International Relations and Economics, BA (Hons)

Course summary

Study BA International Relations and Economics and you will develop a deep understanding of the critical political and economic issues that dominate the news agenda and shape the world in which we live.In international relations, you will acquire a strong grounding in fundamental elements such as political ideas and international relations theory. You will have the opportunity to study a wide range of specialist core and optional modules, which cover topical issues such as European political integration, international terrorism, and politics in the Middle East.In economics, you will study both applied and practical issues and focus on the relationship between economics and society. This course places less emphasis on mathematical and statistical content, and instead you will focus on the relevance of these techniques to applied problems. You will still learn necessary maths skills in your core modules with extensive support, should you need it. Optional modules span a number of topics, including business, policy, economic history and even the economics of climate change.Most of your contact time will be spent in seminar groups, allowing you to interact directly with staff and add your own voice to the discussion.You have the option of studying this degree over four years with a placement year.For more information, please visit the programme page: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/subject-area/politics-ug/ba-international-relations-and-economics

The following modules have been approved in principle for delivery in 2025/26. Please note that as part of our current curriculum improvement process, all modules require final University approval and may be subject to change. Core modules for this course: International Relations; Politics of Climate Change; Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis; Intermediate Microeconomics; Global Order. The University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. Further information about the content of final approved modules will be available in the summer of 2024. We suggest that you regularly revisit our course page during this time to ensure you have the most up-to-date information regarding the modules offered on this programme. Check our website for more details about the course structure.