Explore career options in political science, public policy and international relations

Here you can find information on the types of careers and employment roles a political science and international relations degree may land you.

You can also discover where to look for job vacancies, as well as professional associations, mentoring and international opportunities.

Opportunities

Whether you are determined to make a difference in your own community or have your sights set on the international arena, a degree in political science and international relations provides a window into the nature of political power in the modern world and the factors and forces that shape contemporary international affairs.

Graduates develop a comprehensive knowledge of political institutions and processes, public policy, business–government relations, foreign policy and globalisation.

You can also pursue a work placement or parliamentary internship in your course of study, further developing your skills and networks before graduating.

Career fields

  • Federal, state and local government
  • Diplomacy and foreign affairs
  • Australian and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
  • International business
  • Political parties
  • Parliamentary services
  • Lobbying and advocacy
  • Business-government relations
  • Electorate offices/electoral commissions
  • Trade unions and trade relations
  • Policy development
  • Market and social research

Employment roles

  • Policy officer/advisor/analyst
  • Diplomat, embassy or consulate officer
  • Campaigns officer
  • Business-government relations officer
  • Human rights/environment advocate
  • Research and evaluation coordinator
  • International business manager
  • Community development officer
  • Project coordinator/manager
  • Electorate officer
  • Research and analysis officer
  • Press/media officer
  • Interest group lobbyist
  • Union official
  • Administrative services officer
  • Policy and advocacy advisor
  • Project support officer

Occupation Snapshot

Employed

941,800

Future growth

3.5%

Weekly earnings

$1,650

Full-time share

85%

This data is based on the occupation profile for public administration and safety industry retrieved from the Government's Jobs and Skills Australia website July 2024.

Your employability

In addition to knowledge and skills directly related to your program of study, you will also develop a range of other skills such as teamwork, analytical, communication through academic study, employment, voluntary work, sporting and recreational activities and life experience.

Recognising the value employers place on these skills is an important factor in your graduate job search. You can further develop your employability with these resources:

Notable alumnus: Beny Bol

Sudanese-born orphan Beny Bol uses restorative justice principles to resolve conflict and build resilience in Logan and Melbourne communities. He is the president of the 60,000-strong Queensland African Communities’ Council and works closely with the police and justice system to influence positive community behaviour. Beny openly shares his story of enduring famine, the loss of his parents and siblings, and a lack of education in Africa before receiving a humanitarian visa in 2007, to come to Australia. He highlights his immigration journey and his work in Australian abattoirs and farms in order to support his family and participate in the further education opportunity offered to him.

Job application resources

Craft a stand-out resume and cover letter, and learn how to prepare for job interviews.

Approach potential employers

Many work opportunities are not advertised, so we recommend approaching potential employers with the aim of researching their needs and how your skills, experience, interests and qualifications could match theirs.

This is called informational interviewing and will benefit you by:

  • clarifying your specific career direction
  • enhancing your professional network
  • increasing your chances of being offered a job.

Informational interviews

Industry outlook

The Your Career website includes helpful information such as job descriptions, employment prospects, average weekly earnings and skills requirements. Every job title in the database has a skills section to help you identify and describe essential skills for your future career.

The My Future website also has job descriptions and a useful career insight section.

The Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching website has up-to-date information on graduate salaries, especially the Graduate Outlook Survey (GOS) National Report, which contains undergraduate salary figures.

More detailed information is available at the Labour Market Insights portal.

Professional associations

Joining a professional association is a great way to interact with people in your field who can assist you to explore your career options and potentially find employment opportunities. Such associations hold regular professional development and networking events:

Relevant professional associations include:

Students are welcome to join and often receive a discount on their membership.

Mentoring

The award-winning Industry Mentoring Program provides an excellent opportunity to further develop your employability and build professional networks.

The program is available to students with more than 80CP as well as recent graduates.

Industry Mentoring Program

5 Gender equality10 Reduce inequalities17 Partnerships for the goals

Sustainable Development Goals

Griffith University is aligned to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ) and is committed to promoting decent work and economic growth, advancing the principles of responsible and sustainable consumption and production, and advocating for peace, justice, and resilient institutional frameworks.

Further careers information

Careers counselling

Individual career counselling sessions are available to all current students and recent graduates.

You can book an initial appointment via CareerHub.

Book an appointment

Career planning

Our website has an array of career planning resources you can explore at any stage of your student journey.

Plan your career

Career Readiness

Check out our Career Readiness site in Learning@Griffith for additional information and resources for your career development learning:

Career Readiness

Similar career options

Please note: The content on this webpage is a guide only. Please refer to degree-specific information and accreditation requirements of your profession on the Degree and Course Finder website and with the relevant professional accreditation body for your degree.