International relations studies the complex relations between states and international organisations in areas such as economics, law, politics and security. Core questions include: what is security, what causes conflict, what is power and how is it exercised and justified? It also investigates deeper questions relating to how we understand and conceptualise contemporary global transformations. Our programme offers a balance between theory and practice. You will gain a broad understanding ofthe key theories and concepts associated with international relations as well as gaining practical experience of the policy process. Instrumental in this is our flagship module, Policy and Persuasion, which will prepare you to participate actively in many fields of work, including politics, advocacy and business.

Your first year will introduce you to the key analytical approaches used in the study of global politics, drawing on international political events in historical and contemporary settings. Your second year modules will focus on contemporary history, global society, political economy and security and prepare you for your final year dissertation by providing training in research techniques. You may pursue your own independent research project during your third year while taking optional modules based on the research expertise of our staff.

Year one

Typical core modules

• Approaches to Global Politics
• Governing the World
• Introduction to European Union Politics
• Power and Contest: Living in a Political World

Typical optional modules

• Beginners French/German/Japanese/Korean/Mandarin/Spanish*
• Contemporary Economic Policy
• Cultures of Everyday Life
• Entrepreneurship and Business
• Mass Media
• People, Work and Organisations
• The Individual 2: Individual Differences
• The Making of Modern Asia

Year two 

Typical core modules

• Global Political Economy and International Development
• International Relations of the Asia Pacific
• International Security
• The Contemporary World Since 1945

Typical optional modules

• Cultural Politics
• Global Media and Communication
• Intermediate French/German/Japanese/Korean/Mandarin/Spanish*
• Introduction to Citizenship
• People, Groups and Society
• Political Communication, Public Relations and Propaganda
• Understanding the Malay World

Year three 

Typical core modules

• Dissertation: Politics, History and International Relations (for non-language students)

Typical optional modules

• Advanced French/German/Japanese/Korean/ Mandarin/Spanish*
• Asian Country Study: Thailand
• Asian Study Tour: Thailand
• Food, Hunger and Development
• Nationalism and the State: Themes and Perspectives from Contemporary Southeast Asia
• Policy and Persuasion
• Politics and International Relations of the Middle East
• Regionalism in World Politics: The Case of ASEAN 

*International relations with a language students only.

Our Foundation courses give you another way to study for an undergraduate degree. 

Applicants for degree programmes with a language minor must have no prior knowledge of that language. 

We strongly encourage all interested students to apply. Our students come to us with a diverse range of qualifications and we also consider applicants' personal statement, references and interview performance (if you have one) when making a decision. The only way for us to fully determine eligibility is through the submission of a completed application.

September 

Our degrees will equip you for a career in a variety of fields including aid and non-governmental sectors, finance and international businesses, foreign ministries, international media and journalism, international organisations, localand national government, lobbying and policy advice and think-tanks. The school is building up its alumni network both to keep in contact as well as explore ways of connecting current students with alumni in the world of work after graduation.