International Relations
Undergraduate Course Information
Postgraduate Course Information
Opportunities for overseas study

What is International Relations?

It has never been more important to understand world affairs and transnational issues. In the era of globalization, people, products, ideas and cultures are interacting and circulating at previously unimaginable scales and speeds. War and conflict, as well as new security threats such as terrorism, environmental degradation, resource shortage, and disease are increasingly of significance to us at home, as well as abroad.

The discipline of International Relations has a well-established reputation within higher education and enjoys the enrolment of high numbers of students worldwide. International Relations students are drawn to the subject by its topical nature, high-quality academic research and policy significance. International Relations provides a structured and coherent approach to understanding, analysing and shaping:

The behaviour and foreign-policy of nation-states;
The role and functioning of international and regional organisations (such as the United Nations and the European Union);
The activities of non-governmental organisations (such as the Red Cross, Amnesty International and Oxfam);
The significance of new challenges to international peace and security;
The relationships between the developed and the developing world;
The challenges of managing diversity and difference;
Issues of social justice, poverty, human rights and the protection of vulnerable people.

A degree in International Relations offers you an unparalleled opportunity to understand and influence the cross-border factors that are shaping our societies at a local, national and worldwide level. While International Relations has its own unique approach to understanding the world in which we live, it also concerns itself with issues of history, economics, politics, law, philosophy and justice.

Students come to the study of International Relations from a variety of academic backgrounds, but no specific prior knowledge is required or assumed. If you have enjoyed studying subjects such as Social Studies, History, Geography, Politics, Economics, Sociology, Legal Studies, or English or have an interest in current affairs and debating then International Relations may be right for you.

What Do You Study?

Modules offered include:

Level 1:
Global Conflicts & Contexts; Identity and Citizenship; Applying Research; Who Runs Britain?

Level 2:
Model United Nations; Comparative Regionalism; Thinking International Relations; Researching Politics and International Relations; Thinking Politics; Law, Order and Politics; Comparative Politics and Policy.

Level 3:
Globalization and Developing Societies; Human Rights; War Crimes and Genocide; Understanding the Policy Process; Harm, Agency & Regulation; Body Politics; Analysing the Policy Process; International Relations Independent Study.

Why Study International Relations at the University of Lincoln

As an International Relations student at the University of Lincoln you will be taught by a range of expert academic staff, many of whom are at the cutting edge of their areas of expertise and who have links to institutions and research centres around the world. All members of staff are active researchers, ensuring that your lectures and coursework reflect the latest developments in International Relations theory and practice.

The programme is characterized by the numerous opportunities you will have to interact closely with academic staff. The International Relations student body at Lincoln is made up of students from all over the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond, enabling you to form friendships (and future professional contacts) from all over the world. Our students are active participants in University life, contributing to student politics, clubs and societies, student debating and volunteering and participation opportunities in the local community.

There is a vibrant student exchange programme that enables students to study at one of our partner institutions abroad as part of a four-year degree. Students are also invited to participate in regular study tours abroad, designed to complement and extend materials studied in class. Previous study trips have included:

New York and Washington DC
United Nations HQ, World Trade Center Site, White House, United States Congress, UK Mission/Embassy, Tolerance Centre, Smithsonian Institutions, Holocaust Museum, International Monetary Fund, State Department

Brussels, Mons and Strasbourg
European Union Institutions, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) HQ, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE)

Ypres
World War I sites
The Hague
International Court of Justice, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia

Prague & Kraków
Former Concentration Camp (Auschwitz), Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, Prague University

London
Houses of Parliament, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London School of Economics

Where Will a Degree in International Relations Take You?

An international relations degree from the University of Lincoln is a highly sought-after and well-respected qualification. It represents not just your mastery of the particular issues and modules you have studied but that you have also gained a wide-range of transferable skills that will enhance your employability. These skills include:

Professional writing;
The ability to comprehend and synthesise complex issues and materials;
High-level quantitative, qualitative and theoretical research abilities;
Management and participation in group projects;
Understanding and representing different organisational interests;
Public speaking, oral presentation and debate;
Designing, managing and delivering individual research projects;
Negotiation, consensus-building and compromise.

Occupations associated with International Relations include:

Civil Service Fast-Streamer
Diplomatic Services Operational Officer
European Commission Administrator
Political Research Assistant
Public Affairs Consultant
Charity Officer
Journalist
Education – Teacher or Lecturer

Graduates of the International Relations programme at Lincoln have entered a wide range of careers on completion of their studies. Recent graduates have gained jobs as:

International NGO Project Coordinator
NGO Administrators/Policy Advisors/Fundraising Coordinators
Political Advisor, European Commission
Project Manager, Multinational Corporation
HM Customs and Excise Officer
Project Manager, Regional Development Agency
Intelligence Officer
Armed Forces Member

Many of our graduates go on to further study in International Relations at institutions all over the world.