Politics and international studies

Personalised by

Use this icon to personalise the page to your pathway, preferred campus and study level.

Personalisation is not available through private browsing.

Lead with a difference

With a specialisation in politics and international studies, you'll develop the essential skills required to become a leader of the future.

Explore world issues from human rights to economic development, war, security threats, peace and the wider challenges and opportunities that globalisation brings.

Skip to degrees

Frequently Unasked Questions

Got questions about uni life that only a student would know? Get the kind of answers you won’t find on a typical university FAQ page.

Find out more about Frequently Unasked Questions

Politics and International Studies at Griffith

Build practical skills

You’ll learn and understand the complex nature of politics, including the need to balance social needs with economic development and international relations, giving you the tools to become successful in advocating for positive change – no matter the field you choose to specialise in.

If you want to drive positive change (or even run for Prime Minister), you’ll develop essential skills in critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, negotiation, cross-cultural understanding and international relations to tackle future global challenges.

Topics covered as part of your Politics and International Studies include:

Globalisation, the Asia-Pacific and Australia
International Relations
Islam, Media and Conflict
Politics of International Law and Organisations
Islam – West Relations
Australia’s Foreign Relations
Dilemmas in International Relations

Learn from frontline professionals

Griffith's political science lecturers are well connected and regularly work in government so they understand the inner workings of power and will teach you everything you need to know to build a successful career.

Choose your career path

Expand your career prospects even further combining Politics and International Studies with a second study area in the Bachelor of Arts. You can also study Global Security Threats, Politics in Asia and Social Justice in the Bachelor of Social Science.

Nigel Hutton

Bachelor of Arts graduate

Livingstone Deputy Mayor Nigel Hutton says Griffith helped make his resume stand out among his peers. One of his degree highlights was spending a semester as a Hansard Scholar at the London School of Economics. He also interned for a member of the British parliament. ‘In a global economy, my understanding and the invaluable networks I’ve made across the world have helped my community, my work and my career.’ Nigel, who majored in politics and international relations, said being able to explore media, social work, politics, languages and international affairs within the one degree enabled him to refine his focus throughout his study.

‘The Bachelor of Arts allows you to follow your interests and explore the world; knowing that every unit, every semester is providing the foundation for variety in the workplace. It also gave me the opportunity to study under amazing experts in their chosen fields and hear from people working in the field of international diplomacy. The lecturers didn’t just talk the talk, but more importantly shared experiences working in the field and across the globe,’ he said.

Study options

{"executionContext":"Public","query":null,"originalQuery":null,"collection":{"id":"gu-study-programs","profiles":{"_default":{"id":"_default","facetedNavConfConfig":{"facetDefinitions":[],"metadataFieldsUsed":[]},"padreOpts":null}},"facetedNavigationConfConfig":null,"facetedNavigationLiveConfig":null,"metaComponents":[],"type":"local"},"profile":"_default","clive":null,"form":"simple","cnClickedCluster":null,"cnPreviousClusters":[],"metaParameters":["+discipline:0165|T:Single|B:|W:|J:"],"systemMetaParameters":[],"additionalParameters":{"personalise":["yes"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"origin":["-33.861496,151.2055"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["103.1.192.87"],"REQUEST_URI":["/s/search.json"],"fmo":["on"],"sort":["title"],"REQUEST_URL":["http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0165%7CT%3ASingle%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"],"HTTP_HOST":["search.griffith.edu.au"],"location":[""]},"environmentVariables":{"REMOTE_ADDR":"103.1.192.87","REQUEST_URI":"/s/search.json","HTTP_HOST":"search.griffith.edu.au","REQUEST_URL":"http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0165%7CT%3ASingle%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"},"dynamicQueryProcessorOptions":["-qlog_file=/opt/funnelback/data/gu-study-programs/live/log/queries-griff-search01.log"],"userKeys":[],"selectedFacets":[],"selectedCategoryValues":{},"facetsQueryConstraints":[],"facetCollectionConstraints":null,"facetsGScopeConstraints":null,"impersonated":false,"requestId":"103.1.192.87","logQuery":null,"rawInputParameters":{"personalise":["yes"],"query_and":["discipline:0165|T:Single|B:|W:|J:"],"HTTP_HOST":["search.griffith.edu.au"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["103.1.192.87"],"REQUEST_URI":["/s/search.json"],"fmo":["on"],"location":[""],"sort":["title"],"collection":["gu-study-programs"],"REQUEST_URL":["http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0165%7CT%3ASingle%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"]},"inputParameterMap":{"REMOTE_ADDR":"103.1.192.87","REQUEST_URL":"http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0165%7CT%3ASingle%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on","city":"","fmo":"on","personalise":"yes","sort":"title","collection":"gu-study-programs","query_and":"discipline:0165|T:Single|B:|W:|J:","location":"","HTTP_HOST":"search.griffith.edu.au","REQUEST_URI":"/s/search.json","num_ranks":"1000"},"questionType":"SEARCH","locale":"en_US","location":{"areaCode":0,"city":"Sydney","countryCode":"AU","countryName":"Australia","dmaCode":0,"latitude":-33.861496,"longitude":151.2055,"metroCode":0,"postalCode":"1001","region":"02"},"hostname":null,"funnelbackVersion":{"major":15,"minor":20,"revision":0},"customData":{},"queryStringMapCopy":{"personalise":["yes"],"query_and":["discipline:0165|T:Single|B:|W:|J:"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"fmo":["on"],"location":[""],"sort":["title"],"collection":["gu-study-programs"]},"extraSearch":false}

Degrees	Campus	OP
Bachelor of Arts	Online
Bachelor of Arts	Nathan	15
Bachelor of Arts	Gold Coast	15
Bachelor of Arts (Honours)	Nathan
Bachelor of Arts (Honours)	Gold Coast
Bachelor of Social Science	Gold Coast Nathan	12

{"executionContext":"Public","query":null,"originalQuery":null,"collection":{"id":"gu-study-programs","profiles":{"_default":{"id":"_default","facetedNavConfConfig":{"facetDefinitions":[],"metadataFieldsUsed":[]},"padreOpts":null}},"facetedNavigationConfConfig":null,"facetedNavigationLiveConfig":null,"metaComponents":[],"type":"local"},"profile":"_default","clive":null,"form":"simple","cnClickedCluster":null,"cnPreviousClusters":[],"metaParameters":["+discipline:0165|T:Double|B:|W:|J:"],"systemMetaParameters":[],"additionalParameters":{"personalise":["yes"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"origin":["-33.861496,151.2055"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["103.1.192.87"],"REQUEST_URI":["/s/search.json"],"fmo":["on"],"sort":["title"],"REQUEST_URL":["http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0165%7CT%3ADouble%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"],"HTTP_HOST":["search.griffith.edu.au"],"location":[""]},"environmentVariables":{"REMOTE_ADDR":"103.1.192.87","REQUEST_URI":"/s/search.json","HTTP_HOST":"search.griffith.edu.au","REQUEST_URL":"http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0165%7CT%3ADouble%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"},"dynamicQueryProcessorOptions":["-qlog_file=/opt/funnelback/data/gu-study-programs/live/log/queries-griff-search01.log"],"userKeys":[],"selectedFacets":[],"selectedCategoryValues":{},"facetsQueryConstraints":[],"facetCollectionConstraints":null,"facetsGScopeConstraints":null,"impersonated":false,"requestId":"103.1.192.87","logQuery":null,"rawInputParameters":{"personalise":["yes"],"query_and":["discipline:0165|T:Double|B:|W:|J:"],"HTTP_HOST":["search.griffith.edu.au"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["103.1.192.87"],"REQUEST_URI":["/s/search.json"],"fmo":["on"],"location":[""],"sort":["title"],"collection":["gu-study-programs"],"REQUEST_URL":["http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0165%7CT%3ADouble%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"]},"inputParameterMap":{"REMOTE_ADDR":"103.1.192.87","query_and":"discipline:0165|T:Double|B:|W:|J:","city":"","fmo":"on","personalise":"yes","sort":"title","collection":"gu-study-programs","location":"","REQUEST_URL":"http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0165%7CT%3ADouble%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on","HTTP_HOST":"search.griffith.edu.au","REQUEST_URI":"/s/search.json","num_ranks":"1000"},"questionType":"SEARCH","locale":"en_US","location":{"areaCode":0,"city":"Sydney","countryCode":"AU","countryName":"Australia","dmaCode":0,"latitude":-33.861496,"longitude":151.2055,"metroCode":0,"postalCode":"1001","region":"02"},"hostname":null,"funnelbackVersion":{"major":15,"minor":20,"revision":0},"customData":{},"queryStringMapCopy":{"personalise":["yes"],"query_and":["discipline:0165|T:Double|B:|W:|J:"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"fmo":["on"],"location":[""],"sort":["title"],"collection":["gu-study-programs"]},"extraSearch":false}

It is important to check the degree requirements including placement requirements, before you apply.

Scholarships

Over 600 Scholarships available.

Find out more about Scholarships

Career outcomes

Be part of a high demand industry

People with skills in international relations are in high demand. There is a growing need for international studies experts for key liaison roles between countries, international businesses, government and non-government organisations.

You'll be equipped to work in a variety of different roles such as an analyst, consultant, policy maker or in diplomacy or research.

Create a personalised study guide

Explore what Griffith has to offer

Get started

Life at Griffith

You can gain more than just a degree at Griffith. With plenty of opportunities to balance life and study, you can make memories and mates to last a lifetime.

Learn more about life at Griffith University

News

View all news articles

26 Mar 2020

Singing away the coronavirus blues: making music in a time of crisis reminds us we belong

13 Feb 2020

Students off to the Arctic to bear witness to climate change

Key dates

View all key dates

Monday 24 February — Monday 24 February

Trimester 1: Teaching and exams

Includes study and exam period from Thursday 28 May to Friday 6 June.

Find out more.

Monday 11 May — Thursday 14 May

Mature Student Open Evenings

No matter whether you’re returning to university after a few years off, starting study for the first time or looking for a postgraduate degree to further your career, we can help you find the right study path.

Find out more.

Wednesday 13 May — Thursday 14 May

Gold Coast Careers Festival - CANCELLED

Visit the Griffith University stand at the Gold Coast Careers Festival to talk to our expert advisers about your study goals, life at Griffith, online study options and more.

Find out more.

Monday 22 June — Wednesday 24 June

Trimester 2: Orientation

Get the right start and find out everything you need to know about starting at Griffith.

Find out more.

Monday 29 June — Saturday 10 October

Trimester 2: Teaching and exams

Includes study and exam period from Thursday 1 October to Saturday 10 October.

Find out more.

Saturday 18 July — Sunday 19 July

Tertiary Studies Expo (TSXPO)

TSXPO is for anyone considering further study. Talk to our academic and professional staff about our degrees, flexible study options, admission pathways, how to apply, scholarships and support services. Entry is free.

Find out more.

Tuesday 21 July — Tuesday 21 July

Sunshine Coast Daily Careers Expo

Visit the Griffith University stand at the Sunshine Coast Daily Careers Expo to talk to our expert advisers about your study goals, life at Griffith, online study options and more.

Find out more.

Monday 3 August — Monday 3 August

Townsville Careers Expo

Visit the Griffith University stand at the Townsville Careers Expo to talk to our expert advisers about your study goals, life at Griffith, online study options and more.

Find out more.

Sunday 9 August — Sunday 9 August

Open Day

On Open Day, you’ll find general information about all our degrees at each campus, as well as essential information about student support services, admissions, scholarships and postgraduate studies. It’s a great time to get to know our campuses, experience life at Griffith, explore your study options and find the information you need to make a decision about your future.

Find out more.

Thursday 27 August — Thursday 27 August

Cairns Youth and Careers Expo

Visit the Griffith University stand at the Cairns Youth and Careers Expo to talk to our expert advisers about your study goals, life at Griffith, online study options and more.

Find out more.

Monday 14 September — Thursday 17 September

Mature Student Open Evenings

Find out more.

Friday 9 October — Saturday 10 October

Brisbane Careers and Employment Expo

Visit the Griffith University stand at the Brisbane Careers and Employment Expo to talk to our expert advisers about your study goals, life at Griffith, online study options and more.

Find out more.

Monday 19 October — Friday 23 October

Trimester 3: Orientation

Get the right start and find out everything you need to know about starting at Griffith.

Find out more.