Politics and International Studies

Major overview

Major in politics and international studies and explore how governments and global systems work

Step into the world of global decision making and analyse how power, policy and political systems shape societies. With our Bachelor of Arts Politics and International Studies major, you’ll examine the forces influencing governments, organisations and international relationships, building the knowledge to understand and respond to complex political challenges.

Throughout your politics and international studies major, you’ll investigate political power, public policy, institutions and global systems, exploring how decisions are made and how they impact communities locally and internationally. You’ll also examine the economic and social forces shaping today’s interconnected world, developing new ways of thinking about global issues.

You’ll learn from experts connected to our Indo-Pacific Research Centre and engage with real-world issues, building strong analytical, communication and policy-focused skills. and engage with real-world issues, building strong analytical, communication and policy-focused skills.

As part of your Bachelor of Arts, you can combine this major with others to tailor your degree to your interests and career goals. Pair Politics and International Studies with Asian Studies, Indonesian or Japanese to build expertise in regional politics, languages and cross-cultural communication. You can also combine your studies with International Aid and Development or Community Development to explore global issues and policy in practice, or with Sociology or Sustainable Development to understand the social and environmental dimensions of political decision-making. Strengthen your analytical thinking with History or Philosophy, or apply your skills in industry contexts with Tourism and Events. You can also pair with English and Creative Writing or Theatre and Creative Production to communicate complex political ideas clearly and engage diverse audiences.

Students studying together in Murdoch library

3 reasons to study politics and international relations at Murdoch University

Build your professional network through industry connections and strong links with the Asian region via our Indo-Pacific Research Centre.
Work closely with politicians and senior WA public sector professionals on real projects, with opportunities to gain first-hand experience inside government offices and public sector environments.
Combine Politics and International Studies with a wide range of other arts degree majors, giving you the flexibility to tailor your degree to your career goals.

What you’ll learn

Analyse political systems, institutions and power structures at local, national and global levels.
Examine public policy processes and how decisions are shaped and implemented.
Evaluate global political issues, including governance, security and international relations.
Apply political theories and frameworks to interpret real-world challenges.
Communicate complex political ideas and arguments clearly and persuasively.

Having completed three semesters and my honours research in Indonesia, I was able to get a much better idea of development on the ground. I found that when I graduated, I had a more realistic idea of what to expect in the workplace.

Karis Erceg, Bachelor of Arts

Murdoch University HASS student sat on beach

Your future career in politics and international relations

With a Politics and International Studies major, you’ll graduate with the analytical, research and communication skills to navigate complex political and global environments. These capabilities are valued across government, international organisations, public policy, media, trade and diplomacy, preparing you for an international relations career in roles focused on decision making, analysis and global engagement.

Potential roles include:

Policy officer
Political or policy adviser
Diplomatic or foreign affairs officer
Intelligence or security analyst
Journalist or foreign correspondent
Lobbyist or advocacy officer
Researcher or think-tank analyst

For more details about our Politics and International Studies major, download our information pack.

Start dates

Starting period	Location	Face to Face	Online	Mixed mode
Semester 1, 2026	Murdoch	Yes	Yes	Yes
Semester 2, 2026	Murdoch	Yes	Yes	Yes
Semester 1, 2027	Murdoch	Yes	Yes	Yes
Semester 2, 2027	Murdoch	Yes	Yes	Yes

View the dates for our teaching periods or find out more about attendance modes.

Starting period	Location	Face to Face	Online	Mixed mode
Semester 1, 2026	Murdoch	Yes	No	No
Semester 2, 2026	Murdoch	Yes	No	No
Semester 1, 2027	Murdoch	Yes	No	No
Semester 2, 2027	Murdoch	Yes	No	No

View the dates for our teaching periods or find out more about attendance modes.

Major Structure

Visit the Course Handbook - Get detailed information on units, prerequisites, and pathways.

To help plan the structure of your course, search for our suggested course plans.

Unit code	Unit name	Credit points

How to Apply

Majors are part of a degree and can't be applied on their own. Apply for a related degree first, then choose your major once enrolled.

Undergraduate Course

Bachelor of Laws

Bachelor of Arts

Study a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts at Murdoch University. Add an arts major to your legal studies and build skills for a diverse career. Apply now.

Code: B1370

Selection rank: 90

Honours Course

Bachelor of Laws Honours

Bachelor of Global Security

Learn how to address some of the world’s biggest security challenges. In this combined degree, you’ll explore the role of the law and how it overlaps with terrorism and counterterrorism.

Code: H1277

Undergraduate Course

Bachelor of Criminology

Bachelor of Global Security

Build a career in criminology, intelligence or security with Murdoch University’s combined criminology and global security degree. Apply today.

Code: B1366

Selection rank: 70