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New report uncovers popularity of Politics and International Relations degrees, with graduates outearning national averages

22 Jan 2025

Rear view of a large group of students raising arms during a class

A new British Academy report on Politics and International Relations (PIR) provision in UK higher education shows a 20 per cent increase in first degree enrolments and a 41 per cent rise in postgraduate taught enrolments between 2011/12 and 2022/23, with PIR graduates earning a median salary up to £9000 more than the average graduate ten years after leaving university.

Professor Margot Finn FBA, the British Academy’s Vice President for Research and Higher Education Policy and Professor of Modern British History at University College London, described the report as a “one-of-a-kind resource.” She added, “These subjects aren’t just valuable in their own right; graduates and researchers in these fields play an increasingly important role in today’s climate of heightened geopolitical volatility. Students and scholars of government and policy equip us with the tools to safeguard democracy as it comes under attack, international relations experts offer clarity amid a rapidly shifting global order, and political scientists help us uncover the dynamics behind our evolving electorate.”

Key findings:

  • First degree students in PIR across all UK nations increased by 20 per cent, while postgraduate taught numbers have increased significantly, rising 41 per cent since 2011/12.

  • The proportion of UK-domiciled first degree students from non-white ethnic backgrounds rose by 8 percentage points. In 2022/23, female students comprised 52 per cent of first degree enrolments, compared to 48 per cent male.

  • PIR graduates earn higher median salaries than the average graduate at 3, 5, and 10 years after graduation.

  • Research income increased by £17.4 million between 2016/17 and 2021/22, with 92 per cent of impact case studies rated world-leading or internationally excellent in REF2021.

‘Politics and International Relations provision in UK higher education’ is the latest addition to the Academy’s flagship SHAPE Observatory and is the latest in a growing series of reports on the state of the disciplines. The SHAPE Observatory monitors the health and development of the humanities and social sciences across the UK, providing both system-wide and discipline-specific insights. Recent outputs include interactive maps highlighting regional gaps in SHAPE provision and a comprehensive review of Media, Screen, Journalism, and Communication Studies.

Professor Peter John FBA, Professor of Public Policy at King’s College London and a member of the report’s Advisory Group, said: “Interest in Politics and International Relations has clearly broadened over the past decade, perhaps as a response to today’s increasingly divisive and uncertain political climate. The increase in research funding and the growing diversity of voices in these fields indicate a strong demand for the essential role that this research plays in shaping an informed and resilient future.”

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