BA Politics and International Relations

About this course

Politics and International Relations is a degree concerned with understanding power: how it is organised within states, how it is exercised across states, and how international institutions attempt to manage the conflicts and cooperation that arise between them. It is a discipline that engages with some of the most consequential questions in contemporary life, from the causes of war and the prospects for peace to the politics of climate change, migration and economic inequality. Studying it develops analytical rigour, the ability to engage with complex evidence and the capacity to make well-reasoned judgements about deeply contested questions. At the University of the West of England, Bristol, the programme is applied and future-focused, emphasising the importance of theory, policy and practice in political and global affairs. You will study political theory, comparative politics, international security, international political economy and the foreign policy of major states and organisations, developing both conceptual frameworks and the analytical skills to apply them to current events and historical cases. The part-time mode of delivery makes the degree accessible to students who cannot commit to full-time study, and the programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad and a work placement, giving you the opportunity to develop professional experience and international perspectives alongside your academic study. Bristol is a city with a strong tradition of political engagement and a significant public sector, giving the degree a relevant local and regional context alongside its global concerns. Graduates work in the civil service, government, international organisations, journalism, NGOs, the diplomatic service, public affairs, policy research, education and the third sector. Postgraduate study in politics, international relations, public administration, law or security studies is a natural continuation for those who want to develop specialist expertise or pursue academic careers.

Student Satisfaction