Politics with International Relations BA (Hons)

What you'll study

Excited to learn more? For a taster of what you can expect to study on our Politics with International Relations BA (Hons) course, take a sneak preview of some of the modules you may have the opportunity to study below.

The information below reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. Updates may be made on an annual basis and revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year. Please see Terms and Conditions of Study for more information.

• Year 1
• Year 2
• Final year

Year 1

Combine your study of politics with a deeper focus on the global and international dimensions of power and policy. The first year introduces you to the key ideas, concepts and institutions which dominate domestic, international and global politics, the relations between nation states, and the obligations of states in a changing world.

In Year 1, you will also be able to choose from a range of optional modules in either Business, Criminology, Geography, History, Media Studies, Sociology, Economics or a Language.

Semester 1

Smart Scholarship Core

Smart Scholarship

This module introduces students to fundamental skills for successful study in Politics, International Relations, and/or History.

The Making and Unmaking of the World Order Core

The Making and Unmaking of the World Order

This module introduces students to the main currents of world history and to the shifting structure of the international order in the modern period. It aims to cover both the mainstream narratives and those critical of Eurocentrism, thereby stimulating an appreciation in cultural diversity

The Contemporary World Arena Core

The Contemporary World Arena

The aims of the module are to explore various aspects of the contemporary world arena, and to consider the importance of different actors and issues; and to identify links between theory and practice in the world arena.

Semester 2

Power, Politics and Ideology in Modern Europe Core

Power, Politics and Ideology in Modern Europe

This module provides an introduction to modern European history from c.1750 to the present and to the major ideological families that have defined, and continue to shape, European political, cultural, and intellectual life.

Understanding Democratic Institutions Core

Understanding Democratic Institutions

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the main institutions, powers and dynamics of a liberal democracy.

Conceptions of Democracy Core

Conceptions of Democracy

The aim of this module is to introduce a variety of perspectives on democracy and examine some of the problems resulting from the institutionalisation of democracy in the domestic and global arenas.

International Political Theory Core

International Political Theory

This module aims to introduce students to a selection of theories, concepts and theorists of International Politics. Students will learn to critically evaluate the strengths, weaknesses and limits of each approach.

Semester 1 and 2

Elective Optional

Elective

Including: Economics; English; Languages (French, German, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese); Geography; History; Business; Social Sciences

Year 2

Take compulsory and optional modules in a range of topics in politics, from political thought and political protest, to European politics, British politics, and from a range of modules in international relations including security studies, third world politics, and foreign policy analysis.

This year there will be options to study a language as part of your degree. There will also be an option to study abroad for the second semester - if you choose this route (instead of the standard route) you will undertake assessed work and complete a Distance Learning Research Design module, plus select from a range of optional modules.

Semester 1

Theories and Methods in Political Research Core

Theories and Methods in Political Research

The aims of this module are to introduce students to the dominant approaches and their research methods in politics

History of Political Thought Core

History of Political Thought

The aim of this module is to examine the development of political thought by looking at key concepts, thinkers and movements in the history of ideas.

Political Communication Optional

Political Communication

The key aim of this module is to introduce students to the different theoretical perspectives underpinning the study of the political communication before examining specific aspects of political communication in various democracies.

Small Wars Optional

Small Wars

Enterprise, Employability and Personal Development Optional

Enterprise, Employability and Personal Development

The aims of this module are:

• To influence students' awareness of and performance in key competencies which are required for personal effectiveness in employment and as a citizen in the wider community;
• To develop these competencies and understanding through a primarily student-centred approach to learning;
• To encourage students to use available tools and materials to support their own personal development;
• To provide students with an appreciation of the contemporary business environment in which their discipline is situated and into which they are likely to seek future employment.
• Stimulate student's interest in the global economy and the challenges facing industry in the 21st century.
• To aid student preparation for their job searching

Security Studies Optional

Security Studies

The European Union Optional

The European Union

The purpose of this course is to inform students about the European Union, including: its historical evolution, its deepening process, its enlargement process, its institutions, its member states and its policy areas.

British Politics Optional

British Politics

The aim of this module is to provide an understanding of the history, institutions, actors, processes and challenges of British Politics and Government.

Semester 2

Research Design Core

Research Design

The aim of this module is to develop skills in research design.

Comparative European Politics Optional

Comparative European Politics

The module offers a pan-European introduction to the continent's politics and compares the instututions of, and processes within, democracies across Europe. The module also focuses on the importance of the comparative method and the theoretically-informed empirical research in the field of political science.

Foreign Policy Analysis Optional

Foreign Policy Analysis

Politics of Developing Countries Optional

Politics of Developing Countries

This module aims to examine the problem of socio-economic inequality between the global North and global South and to analyse the relationship between global and local politics and socio-economic development.

The American Century: US Politics and Society in the 20th Century

The American Century: US Politics and Society in the 20th Century

The aims of this module are:

1. Introduce students to the main institutions of the US government and how they function within the US political system
2. Examine the politics and foreign policy of the United States through an analysis of its 20th century history
3. Explore how US cultural, social and intellectual history influenced US politics in the 20th century.

Cold War Europe Optional

Cold War Europe

The aims of the module are to discuss key selected key issues raised by the history of the Cold War. It assesses the threats, fears, ideological conflicts and competition which dominated Global politics for 50 years. It explores Cold War politics through original documents and eyewitness accounts.

Semester 1 and 2

Elective Optional

Elective

Including: Economics; English; Languages (French, German, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese); Geography; History; Business; Social Sciences

International Semester Optional

International Semester

Final year

Specialise in the areas of politics and international relations that you enjoy the most. Choose from a list of optional modules on topics such as nationalism, terrorism, political philosophy, Britain and the EU, populism, gender, and the Asia-Pacific region. Also, write a dissertation on an aspect of politics or international relations that you would like to explore in more detail.

Semester 1

The Asia Pacific in Global Politics Optional

The Asia Pacific in Global Politics

State Violence and Terrorism Optional

State Violence and Terrorism

Contemporary Political Philosophy

Contemporary Political Philosophy

Populist Challenge to Western Democracies Optional

Populist Challenge to Western Democracies

Populism is a phenomenon which has attracted substantial attention in recent years. This is not least related to the rise of radical right-wing parties in Western Europe during the past few decades.

International Politics of the Middle East Optional

International Politics of the Middle East

This module introduces students to key political issues in Middle East politics from a local, regional, and global perspective by employing relevant conceptual tools and empirically-informed analyses.

Semester 2

Post-War Britain: The Start of the Decline Optional

Post-War Britain: The Start of the Decline

The aim of this module is for students to become familiar with key events in British Post-War political history, the key factors in shaping the events and their relevance for understanding contemporary Britain.

Gender and Politics Optional

Gender and Politics

The aim of this module is to explore how gender, understood in terms of both masculinity and femininity, relates to politics, both domestic and international.

Britain and the EU Optional

Britain and the EU

The aim of this module is to develop multiple and critical perspectives on the question of the UK's membership of the European Union. The module will introduce the complexity of the UK's relationship with the EU.

Power, Politics and Participation in the Digital Age Optional

Power, Politics and Participation in the Digital Age

The key aims of the module are to introduce key concepts in new media and politics and to introduce the central debates around the relationship between power, politics, participation, and the internet.

After Empire: South Asia since 1945 Optional

After Empire: South Asia since 1945

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This course examines the emergence, evolution and contemporary existence of South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal) since 1945