What careers does International Relations degree lead to - in reality?

[NotDonna]

Really interested in what careers this degree actually leads to. The uni websites obviously state diplomats, NGOs etc but I’d love to know how realistic this is.

I am 52 and did a Masters in International Relations. I spent 12 years with the UN. Then moved to the UK full time and did policy work with 2 major international NGos.

Oh- and my language was Russian

It's not the same as a politics degree.

Lots of Whitehall policy peeps have IR but often as a masters if it wasn’t their undergrad.

DD just about to graduate with Politics and IR and has managed to land a Government grad role which will give her additional qualification in management after 2 years - they see these grads as the leaders of the future. DD always wanted to do something directly linked to her degree and has been fortunate to get this role.

I did this with MFL as joint honours at an RG university 20 years ago.
I spent a year at a French university studying the same thing but in French which was amazing.
Worked for an NGO in Brussels after graduation for 6 months.
Then did a commercial graduate scheme for a large UK company for 5 years to get commercial and management experience.
Moved into strategy consulting at a big firm
Now work for a boutique firm doing the same thing. I'm in a senior role and a high earner. I would not be earning this salary if I'd stayed in the public sector or in the NGO world.
I don't "use" my degree in the vocational sense but I definitely use the skills it provided me with.

DD has two IR friends. One found domestic political compaign work on graduation last year but it didn't lead to work (his party lost). He has started a masters but has found short term paid internship work in security for a think tank. One (who is fluent in 3 languages, has EU passport and has a diplomat parent) has applied for lots of jobs but so far nothing. She'll probably do a LLM if nothing turns up before September. Has found a paid internship for the summer though. Both have 1sts/on track for a 1st.

This is absolutely fascinating thanks. Well done to your DD @screwyou
Are you LSE @dreamingbohemian?

@NotDonna Thank you, she applied for so many roles and this is the only one she got anywhere with. I would say she works hard and deserves it (and she does) but so many other kids out there do too and sometimes a bit of luck comes into it.

According to my ds, at least half his intake at Sandhurst (army officer training) had degrees in some permutation of Politics and International Relations.

@NotDonna I think no MFL is much more difficult. As I said earlier DDs Swiss friends who targeted NGOs after study had 3 languages. These jobs are hugely competitive and after uk university expansion it’s not an easy career route. Bear in mind Oxford doesn’t even offer Politics on its own. Masters is another matter for IR but I don’t think high end careers are easy to come by and many employers won’t just want IR. They want bright people with any academic degree.

Very true about the usefulness of another language. DD graduating this summer from IR at LSE. Has been looking for jobs but with only having GCSE and A level knowledge of mfl is really struggling.

@Wronginformation Without MFLs it doesn’t feel very “international”. Good luck to DD though - she will find something and risk management consultancy as articulated earlier might be possible?

Lots of really relevant roles in the civil service, probably just as easy to join civil service as entry level and work your way up rather than do a degree these days though.

She is keen to work abroad....
Has already worked abroad for last 3 summers. Unfortunately didn't pick that much of the local language as people were too keen to speak to her in English....

Agree with @LeedsZebra90 success rate for the CS graduate diplo scheme was 0.4% in 2024 (no data yet for 2025).

I actually think universities should put % next to who attains what career afterwards. Two swallows does not a summer make!

I am old and out of date but most of my friends either went into academia or did "things you need a generic degree for".

However I really relished the analysis side - evaluating paradigms against reality. You cover the material quickly and get to spend a large portion of your time going deep on evaluation, much more so than in superficially similar (but perhaps older?) subjects. I ended up with a career in economic modelling. I wouldn't say it is a mainstream pathway - my colleagues mostly have Maths degrees - but soft analytical skills are needed and marketable in my field.

I did History, Politics and IR.
Careers that I know people went into include teaching, the military, police, various public sector organisations.
I went into local government and then into the civil service. I'm now a full time foster carer

@Ted27 You did 3 subjects - not just IR. Thats quite a big difference.

Diplomatic posts and civil service roles do not specify degree type, other than grade, so don’t assume this will make a difference. Obviously developing an interest and knowledge of IR can in itself be useful but not essential - so generally best to do the degree they want and then work on getting best grade they can. UN does specify degree areas for many jobs - it’s easy to see on their career site. They do however also generally expect another language so combining IR with a language may be more beneficial.

International Relations as a degree has been around for yonks! certainly not a new name for a Politics degree.

IR has not been around as long as a history degree and they are well regarded from the very best universities. All jobs which IR grads could apply for could be done by other grads. Humanity degrees are versatile and not having a MFL does reduce options for some careers and not being Oxbridge too!