International Relations or politics: which should I study?
International Relations may suit you better if you are most interested in diplomacy, conflict, global institutions, security, and relations between countries and other international actors. Politics may suit you better if you want broader study of political ideas, governments, elections, public policy, and power within and between societies. The subjects overlap, so compare the modules and teaching methods on specific courses.
Key points
- International Relations often focuses on global issues and cross-border relationships, while Politics can cover domestic, comparative, and theoretical questions.
- Both subjects may involve research methods, political theory, history, economics, or law, depending on the course.
- Check optional modules, regional or language opportunities, assessment methods, and possible placement or dissertation arrangements before deciding.
Things to check
- Course titles and boundaries vary between universities and countries; official course information should be checked for the programme you are considering.
- Neither subject guarantees a particular career, and relevant skills and experience can matter alongside the degree title.