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BA Global Politics and Language (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish)
About this course
Global politics is the study of power, conflict, and cooperation at the international level. It asks why states go to war and how peace is sustained, how international institutions shape the behaviour of governments, what drives global inequality, and how forces such as migration, climate change, and financial interdependence cut across national borders. Combined with the study of a modern language, the discipline becomes both broader and more specific, giving you the analytical tools of political science alongside genuine access to another culture and its ways of engaging with the world. At Birkbeck College this three-year, full-time degree allows you to combine the study of global politics with one of five languages: French, German, Italian, Japanese, or Spanish. You will examine international relations, international political economy, and war and security studies, developing a rigorous framework for understanding politics at the global level. Alongside this, you will pursue your chosen language to a level of advanced competence, gaining cultural and linguistic knowledge that complements your political analysis. Birkbeck's location in London, one of the world's most internationally connected cities, provides a rich context for this kind of study, and the department draws on a wide range of research expertise. Graduates are well prepared for careers in diplomacy, government, international organisations, journalism, non-governmental organisations, business, and the civil service. The combination of political analysis and language ability is particularly valued by employers with international operations or interests, including multinational companies, international NGOs, embassies, and trade bodies. Many graduates also go on to postgraduate study in international relations, area studies, political science, or language-related disciplines. Whatever path you choose, the ability to engage analytically with global politics in more than one language is a genuinely distinctive asset.
Syllabus & Modules
Typical curriculumStudent Satisfaction
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