Explore what Politics and International Relations graduates do

Studying Politics and International Relations strengthens your analytical, research, and communication skills as you examine global issues such as power, governance, conflict, and cooperation. These skills open the door to a wide range of careers across diverse sectors.

Politics and International Relations graduates from Exeter commonly work in the following sectors:

While these sectors are popular among Politics and International Relations graduates, alumni from your course enter a broad range of jobs, sectors and further study, as you can see below.

Interested in career options that directly relate to your discipline or where your degree gives you a strong advantage? Start by exploring the following Prospects page(s): What can I do with a Politics degree? and What can I do with an International Relations degree?

Destinations of Exeter Politics and International Relations graduates

Each year, UK graduates are surveyed 15 months after finishing their degrees via the Graduate Outcomes survey.

Graduates from your discipline have entered a wide range of job roles. You can explore some recent examples below.*

To learn more about these roles, browse the job profiles on Prospects. For more detailed insights into each area of work, visit our employment sector pages.
Accountancy, Banking, Finance and Insurance
  • Auditor Trainee
  • Junior Financial Analyst
  • Project Manager
Business Analytics, Strategy and Consulting
  • Carbon Analyst
  • Data and Policy Analyst
  • Economist
  • Senior Associate
  • Sustainability Analyst
Business Operations and Management
  • Operations Assistant
  • Security Ambassador
  • Sustainable Development Supporter
  • Trade Assistant
Charities and Healthcare
  • CRM Assistant
  • Medical Legal Report Writer
  • Pharmacy Technician
  • Quality and Regulatory Affairs
IT, Data and Tech
  • Digital Content Creator (Tech Company)
  • Market Analyst
  • Research Analyst
  • Technology Engineering Consultant
Marketing, Publishing and Journalism
  • Account Executive (PR)
  • Brand Specialist
  • Digital Strategy Intern
  • Public Affairs Consultant
Politics, Government and the Public Sector
  • Political Caseworker
  • Customer Adviser (Government Department)
  • MP Case Worker
  • Press Officer (Government Department)
  • Project Officer (Local Government)
Remember…

Most employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed above.

Graduates from your discipline have pursued various programmes of further study. You can explore some recent examples below.**

To learn more about pursuing further study visit our postgraduate study page.
Further study related to your discipline 
  • MA Conflict, Security and Development
  • MA Conflict Resolution in Divided Societies
  • MA National Security Studies
  • MA Politics and International Relations of the Middle East
  • MA Social and Political Theory
  • MSc China in Comparative Perspective
  • MSc Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding
  • MSc Environment, Politics and Society
  • MSc International and European Politics
  • MSc Political Economy
  • MSc Public Policy
Further study in other disciplines
  • MA Applied Human Rights
  • MA Broadcast Journalism
  • MA Cyber Policy and Strategy
  • MA Modern History
  • MA User Experience and Service Design
  • MSc Advanced Computer Science and Business
  • MSc Applied Social Data Science
  • MSc Economics: Behavioural Insights
  • MSc Global Governance and Ethics
  • MSc Global Prosperity
  • MSc Global Security Studies
  • MSc Global Sustainability Solutions
  • MSc International Development
  • MSc Management
  • MSc Real Estate
  • MSc Social Data Science
  • MSc Systems Thinking
  • PGCE Primary
  • PGCE Mathematics
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL)

Useful resources

*Data is based on responses from full-time, UK-domiciled students who graduated between 2020/21 and 2022/23, as reported in the Graduate Outcomes surveys.

**Individual course titles are taken from the University of Exeter’s Career Destination Surveys (2021/22 to 2023/24).