Politics and International Relations, BA (Hons)

Our BA in Politics and International Relations tackles pressing global issues, such as the climate emergency, political inefficiencies, rising authoritarianism, and ethical responsibilities in places like Afghanistan. This three-year programme explores the core elements of politics and international relations, offering a research-driven learning environment. With 97% of our outputs rated world-leading or internationally excellent—ranking the University of Reading sixth in the UK for research—we excel in areas like applied political theory, comparative politics, public policy analysis, conflict, security, strategy, and international relations. For further details, visit the programme page.Core modules for 2025/26 include Politics of Climate Change, Introduction to Contemporary Democracy, Introduction to Political Ideas, Comparative Government and Politics, and Global Order. These are subject to final approval and potential changes; we recommend checking our website regularly for the latest information on course structure and optional modules.

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: Politics of Climate Change; Introduction to Contemporary Democracy; Introduction to Political Ideas; Comparative Government and Politics; 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.