentEngland
University of StirlingStirlingScotland
University of StrathclydeGlasgowScotland
University of SuffolkIpswichEngland
University of SunderlandSunderlandEngland
University of SurreyGuildfordEngland
University of SussexBrighton and HoveEngland
University of the Highlands and IslandsInvernessScotland
University of the West of EnglandBristolEngland
University of the West of ScotlandAyrScotland
University of Wales Trinity Saint DavidCardiffWales
University of WarwickCoventryEngland
University of West LondonLondonEngland
University of WestminsterLondonEngland
University of WinchesterWinchesterEngland
University of WolverhamptonWolverhamptonEngland
University of WorcesterWorcesterEngland
University of YorkYorkEngland
Wrexham UniversityWrexhamWales
York St John UniversityYorkEngland

Undergraduate applications are made on UCAS, not here.

Search International Relations courses on UCAS

International Relations degree: 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.

Skilled Worker visas

Sponsorship depends on the job's occupation code and the current Skilled Worker rules, not on a subject's median pay. A Skilled Worker decision uses the higher of the general threshold and the SOC going rate. Subject LEO medians are not sufficient. Read the Skilled Worker job rules on GOV.UK.