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University of Essex homepage Course Finder Politics and international relations
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Politics and international relations

Politics and international relations
Undergraduate Masters Research

Discover politics and international relations degrees at Essex

You thrive off the unpredictable nature of the political landscape. You want to have a meaningful impact on tomorrow’s world. We’re 16th in the UK for International Relations and 27th in the UK for Politics (Guardian University Guide 2024), and we are 6th in UK for research power in politics and international studies (Times Higher Education research power measure, Research Excellence Framework 2021).

Britain leaving the EU, the Climate Emergency, COVID-19 response – there is no better time to study politics than now. 

Why choose Essex?
  • We are 6th in UK for research power in politics and international studies (Times Higher Education research power measure, Research Excellence Framework 2021)
  • We're in the top 100 globally, and ranked top 10 in the UK for Politics and International Studies in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2024)
  • We're 16th in the UK for International Relations in the Guardian University Guide (2024)
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Learn more about politics and international relations at Essex

Visit the Department of Government and discover what life and study will be like as an undergraduate in this renowned Department.

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If you like politics and international relations, you might also like:
Sociology
Economics
Human rights
Law
American (US) studies
European studies

Explore postgraduate degrees in politics and international relations

We are 6th in UK for research power in politics and international studies (Times Higher Education research power measure, Research Excellence Framework 2021) and our world leading staff can help you to research the answers to the questions that really matter. We teach you how to explain vital political outcomes and analyse political decisions. We break away from the norm and explore unexpected areas of politics. Want to know why earthquakes are deadlier where the Mafia is stronger? How cellphone activity predicts riots? Or why people who are more scared of spiders are more conservative? Ask an Essex political scientist.

Why choose Essex?
  • We're 16th in the UK for International Relations (Guardian University Guide 2024)
  • We're ranked top 10 in the UK for Politics and International Studies in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2024)
  • The late Queen Elizabeth II conferred the only Regius Professorship in Political Science on our Department of Government

Visit the Department of Government

Learn more about postgraduate degrees in politics and international relations in the Department of Government Discover the exciting research taking place in the Department of Government

Resources for politics students at Essex

Visit ESSEXLab, a pioneering social and behavioural science research laboratory open to students in the Department of Government
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Learn more about postgraduate fees, funding and scholarships

Find a scholarship, discover postgraduate funding opportunities and learn more about the fee structure for postgraduate students at Essex.

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Find politics and international relations research degrees

Our PhD programme provides you with advanced research training and supervision by leading global scholars.

Our students have published in acclaimed political science journals such as Electoral Studies, International Organization, International Studies Quarterly, Journal of Politics, Journal of Conflict Resolution, Journal of Education Policy and Journal of Peace Research.

Our Department of Government offers two routes to a research degree:  

Both are three-year programmes. A PhP is normally for students without a prior Masters degree and you normally take a number of taught modules in your first year.

Why research here?
  • We are 6th in UK for research power in politics and international studies (Times Higher Education research power measure, Research Excellence Framework 2021)
  • Ranked top 10 in the UK for Politics and International Studies in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2024)
  • The late Queen Elizabeth II conferred the only Regius Professorship in Political Science on our Department of Government

Find your academic supervisor

Search our staff profiles and discover the researchers open to academic supervision at the University of Essex.

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Learn more about fees, funding and scholarships for research students

Find a scholarship, discover funding opportunities and learn more about the fee structure for research students at Essex.

Learn more about fees and funding for research students

Visit the Department of Government

Learn more about research degrees in politics and international relations in the Department of Government Discover the exciting research taking place in the Department of Government

Resources for political scientists at Essex

Visit ESSEXLab, a pioneering social and behavioural science research laboratory open to researchers in the Department of Government

Research divisions

International Relations and Conflict Political Behaviour Political Economy Political Institutions Political Theory and Discourse

Research centres

Centre for Ideology and Discourse Analysis Jean Monnet European Centre of Excellence Michael Nicholson Centre for Conflict and Cooperation
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