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What can you do with an international relations degree?
Also called: International studies · International affairs · Global studies · International politics
Updated How we use data
Quick answer
An international relations degree studies how countries, international organisations, businesses and other groups interact across borders. It covers diplomacy, conflict and security, international law, the global economy and development. Graduates often work as diplomats, policy officers, journalists, translators or consultants, in government, international organisations, charities and business.
Careers with an international relations degree
International relations graduates work in government, international organisations, charities, business, media and research. Some join the diplomatic service after competitive selection, and many more become policy officers or analysts in ministries, think tanks and non-governmental organisations. Others become journalists, consultants who advise businesses on political risk, or translators if they speak other languages well. Many international jobs expect a master's degree, languages and experience abroad, so internships and volunteering matter.
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Policy officer
Policy officers research problems, analyse evidence and advise decision makers on laws, programmes and strategies.
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Journalist
Journalists find, check and report news and stories for newspapers, websites, television, radio, podcasts and social media.
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Translator
Translators turn written text from one language into another, keeping the meaning, tone and purpose accurate.
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Management consultant
Management consultants help organisations solve problems and improve performance, for example by changing strategy, reducing costs, reorganising teams or introducing new technology.
Other roles graduates go into: Political risk analyst · Humanitarian aid worker · Intelligence analyst · Programme officer · Trade adviser · Campaigns officer
What you study and the skills you gain
Typical topics
- Theories of international relations
- Diplomacy and foreign policy
- Security, conflict and peace studies
- International law and human rights
- Global political economy and trade
- International organisations and global governance
- Development, migration and the environment
- Regional studies, often with a foreign language
Skills you gain
- Analysing complex political situations from different viewpoints
- Researching and writing clear policy briefs and reports
- Negotiating and debating
- Understanding other cultures, often through a second language
- Following and interpreting international news and data
- Presenting arguments to different audiences
How the degree differs around the world
International relations is often taught within politics or political science, but many universities also offer it as a separate degree. In the UK and much of Europe, a bachelor's usually takes three years, while in the United States, Canada and many Asian countries it is usually a four-year programme, sometimes called international studies or international affairs. Many programmes include a foreign language or a period of study abroad. A master's degree is very common, and some specialist schools teach international affairs mainly at graduate level. Entry requirements vary, and no particular school subjects are usually needed.
How do international relations graduates do?
Earnings and employment by country
The OECD compares graduates by field of study. This subject falls under “Social sciences, journalism and information”. The first column compares the median earnings of tertiary-educated adults in this field with all tertiary-educated adults (100 = average).
| Country | Earnings index (all graduates = 100) | Employment rate, this field | Employment rate, all graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estonia | 112 (2023) | 89.8% (2024) | 89.2% |
| Chile | 112 (2023) | 82.5% (2022) | 85.7% |
| Denmark | 107 (2023) | 89.5% (2021) | 87.8% |
| Norway | 107 (2023) | 87.0% (2024) | 89.3% |
| Switzerland | 107 (2023) | 86.4% (2024) | 89.5% |
| Finland | 106 (2022) | 88.6% (2024) | 88.8% |
| United States | 101 (2023) | 83.7% (2017) | 84.3% |
| Costa Rica | 101 (2023) | 72.4% (2024) | 79.2% |
| Latvia | 100 (2023) | 86.8% (2024) | 87.7% |
| South Korea | 100 (2023) | — | — |
| Canada | 98 (2020) | 80.4% (2021) | 80.4% |
| Romania | 97 (2023) | 91.1% (2024) | 91.5% |
| Slovenia | 96 (2020) | 89.9% (2024) | 90.8% |
| Australia | 96 (2020) | 85.5% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Luxembourg | 95 (2023) | 84.6% (2024) | 85.7% |
| Austria | 94 (2023) | 83.0% (2024) | 86.4% |
| Portugal | 93 (2020) | 90.7% (2024) | 90.7% |
| Mexico | 93 (2023) | 78.6% (2024) | 81.5% |
| Sweden | 92 (2023) | 88.5% (2024) | 89.6% |
| United Kingdom | 91 (2020) | 85.5% (2021) | 84.6% |
| Germany | 81 (2020) | 85.1% (2024) | 88.7% |
| Iceland | — | 94.4% (2016) | 93.6% |
| Lithuania | — | 92.5% (2024) | 90.4% |
| Poland | — | 91.2% (2024) | 91.6% |
| Netherlands | — | 90.5% (2024) | 90.6% |
| Slovakia | — | 89.8% (2024) | 90.5% |
| Belgium | — | 86.1% (2024) | 88.5% |
| Czechia | — | 86.1% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Ireland | — | 85.8% (2021) | 86.9% |
| Croatia | — | 83.6% (2024) | 89.7% |
| Italy | — | 83.5% (2024) | 84.7% |
| Spain | — | 83.5% (2024) | 83.9% |
| France | — | 82.1% (2024) | 87.3% |
| Greece | — | 81.0% (2024) | 82.3% |
| Peru | — | 80.9% (2024) | 81.7% |
| Türkiye | — | 68.1% (2016) | 72.9% |
| Hungary | — | 62.2% (2024) | 76.2% |
Source: OECD, Education at a Glance. Adults aged 25–64 with tertiary education; latest year available, full-time earners where published. Values are for the whole field of study, not this subject alone.
Is an international relations degree right for you?
It may suit you if
- You follow world news and want to understand why countries act as they do.
- You enjoy debating, reading and writing about politics and history.
- You are interested in languages, travel and working with people from other cultures.
Think twice if
- You expect a quick route into diplomacy, which usually involves difficult entry exams and strong competition.
- You want a degree with specific technical skills, unless you are ready to add data or language skills yourself.
- You are not prepared for a long path, as many international jobs expect a master's degree and several years of experience.
Further study
A master's degree is common and often expected for jobs in international organisations, foreign policy and development. Popular options include international security, development, international law, economics and diplomacy. Learning another language to a high level is one of the most useful additions. A PhD leads to research and university teaching, and some graduates go on to study law.
Questions about studying international relations
What jobs can you get with an international relations degree?
Common jobs include diplomat, policy officer, political risk analyst, journalist, translator and management consultant. Graduates also work for international organisations, charities, humanitarian agencies, think tanks, banks and multinational companies. Entry to diplomatic and international organisation careers is competitive and often needs a master's degree, languages and relevant experience.
What is the difference between international relations and politics?
Politics, or political science, studies government, power and political systems, often focusing on individual countries. International relations looks at relations between countries and at global issues such as war, trade, climate and human rights. Many universities teach them together, and many modules overlap.
Do you need an international relations degree to become a diplomat?
No. Most diplomatic services do not require a particular subject, and they select people through written exams, interviews and assessments. An international relations degree gives useful background knowledge, but languages, general knowledge and communication skills matter a lot. Check the entry rules of your country's foreign ministry.
Is international relations a good degree?
It is a good choice if you are interested in global affairs and want a career in government, international organisations, media or business. The subject is broad, so employers look for extra evidence of skills, such as languages, data analysis, internships or time abroad. Without these, finding a first job can take longer.
Related subjects
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Politics
A politics degree, often called political science, studies how power works: how governments are chosen and run, how laws and policies are made, and why people and countries cooperate or come into conflict.
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Economics
An economics degree studies how people, businesses and governments make choices with limited resources, and how markets, money and policy affect jobs, prices and growth.
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Modern languages
A modern languages degree teaches you to speak, write and understand one or more foreign languages to a high level, together with the culture, history and literature of the places where they are spoken.
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History
A history degree studies how societies, cultures, economies and ideas have changed over time, using evidence such as documents, objects and people's memories.
Sources
- OECD — Education at a Glance, labour-market outcomes — Earnings and employment by field of study, adults 25–64
- UNESCO — ISCED-F 2013 — ISCED-F 0312
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). What can you do with an international relations degree?. https://coursetojob.com/subjects/international-relations/ (accessed September 26, 2026)