Politics & International Relations

The opportunity to study Politics & International Relations at our campus in London offers the city as a classroom. The seat of the UK government and many of its agencies, prominent international organisations and world-renowned research institutes immediately surround our campus. These include UN IMO and Chatham House – The Royal Institute of International Affairs. We are neighbours to think-tanks including the Adam Smith Institute, policy centres such as the Global Policy Institute, and many archives and libraries.

The BSc (Hons) Politics & International Relations degree comprises:

1. Political science – analysing the organisation of government and society
2. Political theory – examining normative questions, political ideas, and ideologies
3. International relations – problems of war, peace, security, economy, globalisation, and the conflicting and cooperative engagement amongst states and between state and non-state actors.

The curriculum appraises the relationship between the individual and the state, the sources of authority, and forms of governance with significant implications for policy-making, policy choices, and policy outcomes. It fosters an understanding of agency through the study of power, justice, anarchy, order, conflict, legitimacy, accountability, obligation, sovereignty, mediation, security, governance, and decision-making at different levels of governance (e.g. local, regional, and global).

Students develop a broad range of skills and knowledge relevant to institutional decision- and policy-making. Graduates can manage complex information flows and networks, collect appropriate material from a broad range of sources, and undertake causal and applied projects to develop and promote critical thinking. Students acquire the ability to contribute to debates on topical issues of great currency, and apply theoretical and methodological tools of policy, institutional, and behavioural analysis.

Interdisciplinary Study
This degree programme combines a rigorous politics & international relations syllabus with a personalised elective pathway. Students can choose to deepen their focus on politics & international relations through their elective courses, or they can further contextualise and broaden their studies with courses that match other interests and goals. Focus on one subject or study multiple subjects.

Discipline Pathways include:

Art & Design
Business
Computer Science
Creative Writing
Data Science
Economics
English
History
Law
Philosophy
Politics & International Relations
Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE)

Global Experience
Northeastern University London offers students exciting global experience opportunities. By coming to study with us you have the opportunity to embrace a global mindset from day one, integrating yourself into a diverse community of more than 74 different nationalities, with students coming to study in London from across Northeastern University’s Global Campus Network.

Semester Abroad
Our degree programmes offer you the opportunity to spend a semester abroad studying at Northeastern University’s campus in either Boston, Massachusetts or Oakland, California. You’ll enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience, which includes opportunities to expand your horizons and network, engage with another culture, develop your independence, and experience learning in a different style and environment.

Double Degree
In addition to three-year UK degree programmes, Northeastern University London offers unique opportunities for students to study for two globally recognised degrees simultaneously over 4 years – a UK undergraduate degree awarded by Northeastern University London, and a US bachelor’s degree awarded by Northeastern University (Boston, MA.) Double degree students undertake their fourth year of study in the USA.

There are also options to study for a UK undergraduate degree and a US masters degree over four years, or a UK undergraduate degree and UK masters degree.