This pathway reflects the sophisticated and rigorous methodologies that have developed for investigating the political world, embedded within clear disciplinary and interdisciplinary contexts.

The Politics and International Relations pathway’s considerable strength derives from its composition, building collaboration between the Department of International Politics in Aberystwyth and the Department of Politics and International Relations in Cardiff.  This combines complementary research strengths, including in

• international Relations and political theory,
• Welsh & UK politics and public policy,
• security (including cyber and nuclear security), strategy and intelligence,
• regional politics & security (Europe, Middle East, Russia, China, Africa, Latin America & US),
• post-colonial politics,
• gender politics,
• environmental politics,
• conflict and post-conflict challenges and
• politics and law (domestic and international).

We are distinctive in the breadth of subject and methods expertise available and the extensive interdisciplinary approaches to which our students are exposed.

Students taking a 1+3 route follow a training Masters degree which incorporates both a subject-specific and a broader social science research training.  They benefit from the pathway’s vibrant research culture, including ongoing engagement with the core theoretical and methodological concerns of Politics and International Relations; the application of research methods explored through research seminars for staff and students; PhD seminar presentation to peers and to staff; visiting academic speakers; visiting practitioner speakers; exposure to interdisciplinary research in wider School and University lecture and seminar programmes; and, at Cardiff, a Postgraduate Research Skills Week in the second semester. The joint Annual Conference of doctoral work in progress is an opportunity to develop the application of research methods and capability in communicating research. Students also develop their capabilities through producing a student-led pathway blog.

Our students go on to postdoctoral research or lecturing posts throughout the UK and all over the world; or use their social science training to pursue careers beyond academia: in constitutional law, as special advisors to the Welsh Government, in departments of the UK civil service (such as the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence), in non-governmental organizations in the UK and in other countries, with the Canadian government and as parliamentary researchers in the UK and elsewhere.