An overview of the pathway
This pathway equips students with the knowledge and skills required to conduct advanced research into the world of politics, international relations and area studies.

We are collaborative to the core, building upon longstanding institutional links between Aberystwyth University’s Department of International Politics; Cardiff University’s Department of Politics & International Relations; Swansea University’s Department of Politics, Philosophy & International Relations; and Cardiff University’s School of Modern Languages.

Our pathway demonstrated excellence in the last research exercise, with impact being a particular strength. We combine complementary research specialisms in fields such as:

• international Relations & 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,
• global drug policy,
• gender politics,
• environmental politics and development studies,
• conflict and post-conflict challenges,
• war and peace studies
• politics and law (domestic and international),
• comparative politics,
• language and society and social linguistics

Our pathway is distinctive in its breadth of subject and methods expertise and the extensive interdisciplinary approaches to which our students are exposed. We also differentiate ourselves by offering, particularly at Cardiff, opportunities to combine foreign language study with research into the politics, culture or society of particular ‘areas’ (continents, countries or regions).

Environment for doctoral research and training 
All students benefit from the pathway’s vibrant research culture, including ongoing engagement with the core theoretical and methodological concerns of Politics, International Relations and Area Studies; PhD seminar presentations; and visiting academic/ practitioner speakers. Our Annual Conference of doctoral work in progress is held in a multiplicity of formats and offers opportunities to network, apply research methods and communicate findings.

Knowledge Exchange and Careers
Students benefit from our links with organisations ranging from the Welsh Government and Parliament, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the National Museum of Wales, the National Library of Wales, Chatham House, the International Drug Policy Consortium and the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research Data and Methods (WISERD) network.

Our students go on to postdoctoral research or lecturing posts throughout the UK and internationally; or use their social science training to pursue careers beyond academia: in constitutional law, as special advisors to the Welsh and UK Governments, in the UK civil service (Foreign Office, Ministry of Defence), in non-governmental organizations, and as parliamentary researchers in the UK and elsewhere.

Contacts
Cardiff University – Dr Andrew Dowling – DowlingA@cardiff.ac.uk 
Aberystwyth University – Dr Jan Ruzicka – jlr@aber.ac.uk
Swansea University – Dr Matthew Wall – M.T.Wall@Swansea.ac.uk