BA

International Relations (with integrated year in Industry)

BA International Relations (with integrated year in Industry) Code 642L Attend an Open Day Attend an Open Day

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Key Facts

642L

  • UCAS Tariff

    120 - 96

  • Course duration

    4 years

Available for September start 2025

Further details on entry requirements

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International Relations is about how we tackle global challenges. World politics stands at a fascinating but difficult historical juncture, one that as political beings, we all need to understand, explain and, in part shape. With the relative decline of the ‘West’, the emergence of new powers and actors, and the increasingly complex and intertwined nature of local, national, regional, international and global problems, ‘international politics’ is entering a new era. The degree in International Relations (with integrated year in industry) offers students the opportunity to combine the study of international politics with a paid or voluntary work placement in an industry or with an organisation that is relevant to this degree.

Course Overview

Why study International Relations at Aberystwyth?

  • You will be taught in the world’s first department of international politics. It was founded in 1919 after the end of World War I in order to better understand the causes of war, and to promote a more peaceful world.
  • During your course, you will have the opportunity to participate in our renowned ‘International Crisis Game’. This is a three-day role-playing exercise in political, economic and diplomatic manoeuvre, where you will develop negotiation and communication, critical thinking, team-work, and problem-solving skills.
  • For the year industry, you will source and organise your work experience placement with the assistance of our departmental staff and the University's careers team.
  • We operate a prestigious Parliamentary Placement Scheme, enabling you to gain valuable experience working alongside an MP (House of Commons, Westminster) or an AM (National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff) for a period of 4-6 weeks during the summer. During this time, you will write reports and speeches, undertake research projects, and respond to constituency issues. There may be further opportunities for you to get involved in elections and various international issues.
  • We are also home to Interstate, the oldest student-run international politics journal in the United Kingdom. This is a unique opportunity for you to publish your work or gain valuable experience working as part of the editorial team. The student-run International Politics Society organises a busy and varied programme of political debates, visiting speakers, conferences and workshops, alongside numerous social activities such as an annual ball.
  • In addition, we offer a number of degree schemes and modules taught entirely or partially through the medium of Welsh. Click the module tab for further information about the modules on this course, and visit the 'Studying through the medium of Welsh' page to know more in general.


Our Staff

Lecturers in the Department of International Politics are all research active and qualified to PhD level, and most also have a PGCHE.

Modules September start - 2025

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Behind the Headlines * IP12620 20
Exploring the International 1: Central Concepts and Core Skills * IP12420 20

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Globalization and Global Development IP12520 20
Politics in the 21st Century * IP12920 20
The Making of the Modern World: War Peace and Revolution since 1789 IP12820 20
War, Strategy and Intelligence IP10320 20

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Graduate Career and Professional Development CD20220 20
International Relations: Perspectives and Debates IP20120 20

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
A War on the Mind: Propaganda and Secret Intelligence from the Great War to the 21st Century IP28320 20
Capitalism and International Politics IQ22820 20
Climate Change Politics IP21420 20
Climate Change and International Politics in the Anthropocene IP20720 20
Contemporary Latin America IP28720 20
Devolution and Wales IP25020 20
International Politics and Global Development IP29220 20
Intervention and Humanitarianism IQ20220 20
Militaries and Crisis: Where Strategy Meets Society IP20820 20
People and Power: Understanding Comparative Politics Today IQ23920 20
Political Theory IP22220 20
Politics in Diverse Societies IQ23720 20
Questions of International Politics IP26820 20
Russian intelligence from Lenin to Putin IQ24920 20
Science, Technology, and International Relations IP23020 20
Strategy, Intelligence and Security in International Politics IQ25120 20
Terrorism & Counter Terrorism in the Modern World: Policing, Intelligence & War IP24520 20
The BRICS in World Politics IQ20320 20
The European Union: Politics, Policies, Problems IP23820 20
The Governance of Climate Change: Simulation Module IP22320 20
The Second World War in Europe IP26420 20
Total War, Total Peace IQ23420 20
Trade Wars and the Liberal Order IQ21620 20
War Crimes IQ25720 20
Warfare after Waterloo: Military History 1815-1918 IP25320 20

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Work Placement IPS1160 60

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Careers

Employability is embedded within all courses provided by us. Our degrees provide a solid foundation for a vast array of careers across a range of sectors. You will develop self-confidence and gain hands-on experience in the industry that will stimulate your enthusiasm for the subject. In a rapidly shifting global economy, our graduates are adaptable and able to draw on a range of transferable skills, ensuring that they are always in demand.

The skill sets include:

  • effective problem solving and creative thinking skills
  • information technology skills
  • the ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • time-management and organisational skills
  • communication skills, both written and oral
  • self-motivation and self-reliance.

What opportunities are there for me after I complete my degree?

Here is an example of what some of our graduates are doing: politics-related professions such as those found in the civil service; local and national government; international organisations; non-profit and non-governmental organisations (NGO) sectors; and the armed forces.

Our graduates have also pursued positions in journalism, the financial sector, the legal profession, business or teaching.

Teaching & Learning

What will I learn?

The breakdown below gives you an illustration of what you may study during the four years of your degree that you will spend in the department.

In your first year you will have the opportunity to explore:

  • a range of perspectives and approaches to the study of international politics
  • the development and progress of key ideas and concepts in international relations
  • the key political challenges in the 21st century
  • different perspectives on war, peace and revolution since 1789
  • key issues in the fields of war, strategy and intelligence.

In your second and fourth years you will have the opportunity to study issues such as:

  • theories, approaches and perspectives in international relations
  • a range of challenges facing the international system, such as globalisation, war, international terrorism, climate change, inequality, nuclear proliferation, global health epidemics, refugee and migrant crises, and secession
  • a variety of regional and national politics including Latin American, Russia, Europe and the EU, the BRICS, the Middle East, the UK
  • international history in the twentieth century
  • the history and development of political ideas and ideologies
  • the range of security challenges facing domestic and international actors.

You will also complete a compulsory dissertation to demonstrate your substantive knowledge in your chosen subject area.

How will I be taught?

We deliver this degree through the medium of lectures and seminars, as well as workshops, simulations and role-plays. We assess our students through essays, policy reports, examinations, book reviews, learning logs and presentations. We will also assign you a personal tutor throughout your time as an undergraduate student. This person can help you with any questions or problems, whether these are academic-related or personal issues.

Typical Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff 120 - 96

A Levels BBB-CCC

GCSE requirements (minimum grade C/4):
English or Welsh

BTEC National Diploma:
DDM-MMM

International Baccalaureate:
30-26

European Baccalaureate:
75%-65% overall

English Language Requirements:
See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

The University welcomes undergraduate applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma or T-level qualifications, provided that relevant subject content and learning outcomes are met. We are not able to accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas or T-levels as a general qualification for every undergraduate degree course.
Our inclusive admissions policy values breadth as well as depth of study. Applicants are selected on their own individual merits and offers can vary. If you would like to check the eligibility of your qualifications before submitting an application, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for advice and guidance.

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