Law or International Relations

I’ve wanted to study law at uni and my personal statement so far is tailored to that but recently i’ve been leaning more to international relations as a degree instead but I can’t choose between the two. I was thinking of applying for IR at one uni but in not sure if I could then use my law personal statement to talk about that as it touches on HR etc.

I know at the end of the day it comes down to what I want but i can chose between the two and also want to keep my options open

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 1

bibachu

Original post

by spiderman911

I’ve wanted to study law at uni and my personal statement so far is tailored to that but recently i’ve been leaning more to international relations as a degree instead but I can’t choose between the two. I was thinking of applying for IR at one uni but in not sure if I could then use my law personal statement to talk about that as it touches on HR etc.
I know at the end of the day it comes down to what I want but i can chose between the two and also want to keep my options open

International relations is more so political than human rights based, but there are lots of opportunities to explore human rights within an IR degree - more than there are in a law degree. It’s worth considering the mandatory and optional modules in both degrees before making a firm decision. I would advise that if you are going to apply to both law and IR, you perhaps look more into the areas of overlap and focus your personal statement on that (e.g. EU law, international law, human rights, comparative constitutional law, disaster management). If your plan is to go into a career in law, you don’t need to study law at undergraduate level before doing so. To become a barrister, you can complete a conversion course or PGDL to convert to law and to become a solicitor, all you need is an undergraduate degree in any subject to sit the SQE (though it’s advised to have read law in some capacity before sitting the SQE). Best of luck to you! :smile:

Reply 2

Postcrite

Original post

by spiderman911

I’ve wanted to study law at uni and my personal statement so far is tailored to that but recently i’ve been leaning more to international relations as a degree instead but I can’t choose between the two. I was thinking of applying for IR at one uni but in not sure if I could then use my law personal statement to talk about that as it touches on HR etc.
I know at the end of the day it comes down to what I want but i can chose between the two and also want to keep my options open

Hi! I think what Bibachu said is generally correct, but I’d like to add one more thing: please make sure to check the course outlines of the law schools you are applying to in advance. If international law isn’t included, or if it’s treated as a minor branch, you might want to reconsider your choice.

Reply 3

UniofLaw Student

Official Rep

Original post

by spiderman911

I’ve wanted to study law at uni and my personal statement so far is tailored to that but recently i’ve been leaning more to international relations as a degree instead but I can’t choose between the two. I was thinking of applying for IR at one uni but in not sure if I could then use my law personal statement to talk about that as it touches on HR etc.
I know at the end of the day it comes down to what I want but i can chose between the two and also want to keep my options open

Hello!
It’s completely normal to feel torn between two subjects, especially when both law and international relations (IR) have such interesting overlap! You’re right that your personal statement for law might already touch on aspects like human rights or international issues, which could definitely be relevant to IR too. If you’re applying for both, it’s possible to tweak your personal statement so it leans a little more into those areas that connect both subjects—like international law, human rights, or diplomacy—without having to completely change everything.
In terms of keeping your options open, some universities are flexible with joint degrees or allow you to transfer between similar courses in your first year, so that might be worth looking into as well. Another option could be applying for IR at one uni and law at others, as you mentioned. That way, you can see how you feel once you’ve got offers in hand and more time to decide which path excites you the most.
At the end of the day, you’re right—it’s all about what you want, but it’s totally okay to keep both doors open until you’re certain.
Good luck with your decision, and don’t hesitate to ask for more advice along the way!

Reply 4

Aliciasequeira

Depending on where you are from and what uni you want to attend there is some that give both degrees

Reply 5

Aleezay SOAS

Official Rep

Original post

by spiderman911

I’ve wanted to study law at uni and my personal statement so far is tailored to that but recently i’ve been leaning more to international relations as a degree instead but I can’t choose between the two. I was thinking of applying for IR at one uni but in not sure if I could then use my law personal statement to talk about that as it touches on HR etc.
I know at the end of the day it comes down to what I want but i can chose between the two and also want to keep my options open

Hi there, I am currently a second year LLB Law student.

I can totally understand that making a decision about your choice of course can be difficult.

I would recommend researching on International Relations course and Law course, having a look at what the courses are about, what modules are taught within these degrees are offered at different universities. This could help with deciding on whether to pick IR or Law for your degree. You can also choose one degree, and study a module on another. During this academic year, I chose to do an optional module on International Relation of the Middle East. If you wish to study both, some universities such as SOAS do offer joint degrees. You will be able to study International relations and law as a joint degree.

Once you are more clear on what course to pick, you can tailor your personal statement to suit your choice of interest.

I hope this helps!