BSc (Hons) International Relations

We'll give you a call on A level results day to discuss your place at Plymouth, meaning there's one less thing to worry about.

Find out more about Clearing

Where could your degree take you?

Discover employment and further study opportunities that you could consider once you graduate with an international relations degree and learn how you can stand out to graduate employers.

Careers and further study

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."

• 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; 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

  • One Planet? Society and Sustainability (GOV1000PP)

    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.

  • Imagining World Order (IRL100)

    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.

  • International Relations Since 1945 (IRL102)

    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.

  • Democracy and Democratization (PIR101)

    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

  • Discovering World Politics (PIR102)

    The team-taught immersive module introduces students to key concepts and contemporary issues in the fields of Politics and IR and provides them with the necessary skills and tools to write essays and engage with academic debates.

  • Social Science Research Methodologies (SOC1515)

    This module introduces students to the role and value of social research in understanding the social world and social problems. It will provide students with grounding in the key strategies employed by social science researchers. The emphasis is on introducing students to basic principles of research process, including quantitative and qualitative approaches to gathering and interpreting social data.

• 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

  • Understanding Global Politics (IRL200)

    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.

  • International Security Studies (IRL201)

    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.

  • International Relations of the Developing World (IRL203)

    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.

  • International Political Economy (PIR200)

    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.

  Optional modules

  • Civil Society and the Public Sphere (POL203)

    This module analyses the role of civil society and the public sphere in democratic governance and in democratization from a variety of theoretical perspectives.

  • Politics of European Integration (POL204)

    This module introduces students to the history, structure, key themes and potential future development of the European Union. It examines each of these aspects within the context of theories of democracy, and the challenges to such theories presented by the supranational institutions of the EU.

  • Globalisation and International Social Justice (SOC2522)

    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 .

  • The Social Science Research Process (SOC2523)

    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.

  • Gender, Sex and Sexuality (SOC2525)

    This module introduces students to the sociology of gender, sex and sexuality. It interrogates these concepts with particular reference to identity, activism and social change. It focuses on substantive issues, such as transgender, intersex, masculinities/femininities, bodies, family, media, work, culture and community. It develops an understanding of the similarities, differences and intersections between gender, sex, sexuality and other social signifiers of difference/diversity.

• 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

  • Dissertation and PDP Review (PIR300)

    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

  • NATO after the Cold War and Beyond (IRL302)

    "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. "

  • The Politics of the United States (PIR305)

    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.

  • Environmental Political Economy (PIR306)

    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.

  • Europe in the World (PIR307)

    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.

  • Work Based Learning in Politics or International Relations (PIR310)

    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.

  • The Politics and International Relations of the Middle East (PIR312)

    "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. "

  • Africa in the International System (PIR313)

    This module provides an introduction to African politics, examining the historical, economic and socio-political developments of over fifty states with a strong regional emphasis, and a particular focus on political economy, state-society relations, foreign policy and conflict analysis. The module’s regional focus allows comparison between different approaches to international relations. It also seeks to provide the tools to analyse and understand what is going on in Africa today.

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 programme specification 1075

UCAS tariff

88 - 104

A levels
88-104  points including a minimum of 2 A levels. General studies considered.

BTEC
18 Unit BTEC Extended Diploma: MMM–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.

Access
Pass a named Access to HE Diploma in any subject with at least 33 credits at merit/distinction.

International Baccalaureate
24-26 overall to include 4 at any subject at Higher Level.English and Maths accepted within: Higher Level = 4 Standard Level = 5.

GCSE
All applicants must have GCSE (or equivalent) mathematics and English at grade C or above.

Other
14-19 Diplomas: accepted – please enquire. Other combinations and non-A level qualifications will also be considered.