Politics and International Relations BSc

The Politics and International Relations BSc is designed for people who are passionate about politics and who want to look in-depth behind the headlines to understand the forces shaping today's world. The degree will empower you to assess some of the most pressing challenges of our time, both domestically and globally. Our training will equip you with the tools through which to analyse data, conduct research and write persuasively.

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

The three-year curriculum delivers both structured training in political science and the opportunity for you to focus on the questions that interest you most. The first year begins by investigating some of the great political challenges in the world today. You will also explore some of the main subfields of politics, including international relations, comparative politics, public policy and political philosophy. During the first year, you will also develop your writing skills and learn about the use and misuse of data in politics.

The second year deepens your substantive knowledge. You will choose modules from a wide variety of options offered by the department. You will also delve deeply into the main methods in political science, learning the skills to do a wide array of research. Additionally, you will engage with practitioners from the world of politics and policy.

Finally, in the third year, you are free to concentrate on the particular subfields, issues, and methods that interest you most, choosing several options from the full array of intermediate (level 5) and advanced (level 6) undergraduate modules offered by the department (and, subject to approval, offered by external departments).

A limited number of study abroad placements may be available (subject to first-year grades and a successful application in their second year) for students who wish to undertake a year abroad. If successful securing a study placement, students will undertake the year abroad in their third year after transferring to the four-year programme at the end of the second year.

Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BSc (Hons) in Politics and International Relations.