Politics and International Relations, BA (Hons)

Course summary

Address some of the contemporary world’s most pressing problems, and explore ethical and moral issues that arise when political authority is exercised, with our BA Politics and International Relations degree.Why is the world not solving the climate emergency? Why do politicians seem to be so bad at their jobs? Are our societies descending into authoritarianism? Are we responsible for the safety and welfare of civilians in Afghanistan?If you care about questions like these – and want to learn about the fundamental elements of politics and international relations – then our three-year degree can get you started.As a student in the Department of Politics and International Relations, you will benefit from a learning environment driven by high-quality research. 97% of our research outputs are rated ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, meaning that the University of Reading is 6th highest in the UK for research outputs (Times Higher Education analysis of the latest REF 2021 – Politics and International Studies, when scoring by GPA Output). Our areas of strength include:

• applied political theory

• comparative politics

• public policy analysis

• conflict

• security

• strategy

• international relations.

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.