The International Relations with Languages BA (Hons) degree is taught by specialists in international relations, politics, and Arabic, French or Spanish, many of whom are internationally recognised for the quality of their work.
The degree will provide you with a broad perspective on the political, economical and historical aspects of international relations, and will enhance your ability to understand the complex forces shaping modern global politics. The added bonus of learning more than one language (Arabic, French and Spanish) integrated into the degree opens up the possibility to pursue work in the global market. There are no prerequisites for languages, and you’ll start at whatever level is appropriate after taking a language level assessment with the Open Language Programme (OLP) staff.
A number of practitioners will be invited from the government and non-governmental organisations to speak on a variety of modules, concentrating on subject specific knowledge and employability.
Employability is central to every module, and in the final year you’ll have the opportunity to do a work-related learning module. This has previously included placements with a wide range of institutions, such as the United Nations, aid agencies, think tanks and embassies. You can even opt to do your work placement in the UK or another country.
A study-abroad semester can be undertaken as part of the degree programme. We have Socrates exchange links with a number of European Universities including Bologna, Bordeaux, Istanbul, Madrid and Stockholm. It’s also possible to study in the United States, where the University has exchange links with a number of universities, such as the State University of New York, City University New York, East Carolina, Roosevelt University (Chicago) and a number of colleges in the University of California state system.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed by essays, exams, presentations, individual and group research projects, briefing papers, portfolios, reflective writing and a final year dissertation or work placement.
Modular structure
The modules listed below are for the academic year 2018/19 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.
Year 1 modules include:
- Global Politics, Economy and Society (core, 30 credits)
- Introduction to International Relations (core, 30 credits)
- Language Module (Arabic, French, Spanish or English) (core, 15 credits)
- Language Module (Arabic, French, Spanish or English) (core, 15 credits)
- Peace, Conflict and Diplomacy since 1945 (core, 30 credits)
Year 2 modules include:
- Approaches to International Relations and Foreign Policy (core, 30 credits)
- Language Module (Arabic, French, Spanish or English) (core, 15 credits)
- Language Module (Arabic, French, Spanish or English) (core, 15 credits)
- Creating a Winning Business 1 (alternative core, 15 credits)
- Politics and International Relations: Work-Based Learning (alternative core, 15 credits)
- American Foreign Policy (option, 15 credits)
- Diplomacy Old and New (option, 30 credits)
- Peace and Conflict in Theory and Practice (option, 30 credits)
- Politics of the Middle East (option, 15 credits)
- Shifting Global Power in the 21st Century (option, 15 credits)
- Strategy in the Contemporary World (option, 15 credits)
- The Politics of the European Union (option, 15 credits)
Year 3 modules include:
- International Security in an Era of Globalisation (core, 30 credits)
- Language Module (Arabic, French, Spanish or English) (core, 15 credits)
- Language Module (Arabic, French, Spanish or English) (core, 15 credits)
- Creating a Winning Business 2 (alternative core, 15 credits)
- Placement 1 Year (alternative core, 30 credits)
- Politics and International Relations: Work-Based Learning (alternative core, 15 credits)
- Project 1 Semester (alternative core, 15 credits)
- Project 1 Year (alternative core, 30 credits)
- Action and Identity: Gender and Political Participation (option, 15 credits)
- African Politics (option, 15 credits)
- Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding (option, 30 credits)
- Human Rights and International Conflict (option, 15 credits)
- Latin American Politics (option, 15 credits)
- Public Diplomacy and Global Communication (option, 30 credits)
What our students say
“The international relations staff are definitely helpful and willing to explain anything that is asked.”
National Student Survey
After the course
Successful graduates have been employed in the diplomatic services, governmental organisations such as the European Union and the United Nations, and non-governmental organisations specialising in international development, overseas aid, human rights and environmental fields. Students have also gained employment in research and teaching, international business, the media, and political campaigns.
Many of our students also go on to be successful in postgraduate study at a number of universities, including the London School of Economics, King’s College London and SOAS.
