King’s College London is seeking to appoint a Lecturer in International Law and Politics (Education) at a time when global crises are reshaping the way these subjects are taught and understood. Advertised through Times Higher Education, the post reflects the university’s drive to strengthen its education-focused academic workforce and to deepen its engagement with cross-disciplinary, practice-informed teaching. Situated within one of the UK’s leading research-intensive institutions, the role offers an prospect to help shape curricula, guide the next generation of policymakers and legal practitioners, and bridge the gap between international legal norms and the political realities that define them.
Understanding the Lecturer in International Law and Politics Education role at Kings College London
The position sits at the intersection of academic rigor and pedagogical innovation, demanding a scholar who can decode complex global governance structures for students while maintaining a strong grounding in contemporary legal and political debates. Based within a world-renowned institution, the role emphasises shaping curricula that reflect shifting power dynamics, emerging norms in international law, and the politics of multilateral institutions. Day to day, this means moving beyond traditional lectures to design research-informed learning experiences that train students to interpret treaties, analyze case law, and critically evaluate the behavior of states, corporations and international organisations. You are not simply explaining how the international system works; you are equipping a new generation to question who benefits from that system, who is marginalised, and how legal and political tools can re-balance that equation.
At its core, the post is tailored for an education-focused academic who can align teaching excellence with the strategic priorities of a globally oriented law and politics department. This involves collaborating across disciplines, contributing to program growth, and embedding skills that make graduates employable in policy, advocacy, diplomacy and legal practice. Teaching is typically complemented by curriculum leadership and pastoral responsibilities, ensuring students receive structured intellectual challenge and meaningful academic support. The position often includes:
- Designing and delivering modules in public international law, global governance and comparative politics.
- Embedding assessment methods that test analytical precision, argumentation and policy literacy.
- Integrating practice via simulations, moots, policy briefs and practitioner-led workshops.
- Contributing to outreach that enhances the profile of international law and politics at King’s.
| Focus Area | Key Expectation |
|---|---|
| Teaching | Deliver research-informed, globally relevant modules |
| Curriculum | Update content to reflect evolving international norms |
| Students | Develop critical thinking and advocacy skills |
| Collaboration | Work across law, politics and policy networks |
Key teaching responsibilities curriculum focus and student engagement expectations
In this education-focused role, you will design and deliver intellectually rigorous modules that bridge public international law, global governance and contemporary political dynamics, ensuring content remains responsive to shifting geopolitical realities. Teaching will typically span undergraduate and postgraduate levels, combining large lectures with small-group seminars and workshops that prioritise critical discussion, close reading of primary sources and case-based learning. You will be expected to embed research-led teaching, drawing on your own scholarly work and the latest international legal and political debates to refresh syllabi, assessment formats and digital learning resources on a regular cycle.
- Develop and refine curricula that integrate doctrinal, socio-legal and policy perspectives.
- Use varied assessment methods (policy briefs, case notes, simulations) aligned with clear learning outcomes.
- Embed inclusive pedagogy that supports students from diverse backgrounds and prior educational experiences.
- Provide proactive academic support through office hours,prompt feedback and structured supervision.
- Foster active learning via debates, role-play negotiations and problem-based group tasks.
| Teaching Area | Focus | Engagement Aim |
|---|---|---|
| Public International Law | Treaty regimes, state duty | Build doctrinal precision |
| International Politics | Power, institutions, security | Sharpen analytical critique |
| Human Rights & Global Justice | Norms, enforcement, advocacy | Link law, ethics and policy |
| Skills Training | Legal writing, argumentation | Enhance professional readiness |
Student participation is central to this post, with clear expectations that learners prepare thoroughly, contribute to seminar discussion and engage critically with complex source material, from UN resolutions to ICJ judgments and diplomatic archives. You will cultivate high-impact learning environments by integrating digital tools, formative feedback loops and collaborative projects that emulate real-world policy work. Close liaison with the wider programme team will be essential to ensure coherence across modules, consistent standards of feedback, and a visible culture of intellectual curiosity and mutual respect in the classroom.
Research informed teaching and professional development opportunities within the School of Security Studies
The post sits within a dynamic academic community where cutting-edge scholarship directly shapes classroom practice. Lecturers routinely embed their ongoing work on international law, foreign policy, and global governance into teaching materials, case simulations, and assessment design, giving students access to debates that are still unfolding in journals and policy forums.Staff are encouraged to collaborate across the School’s research centres,using interdisciplinary projects on conflict,security,and human rights to inform new modules,guest seminar series,and co-authored policy briefs. This environment supports a culture in which teaching is continuously refreshed by empirical findings and theoretical innovation, ensuring that learning is grounded in current legal and political realities rather than static doctrine.
Professional development is structured and strategic,allowing early and mid-career academics to build a profile that spans pedagogy,scholarship,and public engagement. Colleagues benefit from targeted opportunities such as:
- Mentored curriculum design aligned with the latest research in security studies.
- Peer-observed teaching cycles with constructive feedback and follow-up workshops.
- Funding schemes for pedagogical innovation and research-led module development.
- Media and policy engagement training to translate research into impact-focused teaching.
| Opportunity | Focus | Typical Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| PGCert in Academic Practice | Evidence-based teaching | Advance HE recognition |
| Research-Teaching Labs | Integrating new data and methods | Revised modules and assessments |
| Impact Workshops | Policy and practitioner engagement | Co-produced case studies |
Application essentials selection criteria and practical tips for a competitive candidacy
Selection panels in law and politics departments scrutinise how convincingly you demonstrate experience across teaching, curriculum design and student support, as well as your ability to bridge international law with contemporary political debates. A competitive dossier makes these strengths unmistakable at a glance. Use your application to map your trajectory from early teaching opportunities to current course leadership, highlighting how you have aligned your practice with research-led pedagogy and inclusive education. Where possible, reference experience in global or comparative contexts, such as co-teaching modules on human rights with colleagues abroad, supervising dissertations involving transnational legal issues, or integrating international case law into core undergraduate teaching.
- Focus your cover letter on how your expertise advances the School’s strategic priorities, citing specific modules you could contribute to or develop.
- Curate your CV so teaching-related achievements (modules taught, supervision, assessment leadership) are as prominent as publications.
- Show evidence of innovation through blended learning, simulations, moot courts and problem-based learning in international law and politics.
- Demonstrate collegiality by referencing committee work, outreach, widening participation and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Quantify your impact with data from student evaluations, peer reviews and external recognition where available.
| Application Element | What Strong Looks Like |
|---|---|
| Teaching Portfolio | Clear syllabi,sample materials,and evidence of student engagement |
| Research Profile | Coherent theme linking international law and contemporary politics |
| Referees | Senior academics who can speak to both teaching and collegiality |
| Personal Statement | Concise narrative aligning your trajectory with the department’s needs |
Insights and Conclusions
As the higher education landscape absorbs the aftershocks of geopolitical upheaval,roles like this Lectureship in International Law and Politics at King’s College London signal where universities are placing their bets. The post is not just another academic vacancy; it reflects a strategic investment in teaching-focused expertise at the intersection of law, governance and global order.
For early- and mid-career scholars whose strengths lie in the classroom as much as in the library or archive, the position offers a platform within one of the UK’s most high-profile institutions, situated in a city where international policy is made and also studied. In a crowded market for academic jobs, the emphasis on education, student experience and interdisciplinary engagement may prove as decisive as any publication list.
Whether this model of teaching-led academic appointment becomes more prevalent across the sector remains to be seen. For now, King’s is making a clear statement: that in an era of contested norms and shifting power balances, the ability to teach international law and politics with clarity, rigor and relevance is no longer a luxury for universities – it is a necessity.
