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Original poster

Anyone know anything about degrees in international relations?

56 replies

Lemonblossom · 14/08/2022 07:49

DS has long said he wants to do history and politics and all of our visits have been on the basis of this and he thought he’d firmed up his choices. Having spent some time drafting his personal statement ready for going back to school (they have to have first draft ready), he’s now wondering about international relations. He is really interested in politics but didn’t do politics A Level and his interest is more about the international side of politics than domestic.

A Levels are History, English Lit and Economics with core maths and an EPQ. He’s predicted A. A. A. Thinks he will ultimately do law (family business! DH and I are both lawyers)

we are wondering if international relations with history would be a better choice for him but none of us really know much about it.

OP posts:
Schools2023 · 14/08/2022 07:53

Like everything you pick your modules based on what you're interested in. There's generally quite a bit about wars and theories of interaction- realism, idealism etc. Think it's a good choice for where we are at the moment. Get him to watch the Adam Curtis documentary hypernormalisation I think it's called. If he likes that he'll like the degree.

LIZS · 14/08/2022 07:55

You don't need Politics A level to do PIR. Those that have it find a lot of repetition in first year.

Original poster
Lemonblossom · 14/08/2022 07:55

Thank you that’s helpful. We’ll look it up

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Original poster
Lemonblossom · 14/08/2022 07:55

A Level predictions are A star A star A. Think something went wrong there!

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Original poster
Lemonblossom · 14/08/2022 08:05

LIZS · 14/08/2022 07:55

You don't need Politics A level to do PIR. Those that have it find a lot of repetition in first year.

Thank you that’s reassuring. He regrets doing economics rather than politics as his third A Level but it’s good to know it won’t disadvantage him.

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SBlonde · 14/08/2022 08:10

I studied politics and international relations as a degree. I graduated 7 years ago though, so could have changed by now but I felt like politics is more theoretical based on studying ideologies and political figures whereas international relations I found more relevant to current issues. In IR modules we covered things like states, what type of states exist and how they interact, the power balances of the world, global security issues, cyber security, war, conflict resolutions, resources, aspects of world economies…

NotAdultingToday · 14/08/2022 08:12

I dont know if this helps i did Contemporary History and had a mixture of modules including quite a few international relations ones.
That kind of course is good for the law conversion course as shows you have a broad knowledge base (if this is what hes going to do)

I guess it also depends on the history he likes, i preferred more modern history so this course was great for me.

Original poster
Lemonblossom · 14/08/2022 12:03

Thanks all, this is helping a lot. He is currently watching the recommended documentary

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Notagardener · 14/08/2022 16:02

Just a thought dc1 was considering war studies at kings college. Combined with something else. In the end he decided agains 2 different combined courses. But seems a good course

TizerorFizz · 14/08/2022 16:27

If he’s going into the family business, just do what he wants! He’s not competing for a job.

cathol · 14/08/2022 16:30

Two decades ago now but my UCAS form was all Politics and History with one Politics with International Relations and of course I chose the odd one out.

My A Levels were English Lit, French, and History and I got A/A/B.

I never felt disadvantaged by not doing Politics at A-Level (my school didn't offer it).

I went into a coMpletely unrelated field immediately after graduating but the skills I learned during my degree - analysis, influencing, logical reasoning for example - I've used just about every day since.

SwedishEdith · 14/08/2022 16:31

I did an IR module as part of an OU degree. I absolutely loved it. Really helped me to make a bit more sense of the world and why things happen.

mumonthehill · 14/08/2022 16:37

I did Peace Studies at Bradford. Very international relations focused and I think now you can do more combined degrees. An internationally renowned department with fantastic teaching. Do not be put off with the idea of Bradford it is an amazing city and I had a great time there. It is well worth a look at the course. International relations is a great degree!

Original poster
Lemonblossom · 14/08/2022 16:37

TizerorFizz · 14/08/2022 16:27

If he’s going into the family business, just do what he wants! He’s not competing for a job.

Well not the actual family business, just the job we all do..

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LIZS · 14/08/2022 17:36

Ds did PIR and says that there were a number of compulsory IR theory modules with specific courses applying that to examples. He did optional modules on the rise of China (mostly post WW2), US Foreign Policy, War and Security.

TizerorFizz · 14/08/2022 17:52

@Lemonblossom
Apologies. I misunderstood you! He should still do a degree that gives him the best job opportunities though. IR is perfectly respectable and he needs to assess if he prefers it. The most important advice is go to the best university he can. There are lots of history/IR/Politics grads about who don’t have the careers they thought they would. It’s a competitive world out there!

LillianGish · 15/08/2022 11:05

Has he looked at Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences at Birmingham This would give him the option of majoring in international relations while taking modules in history and politics (and even something else entirely) so he could adjust his major accordingly depending on his preferences as he goes through. A course like this offers flexibility to students who have wide ranging interests and talents they also get to work on projects with students from other disciplines to tackle issues from several angles.

TizerorFizz · 15/08/2022 14:34

It depends if working on projects means much in the end. If he grows into law, it won’t matter much.

JocelynBurnell · 15/08/2022 15:52

History and Politics keep Oxbridge as an option.

However, if your DS wishes to do International Relations at undergraduate level, the best option is probably LSE.

Original poster
Lemonblossom · 15/08/2022 16:08

JocelynBurnell · 15/08/2022 15:52

History and Politics keep Oxbridge as an option.

However, if your DS wishes to do International Relations at undergraduate level, the best option is probably LSE.

He was on the oxbridge track at school but decided at the end of year 12 not to pursue it. History and English Lit are coursework heavy plus he has two big, time intensive extra curriculars and he just didn’t feel he had the time to build up his super curriculars for the application (aka he’s too lazy..)

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TizerorFizz · 15/08/2022 17:45

@Lemonblossom
If he’s busy he really doesn’t need more and more pressure. Oxbridge isn’t everything. He really is allowed to have a life without being called lazy!

Original poster
Lemonblossom · 15/08/2022 19:28

TizerorFizz · 15/08/2022 17:45

@Lemonblossom
If he’s busy he really doesn’t need more and more pressure. Oxbridge isn’t everything. He really is allowed to have a life without being called lazy!

Clearly a joke Tizerorfizz. 🙄

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TizerorFizz · 15/08/2022 20:39

Must be a MN one I’ve not come across then! These threads are usually full of tiger parents and super human gifted DC who happily fill their days snd nights with learning opportunities!

Original poster
Lemonblossom · 15/08/2022 22:10

Oh the irony.. Ok I’m out. This was a thread to ask about peoples experiences of international relations degrees not to bicker with you and become the subject of your passive aggressive comments. As I understand it your DD did law at Bristol. I’m not sure that will help me.

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Schools2023 · 16/08/2022 06:44

I don't think the rank of uni is that important, I'd focus more on one that offers a placement or has good work experience offer. If he could get an interesting internship eg the UN, EU, international NGO, and some real world experience that will a) make him much more hireable and b) give him more of a sense of what he wants to do.

I see lots of grads who are v academic but totally useless in a real life work situation.
Also if he can get any admin experience, temping in the summer etc, will make him much more successful in first jobs as he will be useful around the office!