What skills do I need before starting an international relations degree?
International relations study benefits from critical thinking, clear academic writing, careful reading, research and source-evaluation skills. Interest in history, politics and current affairs, openness to different cultures, discussion skills and confidence using evidence or data can also help. Check the specific course’s entry requirements and recommended preparation.
Key points
- Practise comparing viewpoints and identifying bias in news, academic and policy sources.
- Build skills in presenting arguments clearly, in writing and discussion.
- A foreign language may be useful for some topics or careers, but requirements vary by course.
- Following international events can help connect theories with real-world examples.
Things to check
- Required subjects, language qualifications and recommended preparation differ by university, country and programme; confirm details in official course information.