International relations courses

Choose an international relations degree to encourage peace across borders

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Introduction to International relations

Use your love of cultures and customs for good with a course in international relations.

You’ll come to understand the cogs at work behind global conflict, while getting to know a range of political processes. Gain the confidence to encourage change-makers across the world to work and live in harmony. Now that's global change.
Matthew, law student, standing outside
Matthew studied law with RMIT through Open Universities Australia

Discover international relations courses

Online international relations degrees

Online international relations subjects and short courses

Macquarie University

UndergraduateMAQ-POIX1010

Australian Politics in Global Context

Griffith University

UndergraduateGRF-GBS105

Engaging Australia and the Asia-Pacific

Curtin University

UndergraduateCUR-ASIA100

Discovering Asia

Discover 49 ways to study international relations with leading Australian universities.

Explore international relations courses

International relations study FAQs

  • 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.

    If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.

    You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.

  • 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 can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Chat with us to find out more.

  • There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.

    • You can enrol without entry requirements 
      We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don’t meet the entry requirements for a degree, we’ll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
    • You have total control over how you study
      Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We’ll introduce you to flexible study options you didn’t even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.
    • You’ll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
      Once you enrol through us, you’ll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you’ll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.
    • We’ll help you navigate the university world
      Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.

What will I learn with an international relations degree?

Aside from broad skills such as critical thinking, creativity and teamwork, you’ll learn about:

  • War and peace in contemporary international politics - Come to understand why the world’s political affairs are the way they are, and what can be done to create resolution.
  • Globalisation and global governance - Look at how people, companies and governments interact and transact on a global scale.
  • Diplomacy - Understand the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives from different regions.
  • Foreign policy - Get to know the strategies different countries have put into play to keep their people safe and achieve their goals.
  • Strategic negotiation skills - Build the skills to respond to real-world matters so that you can facilitate discussions across different cultures.

Where will an international relations degree take me?

International relations can often sound like the stuff of Hollywood. But in reality, those who have studied an international relations degree have real, tangible career outcomes. As an expert in international relations, you could find work in:

  • Non-government organisations
  • The public sector
  • Federal defence agencies
  • Foreign affairs departments
  • Immigration departments and consultancies
  • Journalism
  • Management

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As a not for profit, we have your best interests at heart. Our advisors are here 7 days a week to guide and support you. It’s our priority to get you qualified with the university of your choice.

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