Extra-curricular opportunities
There are plenty of opportunities for you to get involved in extra-curricular activities in the Department of International politics.
From our celebrated Crisis Games and Parliamentary Placement Scheme to talks and a range of student societies, there will be plenty to keep you occupied during your time in Aberystwyth, and to develop additional skills that will look good on your CV.
There are plenty of opportunities for you to get involved in extra-curricular activities in the Department of International Politics, from talks with influential opinion formers or academics to our famous Crisis Games.
Each semester we run events that bring together students and staff to share ideas. These include panel discussions on topical issues, with plenty of time for Q&A, public lectures, and our pizza and quiz nights – which are a lot of fun!
We also run three popular schemes which provide brilliant experiences and strengthen the kinds of skills which are really valuable for the world of work.
Crisis Games
We were the first department in the UK to run crisis simulations which connect classroom learning to the real-world complexities of international politics. These role-play events see students working in teams to solve a fictional international political crisis
Students might represent governments, international organizations, social movements or the media. Recent scenarios have included the Mediterranean refugee crisis, US election insurgency, the Qatar world cup and even (in 2018) a global pandemic! They are held over three days in a local conference venue – and they’re free!
Parliamentary Placement: House of Commons, Westminster and Senedd, Cardiff
Our prestigious internship programme, the Parliamentary Placement scheme puts you at the heart of political life to experience government in action! Students work with a Member of Parliament in Westminster or a Member of the Senedd in Cardiff for around four to six weeks at the end of their second year. Students get really involved, researching projects, doing constituency work and sometimes even witness elections - or a leadership crisis! Departmental funding is available to successful applicants to help with costs. .
Exchanges
We encourage our students to join the University’s exchange programme to see global events from a fresh vantage point. We have links with partner universities in seven European countries and ten countries beyond Europe. All tuition is in English. The experience broadens students’ horizons – and intellect – and really enriches their ideas, as well as being a major asset on the CV.
Student Societies
Students also take the lead in the Department. Some contribute to our student journal Interstate – the oldest in the UK – by writing or editing. We also host the Interpol Society which runs social and academic events. Aberystwyth has a wide range of student societies too, and staff and students work together in the Student-led Diversity Group.
Interstate
Interstate is the student-run journal of the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth, established in the 1960s. It is a published and citable journal of academic work that looks great on your CV, it also provides good writing practice for those working towards dissertations or thinking about further academic study.
Interstate alternates between the themes of strategy and international relations in its issues. We aim to publish the next issue in January 2025 on the topic of security and titled ‘Modern Strategy’. Contributions should be linked to the title of the issue, for example, reflecting on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, MENA, West and Central Africa and the South China Sea. Other strategy, intelligence or warfare-related articles will be considered by the editorial board.
We are looking for articles from 2nd and 3rd year Undergraduates as well as Masters students. Articles should be between 2,000 and 4,000 words and come with footnote citations. Work can be submitted in English or Welsh.
If you are interested in getting published please email a brief description of the concept of your article to the Executive Editor John Hinchliff jeh79@aber.ac.uk. Those who pass the selection process will contacted individually.
