BA (Hons) Politics and International Relations
University of Hertfordshire
Key Information
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Campus location
Hatfield, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 - 6 years
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
GBP 13,450 *
Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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* international students full time, part time £1680 per 15 credits / UK students full time £9250, part time £1155 per 15 credits / EU students full time £13450, part time £1680 per 15 credits
Scholarships
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Introduction
"Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, examinations may be replaced by an alternative form of assessment during the academic year 2021/2022. Please refer to the Programme Specification on these pages for further details."
Why choose this course?
- Study modules that reflect current political issues from “Brexit” to decolonising the curriculum in our “Post-colonial Theory and Non-Western Philosophy” module.
- Go on trips to Parliament and research institutes and benefit from our proximity to London.
- Boost your employability through skills training, opportunities to do work experience, and dedicated career events organised as part of your study.
- Have the chance to develop your own analysis of contemporary political issues such as the rise of right-wing populism or the Arab-Israeli conflict in your dissertation project.
- Get the support you need to succeed in your studies through integrated skills sessions, academic writing tutors, and a dedicated student support team.
- Tailor your degree by choosing optional modules from History and Law that match your interests and career ambitions.
- Study abroad at one of our partner institutions in Europe, North America, Australia, or Asia, or diversify your skills by studying a language alongside your course.
What's the course about?
How can we make sense of Brexit and the election of Trump? Should the international community intervene in Syria? Why do gender stereotypes and racial discrimination still determine opportunities in our society?
On the B.A. in Politics and International Relations, you’ll study the central challenges that politics faces in the 21st century. You’ll develop the skills to understand, analyse, and critically debate the issues and arguments that shape national and international politics today. Our Politics and International Relations degree allows you to take your interest in politics and add the knowledge and training to turn it into a successful career in the world of local and global politics, the media, or business.
Work placement/study abroad option: Between your second and final year, you’ll have the option to study abroad or do a work placement for up to a year. Not only will this give you an amazing experience to talk about but will also give your CV a boost. If you’d rather go straight to your final year, that’s absolutely fine too.
Your main campus is de Havilland
You’ll share this campus with students from business, law, sport, education, and humanities subjects. The student housing is close to our Sports Village which includes a gym, swimming pool, and climbing wall. You can get breakfast, lunch, or dinner in our on-campus restaurant or bar (in the newly built Enterprise Hub) on days you don’t feel like cooking. You can also use the common room to play pool, video games or just to hang out with friends. Our Learning Resources Centres are open 24/7, which means you can study whenever suits you best. Want to pop over to the other campus? You can take the free shuttle bus or walk there in just 15 minutes.
This course includes the options of:
- Work placement
- Study abroad
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Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Curriculum
What will I study?
The BA (Hons) Politics and International Relations has been designed to build your skills, knowledge, and confidence through a balance of core modules, which cover key skills and concepts in the field, and a selection of optional modules, which allow you to specialise in your own areas of interest.
Our BA in Politics and International Relations is taught through:
- Live lectures recorded for flexible learning
- Seminars where you can discuss and apply what you learned in small groups
- Workshops to develop and practice research skills
One of the main differences between school and university is how much control you have over your learning. At university, as well as spending time in classes, you’ll do lots of independent study with support from our staff.
On the course, you will be assessed through innovative assignments including:
- A cabinet crisis simulation
- A critical intervention into a political issue of your choice
- A research poster presentation
Level 4
- Comparing Political Systems II 30 Credits II Compulsory
- Power, Citizens and the State II 30 Credits II Compulsory
- The Art of War: An Introduction to Strategic Studies II 30 Credits II Compulsory
- Anarchy, Order and Beyond: Studying International Relations II 30 Credits II Compulsory
Level 5
- Graduate Skills II 0 Credits II Compulsory
- Comparative Political Systems II 30 Credits II Compulsory
- Modern Political Philosophy II 30 Credits II Compulsory
- Nation and Identity: the Newly Independent States in Interwar Europe, 1918-39 A II 15 Credits II Optional
- Internet Governance and Politics II 15 Credits II Optional
- Security and Governance II 30 Credits II Optional
- We, the People: Democratic Theory and Practice II 15 Credits II Optional
- The State in the 21st Century II 15 Credits II Optional
- Political History: Milestones, Change and Continuity II 15 Credits II Optional
- The Age of the Cold War, 1945-1991 II 15 Credits II Optional
Level 6
- Political Dissertation II 30 Credits II Compulsory
- International Organisations II 15 Credits II Optional
- Politics of the European Union II 15 Credits II Optional
- Peace building and State-building II 15 Credits II Optional
- Post-Colonial Theory and Non-Western Philosophy II 15 Credits II Optional
- Terrorism and Security II 15 Credits II Optional
- The Politics of Gender II 15 Credits II Optional
- International Political Economy II 15 Credits II Optional
- Popular Protest, Riot and Reform in Britain, 1760-1848 B II 15 Credits II Optional
- The Middle East in turmoil: The Arab-Israeli conflict since 1948 II 15 Credits II Optional
- Human Rights II 15 Credits II Optional
- Public International Law II 30 Credits II Optional
Study abroad
An opportunity for an amazing experience, which will help make you stand out from the crowd. With more and more companies working internationally, the experience of living in another country can make a great impression on future employers.
This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a sandwich year abroad. The University has partnerships with over 150 universities around the world, including the USA, Canada, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America, and closer to home in Europe.
If you study abroad between your second and third year of study, you’ll pay no tuition fee to the partner university and no tuition fee to us either. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it.
Work placement
Graduate with invaluable work experience alongside your degree and stand out from the crowd.
This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a work placement sandwich year. It’s a chance to explore career possibilities, make valuable contacts and gain sought-after professional skills.
Our dedicated Careers and Employment team are here to help guide you through the process.
If you take up a work placement between your second and third year of study, at the University of Hertfordshire you’ll pay no tuition fee for this year. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
What's next for my career?
The skills in research, critical analysis, and communication you’ll develop on this course lend themselves to many different industries. Usually, Politics and International Relations graduates work in one of the following professional fields:
- Media
- Marketing and public relations
- Civil service
- Consultancy
- Political advocacy for think-tanks and NGOs such as Amnesty International
- Parliamentary research
- Business
- Teaching
After you graduate, you'll get help, advice, and support for up to 5 years from our Careers Office as you advance in your career.
English Language Requirements
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