Course information
Typical offer BBB
UCAS code L250
Institute code L34
Taught by Politics and International Relations
Top 30 in the UK for Politics (The Guardian University Guide 2025)
- Course description
- Entry requirements
- Fees and funding
- Careers and employability
- Related courses
- Sustainable Development Goals
- What our students say
Course description
Course description
Over the course of our International Relations BA you will explore some of the most important and interesting issues in international relations, including order and disorder in international relations, human rights in the global order, old and new security challenges, and the impact of globalisation.
Our lecturers produce internationally renowned, cutting-edge research, and are keen to share their knowledge. During your time with us, we will encourage you to focus your studies on your own areas of interest. You will benefit from a wide range of exciting module choices – and as our lecturers have such diverse interests, you will receive enthusiastic support and guidance for whichever area you choose.
Your core modules will cover international relations from 1945 to the present, ethics and international relations, the world economy, theories of international relations, international security and foreign policy. You will also be able to choose from a range of option modules covering issues such as gender and international relations, old and new wars, counter-terrorism and international development. Regions covered in depth on the course include the US, Europe, Africa and Latin America.
Entry requirements
Fees and funding
Careers and employability
Related courses
Sustainable Development Goals
What our students say
Course structure
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Year Abroad or Year in Industry (optional)
- Final Year
Year 1
Year 1
Core modules
- Power in the World Economy
- The Global Cold War: International Relations 1945-1989
- Key Concepts in International Relations
- Order and Disorder: International Relations from 1989 to the Present
Option module
Choose one option module from:
Plus one option module from:
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year 2
Year Abroad or Year in Industry (optional)
Final Year
Why Leicester?
You will definitely want to join the Students' Union's Politics and International Relations Society, which offers a great mix of academic support and social events.
Guest speakers who have visited the University to discuss their lives in politics including MPS, members of the House of Lords, MEPs, members of the US Congress, officials working in UK and EU institutions, diplomats and senior personnel from the armed forces.
The academic staff in the department have written or edited dozens of books and publish regularly in major national and international journals. Where other people only get to read what our experts think, you will be working directly with them, learning from them in lectures and questioning them in seminars.
Teaching and learning
You will experience a variety of learning and teaching methods throughout your time at Leicester. We use the latest teaching resources, such as the Blackboard virtual learning environment where students can access support materials for all our modules. As well as traditional lectures and seminars, you will work in small groups, take part in debates and simulation exercises, and undertake a research project of your choice in your final year.
The development of transferable skills is a key feature of teaching at Leicester. Our courses are designed to improve your skills in written communications (from short reports to a long dissertation), oral presentation (both formal and informal), working as part of a team, independent learning (e.g. information gathering and time management), problem solving and information technology.
All members of Politics and International Relations at Leicester are engaged in cutting-edge research. We believe that good teaching flourishes in an intellectual environment informed by original research. Final year modules reflect the research interests of academic staff, exposing students to the latest thinking.
You will be assessed through a variety of methods including written examination, assessed essay, reports, briefing papers and presentations.
Independent learning
When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library and our social study spaces in halls of residence.
Your contact hours will depend on the option modules you select. You can see details of the contact hours on individual module pages.
Academic support
Our Centre for Academic Achievement provides help in the following areas:
- study and exam skills
- academic writing
- presentations
- dissertations
- numerical data skills
- referencing sources
Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.
Teaching staff
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. PhD research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Our teaching is informed by the research we do. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | UCAS Code | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course International Relations | Qualification BA | Duration 3 years full-time | UCAS Code L250 | Availability How to apply |
| Course International Relations with Year Abroad | Qualification BA | Duration 4 years full-time | UCAS Code L250 | Availability How to apply |
Data about this course
The course challenges your beliefs, forces you to think critically, and makes you more open-minded.