Program Overview

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BA International Relations

The BA International Relations provides students with an excellent grounding in the complex cultural issues of global politics.

Key Information

• Start date: September
• Duration: 3 years
• Start of programme: September 2025
• Attendance mode: Full-time
• Location: On Campus
• Fees:
  • Home: £9,535
  • International: £22,870
• Course code: L250
• Entry requirements:
  • A Levels: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Austria: Reifeprufungszeugnis / Maturazeugnis: four subjects at 1, 1, 2, 2
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Belgium: Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs: 80% (8/10, 16/20) overall
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Bulgaria: Diploma za Zavarsheno Sredno Obrazovanie: 5.5 and 5.0 in two State Maturity Exams
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Canada: High School Diploma: 83% with 5 acceptable Grade 12 subjects (most territories). British Colombia: AAABB in Grade 12 subjects.
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • China: Senior Secondary Graduation Certificate + Gaokao: 80% overall in Gaokao PLUS 85% overall in Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate (year 11 and 12)
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Croatia: Matura Certificate: 5 overall with 5 in 2 Higher level subjects
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Cyprus: Apolytirion with 2 A-Levels: Apolytirion 18/20 + A-level grades AB
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Czech Republic: Matura Certificate: 1, 1, 2, 2
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Denmark: Studentereksamen; Hojere Forberedelseseksamen; Hojere Handelseksamen; Hojere Teknisk Eksamen: 10 plus 10, 10, 7 in three Level A subjects
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Estonia: Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus with the Riigieksamitunnistus: 4.5 with 85%, 85%, and 80% in 3 state exams
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Finland: Ylioppilastukint / Studentexamen: four subjects at 6, 6, 6, 5
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • France: French Baccalaureat or Option Internationale du Baccalauréat (OIB): 14/20
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Germany: Abitur: 1.6
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Greece: Apolytirion of Geniko Lykeio with Pan Hellenic exams: 18.5/20
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Hong Kong: Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education: 554 in two electives and one core module (all other subjects grade 3)
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Hungary: Matura (Erettségi): 5 overall
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Iceland: Stúdentspróf: 8
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • India: Standard XII: 80% (CBSE, CISCE, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra & West Bengal boards), 85% (all other state boards)
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Ireland: Irish Leaving Certificate: H1, H1, H2, H2, H3
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Israel: Bagrut: Overall grade of 8-10, 85% with 3 subjects at 5-unit level
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Italy: Diploma Consequito con L’Esame di Stato: 85% overall
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Latvia: Certificate of General Secondary Education: 88% in four State subject exams
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Lithuania: Brandos Atestatas: 9/10 and 90%, 90%, 85% in three State Exams
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Malta: Advanced Matriculation Certificate: AA (Advanced) + BBB (Intermediate)
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Netherlands: Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs: Overall 7.5 with 8, 8, 8, 7 in four subjects
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Norway: Vitnemål vidergaende opplaering: 4.7 overall
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Poland: New Polish Matura: 80% in three Advanced Level subjects
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Portugal: Diploma de Ensino Secundario: overall 18/20
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Romania: Diploma de Bacalaureat: 9 overall
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Singapore: Polytechnic Diploma (Nanyang, Ngee Ann, Singapore, Temasek and Republic Polytechnic): GPA 3.5
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Slovakia: Maturitná skúška / Maturita / Vysvedčenie o maturitnej skúške: four subjects at 1, 1, 2, 2
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • South Africa: National Senior Certificate: 77766
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Spain: Curso de Orientación Universitaria / Título de Bachillerato: 8
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Sweden: Slutbetyg / Examensbevis från Gymnasieskolan: A in 1500 credits and no grades below D / 18.5 / mainly A overall (MVG/VG)
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Switzerland: Federal Maturity Certificate: 4.7
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Tanzania: Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education: ACSE with AAB in 3 principle subjects
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Trinidad and Tobago: CAPE: Six CAPE units with grade 2 (+two double-unit courses = grade 2)
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • Turkey: Lise Diplomasi: 80-85% (depending on high school)
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB
  • USA: High School Diploma plus ACT, SAT, or AP exams:
    • High School Diploma GPA 3.2 + SAT 1300 or ACT 29 and 2 AP's at 5,4 / 3 AP's at 5,4,4 or
    • High School Diploma GPA of 3.4 + 2 AP's at 5,4 or 3 AP's at 5,4,4 or
    • High School Diploma GPA of 3.5 + SAT 1340 or ACT 30 or
    • 2-year Associate degree GPA 3.2
  • A Level equivalent: AAB
  • Contextualised offer: ABB

Course Overview

The BA International Relations provides students with an excellent grounding in the complex cultural issues of global politics.

Structure

The BA International Relations is a three-year degree programme. In each year, students need to take modules to the total value of 120 credits following the below structure.

Year 1 - Compulsory

• Introduction to Global History 1 - 15 credits
• Introduction to Global History 2 - 15 credits
• Introduction to International Relations I - 15 credits
• Introduction to International Relations II - 15 credits
• Introduction to Political Analysis I - 15 credits
• Introduction to Political Analysis II - 15 credits

Year 1 - Guided options

• Up to 30 credits from guided options OR Language

Year 2 - Compulsory

• Introduction to Research Methods - 15 credits

Year 2 - Guided options - Disciplinary Options

• 30-45 credits from Disciplinary Options

Year 2 - Guided options - Regional Options

• 30-45 credits from Regional Options

Year 2 - Guided options

• Up to 30 credits from guided options

Year 3 - Guided options - List A

• 45 credits from List A

Year 3 - Guided options - List B

• 45-75 credits from List B

Teaching and Learning

By the end of the programme students will have acquired a range of transferable skills. This includes the ability to collect and synthesise information, read and evaluate complex materials, assess the evidence for a range of different positions, construct arguments, exercise independence of judgement and communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Contact hours

Most of our modules are taught through a combination of lectures and tutorials. Lectures (50 minutes) provide broad overviews of the topic. They are accompanied by tutorials (50 minutes) that give students the opportunity to discuss readings and key issues in small groups. In the final year, modules may also take the form of two-hour seminars allowing for deeper engagement with more specialised topics.

Learning resources

Students also benefit from the vibrant learning environment SOAS provides more broadly. The SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. Moreover, every year there is a lively events programme that attracts renowned speakers from around the world, allowing students to engage with cutting edge debates on contemporary politics.

Fees and Funding

Fees for 2025/26 entrants per academic year

• Programme: Full-time
• Home students: £9,535
• Overseas students: £22,870
• BA/BSc Language year abroad: £1,385 (Home), £11,430 (Overseas)

Employment

SOAS Politics and International Relations students leave SOAS not only with a knowledge and understanding of the complex political and cultural issues of our time, but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers.

Recent graduates have been hired by:

• BBC World Service
• Bloomberg
• British Red Cross
• British Council
• Center for International Peace Operations
• Channel 4
• Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA)
• Department for International Development (DfID)
• Eversheds LLP
• Financial Times
• Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO)
• Global Policy Institute
• Go East Consulting
• Grassroot Diplomat
• Palestine Red Crescent Association
• Save the Children
• UNICEF Ethiopia
• United Nations

Staff

• Dr Maya Nguyen: Lecturer in International Relations

Related Courses

• BA Politics
• BA Japanese