Philosophy with International Relations

Philosophy with international relations is a degree that takes philosophy as its major element, combining the depth and precision of philosophical inquiry with a working knowledge of how states, institutions and actors interact in the international arena. Philosophy develops your capacity for rigorous conceptual analysis, logical argument and sustained engagement with the ideas of major thinkers across ethics, epistemology, political philosophy, logic and metaphysics. International relations brings empirical and theoretical knowledge of how power, diplomacy, conflict, trade and global governance operate, adding a practical and contemporary dimension to the philosophical foundations you develop.

At Royal Holloway, University of London, this three-year full-time programme is structured so that philosophy constitutes 75 per cent of your studies, with international relations making up 25 per cent. This means you develop genuine depth in philosophical thinking while also gaining a meaningful introduction to the concepts, institutions and debates that shape international affairs. A sandwich year provides extended professional experience, a year abroad gives you the opportunity to study in a different country, and a work placement further strengthens your professional preparation alongside your academic studies.

The combination of philosophical rigour and international awareness is particularly valuable in careers that require careful reasoning about justice, rights, power and the normative dimensions of international affairs. Graduates pursue careers in the civil service, diplomacy and international organisations, the armed forces, NGOs, think tanks, law, journalism, publishing, education and consultancy. The ability to construct and evaluate arguments precisely while understanding the institutional and geopolitical contexts in which decisions are made is a genuinely useful combination.

Postgraduate study in philosophy, international relations, political theory, human rights or law is a natural continuation for those who wish to specialise or pursue research.