
Master's degrees
Our expanding range of taught programmes will develop your knowledge and wider professional skills.
Politics and International Relations at Southampton has specialist research groups in Political Analysis, Political Theory, Public Policy and International Relations.
Southampton's thriving and diverse postgraduate community offers students a unique opportunity to carve out their own career path, either by undertaking their own research or through one of our exciting programmes of study.
We aim to provide the best possible education for our postgraduate students by equipping them with the skills and knowledge to operate at the cutting edge of research, as well as preparing them for future employment and long and successful careers.
Our taught postgraduate programmes allow students to ask questions that push the boundaries of political thinking across areas such as global politics, cyber security, risk analysis, public policy and international relations. Students experience innovative learning and teaching through problem-based activities and workshops. They go on to have successful careers in a range of positions in the public and private sectors including government departments, think tanks, security analysis and NGOs.
Working with current researchers at the forefront of their field, our PhD students have the opportunity to pursue their own research interests across many areas of politics and international relations such as democratic engagement, political accountability and globalisation. Students are also encouraged to participate in academics conferences and submit articles to scholarly journals.
Our expanding range of taught programmes will develop your knowledge and wider professional skills.
We offer PhD programmes in many areas of politics and provide a highly stimulating and supportive environment.
Explore our Money matters page to find out everything you need to know about fees and funding for postgraduate study.
There are many career resources available to our postgraduate students including the Careers and Employability Service.
Discover what you can gain from postgraduate studies in politics and international relations at Southampton
Watch the videoMy Masters degree at the University of Southampton has considerably extended my analytical, argumentation and research skills, and has enabled me to critically analyse complex subjects and issues, which is an incredibly helpful skill at my current traineeship at the Europol HQ in the Hague.