What can you do with an international relations degree?

A degree in international relations helps students understand some of the biggest global challenges we currently face and will typically cover issues such as human rights, sovereignty, international security, and environmentalism.  

The multi-faceted nature of the degree means it often incorporates insights from multiple disciplines, including history, political science and economics. As such, graduates are well prepared for a variety of careers.  

Some of the most important skills you’ll gain from a degree in international relations include: 

• Strong verbal and written communication  

• Ability to collect, organise and analyse data to gain insights 

• Critical thinking, particularly when evaluating solutions to global challenges 

• Intercultural awareness 

• Teamwork through group projects 

With that in mind, here are some examples of career paths for international relations graduates: 

Working as a policy officer involves researching and analysing data to help public organisations or businesses make informed decisions. One of the main responsibilities is to consider the impact of these decisions and policies on local communities.  

Policy officers work in a range of sectors, with central government being the most common type. Opportunities are also available in think tanks and non-profits where you’ll be expected to influence policies with a specific outcome, such as reducing social inequality.  

If you decide to work for a private sector company, you’ll be assessing and creating internal policies for the organisation.  

International aid workers establish long-term and sustainable solutions to issues that arise in developing countries. Examples of fields you can work in include sanitation, education, agriculture, governance and gender equality.  

Some of the day-to-day responsibilities may involve liaising with NGOs, training volunteers, drafting funding proposals for overseas programmes or carrying out strategic planning for disaster management. 

The nature of the work can be emotionally intense at times so it’s important to be patient with yourself and remain flexible in unexpected scenarios. Awareness of cross-cultural sensitivities is also a must when working directly with local communities.