Study politics and international relations with University of Aberdeen Online and explore the role of power, states, and governments in historical and contemporary human affairs.
Join a university that takes a comparative and multidisciplinary approach to politics and IR, focusing on less-developed countries as well as advanced democracies.
University of Aberdeen rankings for politics, social sciences, and IR
Top 4 in Scotland for Social Sciences
We’re ranked 4th in Scotland for Social Sciences in The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025.
Top 6 in the UK for Politics and International Relations
We’re ranked 6th in the UK for Politics and International Relations by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.
Top 8 in the UK for International Relations
We’re ranked 8th in the UK for International Relations and 17th in the UK for Politics in the Guardian University Guide 2025.
Areas of excellence at the University of Aberdeen
Within social sciences, our specific areas of research excellence and focus include:
- political organisation and participation
- comparative politics
- conflict and security
- energy and environment, and
- international relations theory.
Study politics online in your own time
All of our online politics courses fit around full-time work.
We’ve designed our courses to be flexible, so you can develop your skills and earn qualifications without taking time away from your career.
- 24/7 access to materials, so you can study when it suits you.
- Learn with us anywhere in the world, no student visa required.
- Study on laptop, desktop, tablet, and smartphone.
Who teaches our online politics courses?
Our online short courses are delivered by the same outstanding academics and researchers who teach our on-campus degrees.
Dr Philippe Beauregard
Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Aberdeen.
Dr Ritu Vij
Senior Lecturer in our Department of Politics and International Relations.
Professor Nadia Kiwan
Personal Chair and Professor of Francophone Postcolonial Studies.
Professor Trevor Stack
Personal Chair and Professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies.
Professor Gearoid Millar
Chair in Peace and Conflict Studies in our School of Social Sciences.
Department of Politics and International Relations (PIR) Seminar Series
Our PIR Seminar Series invites students, scholars from the University, and guests from abroad to share their work and discuss research.
The series is hosted by the Department of Politics and International Relations and all are welcome to join.
All seminars are dual-streamed on MS Teams, so whether you study online or on campus with us, you can take part.