BSc (Hons) International Relations

Don’t worry if you’ve missed the UCAS January deadline. 

If you want to study with us in September 2018, contact us for advice about available spaces on this course.

Get in touch with our friendly admissions team on +44 (0)1752 585858 or email us at admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

The final deadline for UCAS applications is 30 June 2018.

Advice from graduate Kate Jamieson: 

"Make as much of your time at university as you can. Get involved with societies and try to find something that differentiates you from other graduates."

Read more from Kate in her case study.

Career opportunities

• Careers and employability - advice and guidance

• We’re very proud of our National Student Survey (NSS) 2017 return showing that 100 per cent of our students agree staff are good at explaining things.*
  
• Travel the world through our international student exchange programme. From the Czech Republic and Poland, to Canada and the USA, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to gain insights into international relations worldwide. 
• Look at how politics works in practice by visiting the Middle East and southern Africa on university-subsidised fieldtrips led by the academic staff.
• Be inspired by teaching rooted in research. Our staff are leading experts in their fields, and through our Politics and International Studies research group, you’ll stay up-to-date with the current issues shaping global politics. Our team’s areas of expertise include popular protest in the Middle East, British and American foreign policy, development in Africa, global environmental politics, security studies and the politics of the European Union.
• Explore the evolution of politics internationally. Debate contemporary worldwide issues, current affairs and major political events. Ask those difficult questions about war, hunger and poverty in the developing world. 
• Engage with contemporary international issues and take part in exclusive events, film screenings and lectures, through the Politics and International Affairs Society. 
• Differentiate yourself in an international sector with industry experience and modern language skills. As journalists, politicians' assistants and public affairs consultants, our graduates have gone on to work for the European Union, United Nations and UK Civil Service. 
• Investigate daily headlines: discover the international and political ideas that influence society.
• Benefit from a course which received excellent ratings for teaching and student satisfaction, in the Guardian University Guide 2015 (within the subject league table for Politics).
• Enhance your employability by participating in the our internship scheme.

• Year 1
• Investigate daily headlines and topical news, discovering the international systems, and the political and economic ideas that shape our contemporary world. We tackle debates on an international scale, so you’ll explore the evolution of politics, contemporary issues, current affairs and major political events in historical and regional context. You’ll also gain vital research techniques, and analyse the relationship between international relations and the social sciences.

  Core modules

  • GOV1000PP One Planet? Society and Sustainability

    This module addresses some of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century from a variety of ideological and political perspectives. Through real-world case studies and critical reflection of lived experiences, we explore and debate the complex, interdependent processes underpinning sustainability and global inequality and insecurities. You develop an understanding of key drivers and public policy impacts and consider future alternative scenarios. The emphasis is on active, collaborative, learning via field trips and debates.

  • IRL100 Imagining World Order

    This module introduces the essential terms, concepts and processes of international relations analysis. It describes the main features of the international system since its evolution from the Treaty of Westphalia, continuities and discontinuities with earlier international systems, plus the move from state sovereignty to global governance in the contemporary context. It also introduces the primary theories of international relations analysis, whilst putting their emergence and development into historical context.

  • IRL102 International Relations Since 1945

    This module provides an introduction to the historical development of the international political system since 1945. It provides a crucial background to the major processes and actors that have shaped the contemporary international system.

  • PIR100 Discovering World Politics

    The team-taught immersive module introduces students to key concepts in the fields of Politics and IR and provides them with the necessary skills and tools to write essays and engage with academic debates. It also provides an opportunity for team-building for both students and staff.

  • PIR101 Democracy and Democratization

    This module provides the foundation for the study of democracy and democratisation in politics and international relations, with a focus on competing theories of democratic governance and how these can be applied in a critical analysis of political practices and institutions both within states and in transnational global governance

  Optional modules

  • LNG100 International Communication

    This module provides an introduction to a variety of theoretical and practical dimensions of cultural difference and intercultural communication, of relevance to business and professional life. Examples are taken from the social and business culture of a variety of significant countries / regions.

  • SOC1511 Introduction to Social Theory

    This module introduces students to key features of classical and contemporary social theory. These are placed within the context of the impact of the Enlightenment, and its impact on science and social science. One important objective is to encourage students to consider the contribution theoretical approaches can make to thinking about contemporary issues.

• Year 2
• Immerse yourself in international political economy and investigate leading theories, using your new-found knowledge and skills to analyse global systems. Discuss difficult truths about conflict and poverty in the developing world. Explore concepts of national and human security. Visit the Czech Republic, Poland, Canada or the USA with our international student exchange programme. You'll also engage with contemporary debates and develop a critical mindset, by evaluating evidence and scrutinising arguments.

  Core modules

  • IRL200 Understanding Global Politics

    This module provides an introduction to the main authors and debates in contemporary IR theory, from mainstream theories to critical approaches. The module pays particular attention to the historical context of each approach, and the relationship between theory and practice in contemporary global politics.

  • IRL201 International Security Studies

    This module considers the issue of security in contemporary international relations. It examines a variety of different security concepts from deterrence and the security dilemma to arms control, peacekeeping, terrorism, regional security complexes and governance. It then seeks to relate these to practical examples from world politics.

  • IRL202 The Third World

    This module embraces both theoretical and empirical approaches to understanding development issues and policies, at national, international and multilateral scale. The approach taken is deliberately inter-disciplinary, incorporating historical, economic, political and social perspectives. The module also uses case studies based in Africa, Latin America and Asia to illustrate and provide context for the discussion of various developmental concerns. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the development policy arena; how it is framed and constituted; the power relations between actors; and the impact on human communities and their environments.

  • PIR200 International Political Economy

    This module analyses how the governance of international economic affairs has developed from the Mercantilist expansion of early modern Europe to the present day. It introduces four alternative approaches to the study of IPE. It presents the leading historical narratives of the evolution of the modern world political economy, and then investigates its development since 1945.

  • SOC2523 The Social Science Research Process

    This module introduces students to the key features and principles of design and data collection in social research using real world research to link theory, methods and evidence. It develops concepts and skills acquired at stage one and requires students to develop a critical analysis of different research methodologies.

  Optional modules

  • POL201 Democracy and Globalization: Citizens and the Modern State

    Students taking this course will discover how social and economic change in the modern era impacts upon traditional political structures. The course demonstrates how structures face increasing challenges from alternative forms of political action, ranging in scope from the local to global. Much of the analysis will be comparative in scope and specific case studies will be undertaken of countries initially examined at level 4.

  • SOC2520 Gender and Society

    This module explores how and why gender matters in shaping key areas of social life. It focuses on a range of substantive issues, such as childhood, family, sexuality, health, bodies, media, sport, work, development, education, politics, to develop an understanding of the similarities, differences and intersections between gender and other social signifiers of difference/diversity. NB - this module can also be studied at level 6 but can only be studied once.

  • SOC2522 Globalisation and International Social Justice

    This module investigates the key debates of globalisation and critically evaluates, in terms of its economic, political, socio-cultural and legal dimensions, the causes and consequences of a globalising world. It furthermore explores a range of international social justice issues to examine the relationships (causative and ameliorative) between policies and (in)justice .

• Final year
• In your third year, you’ll undertake a comprehensive piece of research of your choice under expert supervision. You’ll also deepen your knowledge of international relations by studying a range of modules, including foreign policy, global environmental politics, the European Union, and politics of the Middle East and Africa. You may also participate in staff-led field trips to the Middle East and southern Africa to see how politics works in practice.

  Core modules

  • PIR300 Dissertation and PDP Review

    This module provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their attainment of the aims and objectives of the Honours Programme. It requires the design and execution of a dissertation of 12,000 words in the field of political science, together with the submission of a 1,500 word formative Literature Review detailing the aims and objectives of the dissertation together with a consideration of the extant academic literature in the field of the research question.

  Optional modules

  • IRL302 NATO after the Cold War and Beyond

    "This module proposes to study the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) from a theoretical as well policy point of view. The aim is to investigate the relevance of NATO in the 21st century by looking at how NATO survived and developed in the aftermath of the Cold War as it appeared to have lost its original purpose of containing the Soviet Union. By looking at key developments within NATO in the post-Cold War period, this module also looks at the challenges which NATO has faced and overcome but it also critically reflects on the contemporary relevance of NATO. "

  • LCG300A Research Traineeship

    This module affords students an opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding of social research by working under the direct supervision of an academic member of staff on an established research project. In particular, they will be involved in the collection and/or analysis of research data, and will be encouraged to reflect on the practical application of their research knowledge and skills in an applied setting.

  • LCG300B Research Traineeship

    This module affords students an opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding of social research by working under the direct supervision of an academic member of staff on an established research project. In particular, they will be involved in the collection and/or analysis of research data, and will be encouraged to reflect on the practical application of their research knowledge and skills in an applied setting.

  • PIR304 US Foreign Policy Since 1945

    This module introduces students to different approaches to studying US foreign policy. As well as providing an empirical survey of America's foreign relations since 1945, it draws on IR theory to examine its changing place in the world. Students will examine historical and contemporary themes in US foreign policy and explore the complex mix of factors that combine to influence it. The module will examine US interests in different parts of the world and evaluate how US foreign policy has affected regional and international orders. The ultimate objective of the course is to explore how US foreign policy shapes the world we live in.

  • PIR305 The Politics of the United States

    This module introduces students to the fundamental principles of politics in the United States. Domestic politics and the foreign influence of the United States is considered, with specific emphasis placed on the role of the Constitution and institutions of governance in promoting (or inhibiting) democracy both domestically and abroad.

  • PIR306 Environmental Political Economy

    This module examines the problem of environmental degradation and its implications for our global political economy. It discusses the major debates in political thought around the causes of environmental degradation. The module outlines the major attempts to build international regimes for global environmental governance, and the difficulties and obstacles that such attempts have encountered. A wide range of ideas, policy proposals, innovations in governance, and templates for political activism within the environmental movement are critically evaluated.

  • PIR307 Europe in the World

    The European Union is the world's major trading block and its most integrated region. This module takes a holistic look at the EU's role in the world and the link between its economic and political presence. Accordingly it concentrates on the impact of the EU on the world (including the developing world) but also considers the internal dynamics of Europe.

  • PIR310 Work Based Learning in Politics or International Relations

    This module provides students with opportunities to gain practical insights into the workings of organisations whose role and function have clear relevance to the focus and subject matter of their undergraduate degree in Politics or International Relations, and to link such insights to their acquired knowledge and understanding of social science theories and concepts. In addition the module will prepare students for the graduate job market and encourage their autonomous engagement in personal development planning.

  • PIR311 Global Governance and the United Nations

    This module will explore the transformation of political community in the 21st century through the prism of international organisations such as the United Nations. The aim is to consider the key question whether `governance¿ is possible in world politics, and whether and to what extent international organisations can play a constructive role in such governance. The module offers an overview of international organisations and global governance, including various theoretical approaches with their different assumptions about the nature of international politics, and competing predictions about international organisations in global governance.

  • PIR312 The Politics and International Relations of the Middle East

    "The module introduces students to international relations in the Middle East. It equips them with the analytical skills to examine the Arab-Israeli conflict, Gulf conflicts, and the impact of the Arab Spring on regional politics. "

  • SOC3538 Philosophy of Social Science

    A critical introduction to the philosophical foundations of social scientific research, with an emphasis on the development of analytic skills through which students explore the philosophical and methodological possibilities and limits of knowing the social world. Critical reflexivity toward future research practice is sought.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BSc International Relations 17 18 1075

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

UCAS tariff

104

A levels: including a minimum of two A levels.

BTEC: 18 Unit BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM in any subject.  

BTEC National Diploma modules
If you hold a BTEC qualification it is vital that you provide our Admissions team with details of the exact modules you have studied as part of the BTEC. Without this information we may be unable to process your application quickly and you could experience significant delays in the progress of your application to study with us. Please explicitly state the full list of modules within your qualification at the time of application.