International Relations, BA (Hons)

The International Relations, BA (Hons) degree is a three-year full-time program that explores globalization and global institutions, development and human rights, international and regional politics, peace and conflict, political economy, security studies, and strategic studies.

Key Course Details

• UK/EU Fees: ｣9,535 (2026 entry)
• International Fees: ｣19,950 (2026 entry)
• Mode of Study: Campus-based
• UCAS Code: L254 (3-year full-time), L257 (4-year full-time with a year abroad), L255 (4-year full-time with a year in industry)
• Typical Offer: BBB-BCC

Course Overview

As technology, transport, and a complex international economy make our world smaller, the value of peaceful and cooperative relationships between nations is increasingly important. This degree program is one of the most important offered, exploring interesting areas of study that include globalization and global institutions, development and human rights, international and regional politics, peace and conflict, political economy, security studies, and strategic studies.

Why International Relations at Swansea?

• Ranked 13th in the UK for Teaching Satisfaction (Guardian University Guide 2026)
• Top 25 in the UK Overall (Guardian University Guide 2026)
• International relations at Swansea University is ranked in the Top 250 in the World (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025)
• 7th in the UK for Student Voice (NSS 2025) - assessed under Politics

Modules

The program is structured over three years for the full-time option, with opportunities for a year abroad or a year in industry for the four-year options. Modules include:

• Year 1:
  • Introduction to International Relations
  • Introduction to Politics
  • War and Peace in the Nuclear Age
  • Optional modules in history, philosophy, politics, and social sciences
• Year 2:
  • Anarchy and Order: Theories in International Relations
  • Globalisation
  • International Security
  • Optional modules including philosophy of the Enlightenment, the state and political institutions, America in crisis, and more
• Year 3 (or 4 for year abroad/year in industry options):
  • Researching Politics 1 and 2
  • Dissertation or Senedd Cymru/The Welsh Parliament
  • Optional modules including the Russian Civil War, philosophy, mental health, and illness, parliamentary studies, and more

Entry Requirements

• A level: BBB-BCC
• BTEC: DDM-DMM
• UK Access: Minimum of 21 Distinctions and 24 Merits at Level 3 in Humanities or Social Sciences
• T Levels: Merit
• Mixed Qualifications: 120 UCAS tariff points from 3 highest qualifications
• International Baccalaureate: 32 points
• Selection Process: Please see the university's website for how to apply

How You're Taught

At Swansea, you will benefit from a high-quality, research-informed education that combines a range of effective and inclusive teaching methods, carefully tailored to suit the needs of your course. Most courses are taught in person, on campus, giving you the opportunity to actively engage with other students, academic staff, and the wider university community.

Welsh Provision

Unfortunately, there is currently no formal Welsh-medium provision on this course. However, the University can provide support for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually.

Meet Your Lecturers

Our degrees are taught by experts who have a wealth of knowledge to pass on to our students. You can find out more about our academic expertise on our staff pages.

Tuition Fees

• 3 Year Full Time (2026 entry): ｣9,535 (UK), ｣19,950 (International)
• 4 Year Full Time With a Year Abroad (2026 entry): ｣9,535 (UK), ｣19,950 (International)
• 4 Year Full Time With a Year in Industry (2026 entry): ｣9,535 (UK), ｣19,950 (International)

Funding and Scholarships

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries, and other funding opportunities that are available, please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Additional Costs

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. You may face additional costs while at university, including travel to and from campus, printing, photocopying, binding, stationery, and equipment costs.

Careers and Employability

The Careers and Employability Team will support you at each stage of your career journey, helping you build a bright future. Our career support services include employability workshops, employers' talks, bespoke events, and careers fairs.

Academic Support

As well as subject-specific support by college teaching staff and your personal tutor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops, and one-to-one support in areas such as academic writing, maths and statistics, critical thinking, time management, digital skills, presentation skills, note-taking, revision, memory, and exam techniques.

Study Abroad and Global Opportunities

To learn more about study abroad, visit our Go Global webpages. Enrolment on a program with a semester/year abroad does not guarantee you a semester/year abroad placement. Spaces are limited and subject to a competitive selection process.

How to Apply

Apply now UK, EU, and international students. For further guidance, please visit our how to apply pages.

Application Deadlines

We recommend that you submit your application to our courses as early as you can in advance of our application deadlines. Courses will close earlier than the application deadlines listed if all available places are filled.

Additional Information

Make an undergraduate enquiry. International students contact our International Team.

Degree Overview:

As technology, transport, and a complex international economy make our world smaller, the value of peaceful and cooperative relationships between nations is increasingly important. International relations are a vital aspect of citizenship in a global society, and our three-year BA International Relations degree is one of the most important degree programmes we offer. This interesting area of study explores globalization and global institutions, development, and human rights, International, and regional politics, peace and conflict, political economy, security studies, and strategic studies, and you will learn how power, institutions, and laws affect our day-to-day lives. 92% of graduates in employment &/or study, or doing other activities, such as travelling, 15 months after leaving Swansea University (HESA 2023)

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Outline:

Compulsory Modules: • Introduction to International Relations • Introduction to Politics • War and Peace in the Nuclear Age Optional Modules: • Europe of Extremes, 1789-1989 • Living Well and Doing Good - An Introduction to Ethics • Fundamental Issues in Philosophy • Reading Great Works of Philosophy • Politics and the People • American History and Politics • Introduction to Ancient Philosophy and Rhetoric • Statws y Gymraeg • Critical Reasoning • Political Philosophy • Disinformation, Ideology, and Bias: Researching and examining political data

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Year 2 (Level 5)

Compulsory Modules: • Anarchy and Order: Theories in International Relations • Globalization Optional Modules: • Global Justice and Human Rights • International Security • Disunited Kingdom? Class, Race, Gender, and Social Division in Twentieth-Century Britain • Philosophy of the Enlightenment • The State and Political Institutions • Elections and Voting • America in Crisis: From the Tet Offensive to Trump • Investigating Gender • The First World War • Ruin and Renewal: Europe, 1918-1968 • Freedom, Angst, and the Embodied Self: Themes in Continental Philosophy • Contemporary Moral Controversies • The History of Political Thought • The Colour Line: Race and Racism in World Politics • Contemporary Wars and Conflicts • British Politics and Public Policy

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Year 3 (Level 6)

Compulsory Modules: • Researching Politics 1 • Researching Politics 2 Optional Modules: • Dissertation • Senedd Cymru/The Welsh Parliament Optional Modules - Semester 1 • The Rise and Fall of Wales? Politics, Culture, and Society, 1847-1939 • Philosophy, Mental Health, and Illness • Parliamentary Studies • Genocide • Aftermaths of War • Clear and Present Danger: America and Terrorism • Politics and International Development Optional Modules - Semester 2 • Capitalism and Justice • The Russian Civil War • Digital Futures • Shadow Wars: US Presidents and covert action from the Cold War to Trump • America and the Bomb • Parliamentary Studies project • Overlord: War, Societies, and the Battle for Normandy, 1944

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Careers:

Our graduates are employed all around the world and enter careers including: • Education • Government and politics • Humanitarian organisations • Business • Media and public relations • Law and public services Our students have also gained employment working for organisations such as: • Westminster Forum Projects • Labour Party • Price Waterhouse Coopers

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Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

3 Year Full Time Start Date UK International September 2023 £ 9,000 Tuition Fees 3 Year Full Time Start Date UK International September 2023 £ 9,000 £ 17,250 September 2024 £ 9,000 £ 18,100 4 Year Full Time With a Year Abroad Start Date UK International September 2023 £ 9,000 £ 17,250 September 2024 £ 9,000 £ 18,100 4 Year Full Time With a Year In Industry Start Date UK International September 2023 £ 9,000 £ 17,250 September 2024 £ 9,000 £ 18,100 Fees for full time Undergraduate UK students may be increased in subsequent years of study by an inflationary amount determined by Welsh Government. Fees for full time Undergraduate EU/International students will increase by 3% for each subsequent year of study. During a sandwich year (e.g. year in industry, year abroad or placement year) a lower fee will apply. For more information visit our tuition fees page. You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page. You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page. Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

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Overview:

• Founded in 1920 as University College of Swansea
• Received its Royal Charter in 1948, becoming Swansea University
• Consistently ranked among the top 30 universities in the UK
• Home to over 20,000 students from over 140 countries
• Notable achievements include:
  • 2019 Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for its work in developing and delivering innovative teaching methods
  • 2018 Times Higher Education Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community
  • 2017 Research Excellence Framework (REF) results showed that 90% of Swansea University's research was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent

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Student Life:

• Over 150 student clubs and societies
• Sports teams in a variety of disciplines, including rugby, football, and basketball
• Student support services include:
  • Counseling and mental health support
  • Disability support
  • Financial advice
  • International student support
• Campus facilities include:
  • Bay Campus: Modern campus with state-of-the-art facilities, including a library, sports center, and student union
  • Singleton Campus: Historic campus with a mix of traditional and modern buildings, including the iconic Singleton Abbey
  • Tycoch Campus: Home to the College of Engineering and the School of Management

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Academics:

• Academic resources include:
  • Over 400 undergraduate and postgraduate programs
  • World-class research facilities
  • Extensive library resources
• Faculty:
  • Over 1,000 academic staff, including internationally renowned researchers and industry experts
• Teaching methodologies:
  • Focus on student-centered learning
  • Use of innovative teaching methods, such as problem-based learning and flipped classrooms
• Academic support services:
  • Academic skills workshops
  • Writing center
  • Math and statistics support
• Unique academic programs or initiatives:
  • Swansea Employability Academy: Provides students with opportunities to develop employability skills
  • Swansea University Global: Offers international study and research opportunities

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Top Reasons to Study Here:

• Top 30 UK university
• Excellent teaching and research
• World-class facilities
• Strong industry connections
• Vibrant student life
• Notable alumni include:
  • Michael Sheen, actor
  • Catherine Zeta-Jones, actress
  • Sir Terry Matthews, entrepreneur

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Services:

• Counseling and mental health support
• Health center
• Housing services
• Library resources:
  • Over 1 million books and journals
  • Access to online databases and e-resources
• Technology support:
  • Free Wi-Fi across campus
  • Computer labs and printing facilities
• Career development services:
  • Career counseling
  • Job search assistance
  • Employer networking events