Politics and International Relations, BSc (Hons), with industry placement

Course summary

Understand the roles of democracy, freedom and security in the 21st century near the site of the 2021 G7 Summit. Our programme is not just about helping you understand politics and international relations; it's about building your critical thinking to empower you to be part of a change. Hone your skills with our unique practical assessments that immerse you in mock-ups of real-world scenarios. Our students have gone on to key policy and political roles locally and nationally.

• Challenge and expand your world view. Ask the difficult questions about environmental crises, war, or development in the global south. Debate contemporary worldwide issues, current affairs and major political events. Explore the evolution of democracy and the international system.

• Learn from experts. Be inspired by teaching rooted in research. Work closely with engaging and experienced staff that are leading experts in their fields; areas of expertise include popular protest in the Middle East, NATO and security studies, the politics of China, global environmental politics and the politics of the European Union.

• Broaden your horizons. Travel the world through our international student exchange programme. From the Czech Republic and Poland, to Canada and the USA, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to gain insights into international relations worldwide.

• Design your degree. Integrate innovative modules from across the School of Society and Culture, focussing your degree on areas that interest you and making your degree your own.

• Connect with the political environment. Our field trips and guest speakers will help you connect more directly with the world of politics at home and abroad.

• Enhance your skills. Build practical skills to take into your future through varied and innovative assessments.

In your first year you will investigate the most pressing issues facing our world, where they have come from and the international systems and political and economic ideas that shape our contemporary world. You’ll explore the evolution of politics, current affairs, climate crises and major political events in historical and regional contexts. By the end of year one you will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to help you thrive in your degree programme, having gained vital research techniques and analysed the relationship between politics and international relations via innovative and engaging forms of assessment. In your second year immerse yourself in the issues that you care about in the world and use your newfound knowledge and skills to analyse global systems. Learn how to do foreign policy analysis and explore concepts of national and human security, identity and global political economy. You will explore contemporary debates and develop a critical mindset, evaluating evidence and scrutinising arguments to take your knowledge further in ways that you can apply in your future career. Or you can put your global mindset into practice, studying abroad with our international student exchange programme. In your third year, you’ll do comprehensive research on a topic of your choice with expert supervision that helps bring together the skills developed on your journey so far. You’ll deepen your knowledge of politics and IR by studying topics including NATO, the media, understanding conspiracies and post-truth politics, environmental politics, the politics of the USA, the Middle East, the EU, or Africa. Or you can make your degree your own, choosing modules from across our school that interest you the most. By the end of your degree, you will be making your mark, ready to be a part of the change.