Program Overview

Politics and International Relations (with a Placement Year) BA (Hons)

Overview

Study political institutions, theories, and developments with our London-based Politics and International Relations degree. You will advance your understanding of key contemporary challenges like migration, climate change, global developments, war and conflict, and human rights.

Course Content

Modules

• Rethinking Modernity
• Key Issues in Contemporary Politics and International Relations
• Comparative Politics
• Introduction to Political Economy
• World History Since 1945
• Revolutions and Rebellions
• The Public Role of the Arts and Humanities
• Political Ideologies
• Understanding Migration
• Political Economy of Global Development
• War, Conflict and Security
• The Politics of Memory
• Decolonisation and the End of Empire
• Research Methods
• The Environmental Humanities
• Liberty or Death: The French Revolution
• Great Southern Land: A History of Australia
• Popular Music and History
• Experience and Employment in Education
• Contributing to the Community
• Responsible Leadership in the Twenty First Century
• Politics and International Relations Dissertation
• Power and Politics in the Americas
• Human Rights: Historical and Global Perspectives
• International Organisations
• Migration and Citizenship in Twentieth Century Britain
• WWII: History and Memory

Entry Requirements

2025 and 2026 entries

• Start date: September 2026
• Standard offer: 112 UCAS points
• Contextual offer: 96 UCAS points

Fees & Funding

Tuition fees

• Home: £9,535
• International: £17,100 (£1200 during placement year)

Additional costs

Your tuition fees will cover the cost of all mandatory elements of your programme. Additional costs could be incurred depending on optional modules chosen and other projects undertaken.

Scholarships

Find out more about our range of scholarships and bursaries available to undergraduate students.

Living costs

A guide to your living costs has been created by our Student Funding Team. Accommodation costs vary depending on whether you opt for an en suite room and on-site catering.

How the degree is taught

• Contact time: 48%
• Independent study: 52%

Teaching methods

You'll be taught on our beautiful and historic campus located in Twickenham, London.

Assessment methods

The programme is assessed through a range of innovative forms of coursework. These authentic, real-world tasks include reports and policy papers. You will also learn a range of different ways to communicate your ideas to different audiences, such as through presentations and podcasts.

Career opportunities

Upon graduation, you can work across a range of sectors. Our Politics and International Relations degree will help you build key transferrable skills like critical thinking, communication, and adaptability. However, we will equip you with the skills and knowledge for a career that makes a difference.

• 98% of St Mary’s students are in employment, vocation, or further study 15 months after graduation (HESA, 2023).
• We’re also rated Silver for graduate outcomes by the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) (2023).

Some examples of job roles and areas of work for graduates of undefined include:

• civil servant
• diplomat
• international aid/development worker
• political risk analyst
• intelligence analyst
• public administrator
• researcher
• journalist
• marketing/PR officer

About the Placement Year

A placement year enables you to undertake a year of experience in an organisation between your second and final year. It will enable you to:

• apply the knowledge and skills you gain from your course in a work setting
• build your commercial awareness and insights into organisations and industries you might want to work in
• develop your professional skills through company training, networking skills and confidence in the workplace
• get some great experience for future job applications or even land a graduate job.

Support from St Mary’s every step of the way

Securing a placement can really help you develop your job search skills and the Employability Service placement and Careers Teams can support you to find and apply for available opportunities.

Please note: in the event that you cannot secure a placement you will be able to transfer onto the three year version of your degree programme.