International relations courses

An international relations degree will teach you to analyse the relationships that exist between countries and how those relationships have far-reaching impacts. You’ll understand the theories, players and mechanics behind globalisation, multinational markets, global security and crises. 

The field of international relations sits at the crossroads of political science, geography, history, economics, law, sociology, psychology and philosophy.

Your degree in international relations will cover subjects such as:

• international law, because the global legal system influences every country’s policies

• history, to understand why today’s relationships are the way they are

• political science, to learn why governments behave the way they do

• comparative religion, to know about the traditions and worldviews of cultures around the world 

• economics, to understand how people use resources and respond to incentives

• regional studies, for example, specific units on Middle Eastern politics

Most international relations courses will also encourage you to take up at least one foreign language, preferably relevant to the region of your specialisation or one of the United Nations’ five official languages—Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish. 

In some degrees, you many have the chance to complete a parliamentary internship, work placement or field trip abroad to gain international experience.

Politics and international relations are very closely linked. In fact, international relations is considered a subfield of modern political science, the other two subfields being comparative politics and political theory. 

A political science degree is good for someone who might be interested in a political career as a member of parliament (or other elected official) or in the civil service, usually within their home country. In this degree, the focus is on the politics of specific countries or regions and the study of political ideologies (such as communism, libertarianism and anarchism). 

On the other hand, international relations degrees are suited for those might want to work in diplomacy or in international relations-specific areas like conflict resolution, international law, international security and sustainable development. These degrees consider the complex network of connections and interdependencies between nations, intelligence services, international aid organisations, multinational corporations and more.

You should study international relations if you’re interested in other cultures, want to better the world and work overseas, or at least travel for work. 

Experts in international relations play a crucial function in keeping the world turning. Case in point—the Black Sea Grain Deal. Ukraine is a major exporter of barley, wheat, maize, which many African countries rely on. When Russia invaded Ukraine, it blockaded Ukraine’s ports, preventing it from exporting grain. To prevent potential famine, the United Nations brokered a deal with Russia to allow the passage of grain from Ukrainian ports. 

With an international relations degree, you could contribute to initiatives such as this.

Studying international relations online is a great way to study and upskill while maintaining balance in your life. 

You’ll be glad to know that most international relations degrees offered through Open Universities Australia are 100% online, with a select few combining online course work and in-person practicums.

Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we may be able to help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study.

Chat with us to find out more.

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.

Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.  

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.