International Relations at Uni
Hi everyone! I am applying this cycle for uni for International Relations and have currently chosen:
- LSE
- KCL
- UCL (Politics and International Relations)
- Edinburgh (Law with International Relations)
And am debating on my fifth choice between SOAS, Durham and St Andrews. All three have courses that interest me, so I can’t decide which will be better to apply to. I want to also ensure my job prospects are high upon graduating. Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks!
- LSE
- KCL
- UCL (Politics and International Relations)
- Edinburgh (Law with International Relations)
And am debating on my fifth choice between SOAS, Durham and St Andrews. All three have courses that interest me, so I can’t decide which will be better to apply to. I want to also ensure my job prospects are high upon graduating. Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Reply 1
Original post by uniacceptmepls
Hi everyone! I am applying this cycle for uni for International Relations and have currently chosen:
- LSE
- KCL
- UCL (Politics and International Relations)
- Edinburgh (Law with International Relations)
And am debating on my fifth choice between SOAS, Durham and St Andrews. All three have courses that interest me, so I can’t decide which will be better to apply to. I want to also ensure my job prospects are high upon graduating. Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks!
- LSE
- KCL
- UCL (Politics and International Relations)
- Edinburgh (Law with International Relations)
And am debating on my fifth choice between SOAS, Durham and St Andrews. All three have courses that interest me, so I can’t decide which will be better to apply to. I want to also ensure my job prospects are high upon graduating. Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks!
All three are good. St Andrews perhaps currently the strongest, unless you want a regional focus that SOAS supports.
Check Edinburgh is offering a useful element of law, ie qualifying and whether Scots law or the law of England and Wales - they are different.
Reply 2
20
Applying to all of LSE, KCL and UCL is very risky - be aware that you may not get an offer for any of them, even if you meet or exceed the entry requirements. I'd advise you to pick another out-of-London Uni like Bristol, Manchester etc rather than the ones you have listed..
Reply 3
12
Original post by threeportdrift
All three are good. St Andrews perhaps currently the strongest, unless you want a regional focus that SOAS supports.
Check Edinburgh is offering a useful element of law, ie qualifying and whether Scots law or the law of England and Wales - they are different.
Check Edinburgh is offering a useful element of law, ie qualifying and whether Scots law or the law of England and Wales - they are different.
Thanks! Edinburgh is teaching Scots Law, but I was wondering if I can still practice under the English law. By conversion or other means?
Reply 4
Original post by uniacceptmepls
Thanks! Edinburgh is teaching Scots Law, but I was wondering if I can still practice under the English law. By conversion or other means?
Well you can, but there'd be no advantage in learning the wrong law in order to learn the right law.
Maybe I'll try and summon @Stiffy Byng to explain - or you can Google it.
Reply 5
Original post by uniacceptmepls
Thanks! Edinburgh is teaching Scots Law, but I was wondering if I can still practice under the English law. By conversion or other means?
If you study Scots Law, then in order to practise English Law you would first have to obtain a PGDL or a degree in English law, and then qualify as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales. In theory, you can take the SQE without a degree in any subject, but at present it appears that law firms prefer applicants to have obtained a law degree or a PGDL before taking the SQE.
Reply 6
Original post by threeportdrift
Well you can, but there'd be no advantage in learning the wrong law in order to learn the right law.
Maybe I'll try and summon @Stiffy Byng to explain - or you can Google it.
Maybe I'll try and summon @Stiffy Byng to explain - or you can Google it.
Your summoning spell has worked.
I can see some benefit in having a grounding in both legal systems. I know a few people who practise on both sides of the border. Some very distinguished English Judges started as Scots lawyers.
Reply 7
Original post by Stiffy Byng
Your summoning spell has worked.
I can see some benefit in having a grounding in both legal systems. I know a few people who practise on both sides of the border. Some very distinguished English Judges started as Scots lawyers.
I can see some benefit in having a grounding in both legal systems. I know a few people who practise on both sides of the border. Some very distinguished English Judges started as Scots lawyers.
But would the conversion route be any easier/better if you studied Scots law as an access route to English Law? It's only. one of the OPs options, so they don't seem that committed to law anyway, but unless there is an easier conversion route, would;t it be better to just do an IR degree in Scotland, followed by the GDL or similar?
Reply 8
Original post by threeportdrift
But would the conversion route be any easier/better if you studied Scots law as an access route to English Law? It's only. one of the OPs options, so they don't seem that committed to law anyway, but unless there is an easier conversion route, would;t it be better to just do an IR degree in Scotland, followed by the GDL or similar?
A person who has a degree in Scots Law from somewhere such as Edinburgh would pass the PGDL in English law in their sleep. The two systems are not as disparate as, for example, English Law and French Law. In some instances the differences are mainly those of terminology. Land Law is distinctly different on the two sides of the border.
Having said that, studying IR or any other subject and then obtaining a PGDL would be just as sure a route to a legal career, if wished.
I worked hard for my degree in History, but did minimal work for the Diploma in Law (as it was then called) and minimal work for the Bar exams. I learned the law in practice. The teaching for the Diploma and the Bar exams was generally poor, and the exams were (then) super easy.
I sometimes found my legal knowledge a bit thin in my earlier years as a lawyer, but that may be because, when studying the law, I thought the law a bit meh. A useful societal tool, but not a subject worthy of scholarly enquiry. I have changed my mind about that. I am still glad that I didn't do a law degree, but I can see why people do them, and I understand why my daughter has chosen to do one.
My advice to people who fancy being lawyers but don't want to do law degrees is: don't do law degrees. Do whatever floats your boat, and then do the PGDL, but pay attention. If you fancy doing a law degree, go for it!
(edited 9 months ago)
Reply 9
12
Original post by McGinger
Applying to all of LSE, KCL and UCL is very risky - be aware that you may not get an offer for any of them, even if you meet or exceed the entry requirements. I'd advise you to pick another out-of-London Uni like Bristol, Manchester etc rather than the ones you have listed..
I’ve seen SOAS has lower entry requirements and generally give more offers - that was one of my main reasons of choosing SOAS, other than the fact that their course interests me.
Reply 10
Original post by uniacceptmepls
Hi everyone! I am applying this cycle for uni for International Relations and have currently chosen:
- LSE
- KCL
- UCL (Politics and International Relations)
- Edinburgh (Law with International Relations)
And am debating on my fifth choice between SOAS, Durham and St Andrews. All three have courses that interest me, so I can’t decide which will be better to apply to. I want to also ensure my job prospects are high upon graduating. Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks!
- LSE
- KCL
- UCL (Politics and International Relations)
- Edinburgh (Law with International Relations)
And am debating on my fifth choice between SOAS, Durham and St Andrews. All three have courses that interest me, so I can’t decide which will be better to apply to. I want to also ensure my job prospects are high upon graduating. Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Hi,
I'm a Student Ambassador and final-year International Relations and Arabic student at SOAS. If you have any questions about the course, I'd be more than happy to answer them!
-S, BA International Relations and Arabic
Reply 11
12
Original post by SOAS Student Rep
Hi,
I'm a Student Ambassador and final-year International Relations and Arabic student at SOAS. If you have any questions about the course, I'd be more than happy to answer them!
-S, BA International Relations and Arabic
I'm a Student Ambassador and final-year International Relations and Arabic student at SOAS. If you have any questions about the course, I'd be more than happy to answer them!
-S, BA International Relations and Arabic
Hi there!
Is the course what you were hoping to study? What is something that SOAS offers that you feel like no other universities could give - I’ve already sort of chosen SOAS but I would love to know what you think! Also, if I apply by the end of October, when do you reckon decisions will start being released? I know friends who applied 2 weeks ago and some already have offers (Warwick though), so I’m wondering if I can predict when my chosen unis will send theirs. Thanks a lot!
Reply 12
hi, i’ve just applied for international relations at uni of york, liverpool, leicester, international relations + politics at ljmu and global affairs, politics & ir at uni of chester!
maybe try looking at a course that’s not just one of the london unis just so you have more of a backup (as they tend to reject sm people!). i’ve already gotten back 2 offers from my firm and another uni and im rlly happy with them. all of the courses are so good but york sounds so interesting - so id look at courses and student enjoyment at the universities too.
sorry if this is no help but i just wanted to find more who are applying to the same course
maybe try looking at a course that’s not just one of the london unis just so you have more of a backup (as they tend to reject sm people!). i’ve already gotten back 2 offers from my firm and another uni and im rlly happy with them. all of the courses are so good but york sounds so interesting - so id look at courses and student enjoyment at the universities too.
sorry if this is no help but i just wanted to find more who are applying to the same course
Original post by mayonnaisie
hi, i’ve just applied for international relations at uni of york, liverpool, leicester, international relations + politics at ljmu and global affairs, politics & ir at uni of chester!
maybe try looking at a course that’s not just one of the london unis just so you have more of a backup (as they tend to reject sm people!). i’ve already gotten back 2 offers from my firm and another uni and im rlly happy with them. all of the courses are so good but york sounds so interesting - so id look at courses and student enjoyment at the universities too.
sorry if this is no help but i just wanted to find more who are applying to the same course
maybe try looking at a course that’s not just one of the london unis just so you have more of a backup (as they tend to reject sm people!). i’ve already gotten back 2 offers from my firm and another uni and im rlly happy with them. all of the courses are so good but york sounds so interesting - so id look at courses and student enjoyment at the universities too.
sorry if this is no help but i just wanted to find more who are applying to the same course
There is a thread for this year's IR applicants here:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7519969
Reply 14
Original post by uniacceptmepls
Hi there!
Is the course what you were hoping to study? What is something that SOAS offers that you feel like no other universities could give - I’ve already sort of chosen SOAS but I would love to know what you think! Also, if I apply by the end of October, when do you reckon decisions will start being released? I know friends who applied 2 weeks ago and some already have offers (Warwick though), so I’m wondering if I can predict when my chosen unis will send theirs. Thanks a lot!
Is the course what you were hoping to study? What is something that SOAS offers that you feel like no other universities could give - I’ve already sort of chosen SOAS but I would love to know what you think! Also, if I apply by the end of October, when do you reckon decisions will start being released? I know friends who applied 2 weeks ago and some already have offers (Warwick though), so I’m wondering if I can predict when my chosen unis will send theirs. Thanks a lot!
Hi, that's a great question!
I chose SOAS because of its specialisation in the Middle East, Asia and Africa and because it teaches international relations from perspectives beyond the traditional Anglo-American canon. And I can say it's definitely delivered on those aspects!
I'd say what sets SOAS apart from other universities is that it gives more time and attention to aspects of IR that are conventionally under-examined or overlooked. When it comes to theories, SOAS gives equal importance to approaches such as post-colonialism and feminism and doesn't limit our focus to traditional theories that dominate IR (like realism and liberalism). We also examine non-conventional aspects of common IR topics like security and war. For example, questions of economic and environmental security posed by the sharing of international rivers and climate change or making the body central to the analysis of war.
To answer your last question, the admissions team is aiming to release offers from early to mid-November.
I hope this helped!
-S, BA International Relations and Arabic
Reply 15
Original post by SOAS Student Rep
Hi,
I'm a Student Ambassador and final-year International Relations and Arabic student at SOAS. If you have any questions about the course, I'd be more than happy to answer them!
-S, BA International Relations and Arabic
I'm a Student Ambassador and final-year International Relations and Arabic student at SOAS. If you have any questions about the course, I'd be more than happy to answer them!
-S, BA International Relations and Arabic
Hi, although my question is different from the original post, I was wondering if you could tell me how the teaching quality at SOAS is for undergrad since I’ve heard some mixed reviews. I have an offer for BA International relations and History. Thank you!
Reply 16
Hi and congratulations on your offer!
I’m in my final year studying International Relations with Arabic, and recently took an open module (Islam in China) from the History Department, so I can share some insights.
In terms of IR, I’ve been really happy with the teaching quality across my degree. The lecturers and tutorial leads know their subject areas in depth and push you to think critically about the world to develop nuanced understandings. Moreover, many regional modules (e.g., IR of South Asia or IR of East Asia) are taught by specialists from those regions, offering firsthand insights that are very useful.
The lecturer for my history module was also really engaging and enthusiastic and even offered mentoring to anyone interested in becoming a historian. The History department is also known to be quite tight-knit and offers opportunities for students to help with department research and work.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
I’m in my final year studying International Relations with Arabic, and recently took an open module (Islam in China) from the History Department, so I can share some insights.
In terms of IR, I’ve been really happy with the teaching quality across my degree. The lecturers and tutorial leads know their subject areas in depth and push you to think critically about the world to develop nuanced understandings. Moreover, many regional modules (e.g., IR of South Asia or IR of East Asia) are taught by specialists from those regions, offering firsthand insights that are very useful.
The lecturer for my history module was also really engaging and enthusiastic and even offered mentoring to anyone interested in becoming a historian. The History department is also known to be quite tight-knit and offers opportunities for students to help with department research and work.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
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