Why Bachelor of International Relations?
Are you fascinated by the political changes shaping the world?
A career in politics and international relations demands versatility and initiative. You’ll need a sophisticated understanding of global affairs, along with skills in research, communication and diplomacy. At Adelaide University, you’ll gain just that.
You’ll debate current world events, reflect on your biases and values, and build a global network of peers, educators and professionals. Equip yourself with the tools to drive change and negotiate on the world stage.
Graduate with the potential for career growth and global influence, ready to start, advance or pivot into roles that reach beyond borders.
Overview
Our Bachelor of International Relations is forward-looking and comprehensive, guiding you through an in-depth exploration of global affairs. You’ll engage with complex world issues and examine Australia’s role in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Politics major prepares you to analyse political events, engage in civic life and contribute to informed decision-making. You’ll explore the opportunities and challenges within diverse political systems, organizations and processes. You’ll debate topics from cyberpolitics to fascism, Marxism and anarchism.
How does disinformation affect democracy? Is ethical consumption possible under capitalism? Is a universal basic income necessary?
You’ll tackle these critical questions while developing strong analytical thinking. Enhance your research, writing and communication skills as you solve real-world problems through case studies and simulations. Build valuable connections with researchers and industry experts.
Upon graduation, you’ll be ready to turn your passion for politics into a fulfilling career. You’ll be well-prepared for roles in diplomacy, political consulting, campaign management and foreign affairs.
Key features
Explore major global issues through case studies and simulations. - Learn to analyse policies, plan strategically and communicate effectively.
- Connect with industry experts, researchers, visiting scholars and international peers.
- Gain real-world insights and networks through a mentoring-focused internship.
- Build cultural awareness, research and analytical skills.
- Maximise your experience with a study tour or exchange overseas.
What you'll learn
Our Bachelor of International Relations analyses global politics through a range of different lenses. You’ll explore geopolitical tensions, economic issues and security challenges shaping our world today. You’ll learn about Australia's diplomatic efforts, trade relationships and security alliances.
Our faculty includes the editors-in-chief of the Australian Journal of International Affairs. They, along with other research-active staff, integrate their cutting-edge research directly into the curriculum. You’ll also have access to research seminars by visiting experts in foreign policy.
In the Politics major you’ll debate and reflect on big questions. What defines a good citizen in today's world? How do politicians influence the media? What responsibilities do we have to environmental stewardship?
You’ll study thought-provoking courses, including:
- Introduction to politics
- Introduction to Australian politics
- Policy and practice in Australian politics
- The politics of exclusion
- Passions and interests: the history of greed
- Australian electoral democracy
- Cyberpolitics
- Environment and citizenship.
Through these courses, you’ll explore:
- The Australian electoral system, policymakers, political parties and media
- Voting and its democratic purposes
- Global and Australian population change and migration
- "Culture war" narratives and how they’re weaponised in political discourse
- Citizenship, power, equality and justice
- Liberalism, anarchism, utilitarianism, Marxism and feminism
- Politics in the digital age, including fake news, echo chambers and hate speech
- Tribalism, polarisation, nationalism and fascism
- Environmental responsibility for citizens, governments and corporations.
You’ll also be able to choose a range of elective topics. Electives allow you to pursue your interests and align your learning with your unique career goals. Career planning is a big focus at Adelaide University. You’ll take focused courses to clarify your strengths, find your ideal professional path and advance towards that goal.
You’ll deep-dive into global issues through case studies, simulations and collaborative group projects, complete a 15-day internship focused on mentoring and networking or broaden your horizons with an international exchange experience. High-achieving students will be eligible for extra opportunities through summer research scholarships.
Majors
The Bachelor of International Relations is also available with majors in:
- Environmental Management
- History
- International Development
- International Security
- Population and Migration Studies
Or, with a major in another language, such as:
What courses you'll study
Complete 144 units comprising:
- 66 units for Core courses, and
- 48 units for one Major from Majors, and
- 12 units for all Work integrated learning, and
- 18 units for all Electives
Complete 66 units comprising:
- 18 units from Common core, and
- 48 units for all Program Core
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
An Ethically Rich Life
|
Course code
COREX001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fact or Fiction: Data for Everyone
|
Course code
COREX002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Igniting Change: Ideas to Action
|
Course code
COREX003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Proppa Ways, Future Practice
|
Course code
COREX004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Responsible AI: Bridging Ethics, Education and Industry
|
Course code
COREX005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Ways of Being, Ways of Seeing
|
Course code
COREX006
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Global Politics
|
Course code
POLI1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Comparative Politics
|
Course code
POLI1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Australia’s Foreign Policy in the Indo-Pacific
|
Course code
POLI1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
The State of the World: Post Covid-19
|
Course code
POLI1004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Approaches in International Relations
|
Course code
POLI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Global Political Economy
|
Course code
POLI3012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Ethics of War and Peace
|
Course code
POLI3013
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
 |
Course name
Introduction to Comparative Politics
|
Course code
POLI1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Australia’s Foreign Policy in the Indo-Pacific
|
Course code
POLI1003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Politics
|
Course code
POLI4000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
The State of the World: Post Covid-19
|
Course code
POLI1004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Global Politics
|
Course code
POLI1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Approaches in International Relations
|
Course code
POLI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Policy and Practice in Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
The Politics of Exclusion
|
Course code
POLI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Passions and Interests: The History of Greed
|
Course code
SOCI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Global Political Economy
|
Course code
POLI3012
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Environment and Citizenship
|
Course code
POLI3002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Australian Electoral Democracy
|
Course code
POLI3000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Cyberpolitics
|
Course code
POLI3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Ethics of War and Peace
|
Course code
POLI3013
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Complete 48 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Politics
|
Course code
POLI4000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Policy and Practice in Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI2000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
The Politics of Exclusion
|
Course code
POLI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Passions and Interests: The History of Greed
|
Course code
SOCI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Australian Electoral Democracy
|
Course code
POLI3000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Cyberpolitics
|
Course code
POLI3001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Environment and Citizenship
|
Course code
POLI3002
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Introduction to Comparative Politics
|
Course code
POLI1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Australia’s Foreign Policy in the Indo-Pacific
|
Course code
POLI1003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Politics
|
Course code
POLI4000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
The State of the World: Post Covid-19
|
Course code
POLI1004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Global Politics
|
Course code
POLI1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Approaches in International Relations
|
Course code
POLI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Policy and Practice in Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
The Politics of Exclusion
|
Course code
POLI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Passions and Interests: The History of Greed
|
Course code
SOCI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Global Political Economy
|
Course code
POLI3012
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Environment and Citizenship
|
Course code
POLI3002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Australian Electoral Democracy
|
Course code
POLI3000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Cyberpolitics
|
Course code
POLI3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Ethics of War and Peace
|
Course code
POLI3013
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Complete 12 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Introduction to Comparative Politics
|
Course code
POLI1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Australia’s Foreign Policy in the Indo-Pacific
|
Course code
POLI1003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Politics
|
Course code
POLI4000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
The State of the World: Post Covid-19
|
Course code
POLI1004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Global Politics
|
Course code
POLI1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Approaches in International Relations
|
Course code
POLI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Policy and Practice in Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
The Politics of Exclusion
|
Course code
POLI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Passions and Interests: The History of Greed
|
Course code
SOCI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Global Political Economy
|
Course code
POLI3012
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Environment and Citizenship
|
Course code
POLI3002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Australian Electoral Democracy
|
Course code
POLI3000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Cyberpolitics
|
Course code
POLI3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Ethics of War and Peace
|
Course code
POLI3013
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Complete 18 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Elective 1
|
Course code
AUXX1011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Elective 2
|
Course code
AUXX1012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Elective 3
|
Course code
AUXX1013
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Introduction to Comparative Politics
|
Course code
POLI1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Australia’s Foreign Policy in the Indo-Pacific
|
Course code
POLI1003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Politics
|
Course code
POLI4000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
The State of the World: Post Covid-19
|
Course code
POLI1004
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Global Politics
|
Course code
POLI1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Approaches in International Relations
|
Course code
POLI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Policy and Practice in Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
The Politics of Exclusion
|
Course code
POLI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Passions and Interests: The History of Greed
|
Course code
SOCI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Global Political Economy
|
Course code
POLI3012
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Environment and Citizenship
|
Course code
POLI3002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Australian Electoral Democracy
|
Course code
POLI3000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Cyberpolitics
|
Course code
POLI3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Ethics of War and Peace
|
Course code
POLI3013
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Career outcomes
More and more professions around the world benefit from a nuanced understanding of international relations. Your expertise in politics and international relations will open doors to key positions in government, NGOs and multinational corporations, where strategic decision-making and political insights are crucial.
You might be a political journalist or reporter, expertly covering political events, ideas and developments. You could be a political strategist, orchestrating campaigns that lead candidates to victory. Perhaps you’ll even start your own career in politics, working to represent your constituents and make meaningful improvements in their lives.
You could also be a:
- Political analyst
- Campaign manager
- Political consultant
- Human rights officer
- Diplomat
- Public relations specialist
- Electoral officer
- Mediator
- Foreign service officer.
Or, further your studies with a master’s or PhD in politics to level up your insights and career prospects.
Industry trends
Employment of political scientists – including those specialising in international relations, is projected to grow by 7% between 2022 and 2032 (United States Department of Labor, 2023). This is faster than the average for all occupations. At Adelaide University, you’ll gain the analytical and creative thinking skills that are in high demand by employers (World Economic Forum, 2023). Get ready to build a rewarding, lucrative career tackling global issues.
Ready to apply?
Your study experience and support
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
- Career advice and mentoring services
- Personal counselling
- LGBTQIA+ support
- Academic support
- Fees and finance help
- Security services
- Accommodation services
- Common rooms
- Prayer rooms.
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
Your campus
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Study hours
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
- Case studies
- Essays and assignments
- Examinations
- Group projects
- Internships and placements
- Practicals
- Presentations
- Reports and project documentations
- Research projects
- Workplace and classroom contributions.
