Program Overview

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International Relations and Politics (with Foundation Year)

Overview

Are you fascinated by how global affairs can shape society? Do you want to have informed opinions on pressing political issues and use them to make sense of our uncertain world?

Our International Relations and Politics with a Foundation Year starts with learning essential skills to prepare you for degree-level study. Passing this foundation year leads to our International Relations and Politics BA, when you'll join a vibrant, exciting community that investigates current debates and challenges like:

• Nationalism and populism
• World poverty and global trade justice
• Security, terrorism and peacebuilding
• Climate change, global development and migration
• Gender equality and racial justice.

You’ll learn to apply structure and organisation to a planet that’s constantly in flux and you’ll be in a place with others who’re socially, politically, and environmentally conscious and driven.

Why Oxford Brookes University?

• Perfect preparation: Build essential study skills with an integrated foundation year. Gain academic confidence, improve critical thinking, and strengthen subject knowledge for your degree journey.
• A political epicentre: Oxford is home to modern political discourse, with debates on everything from colonialism and racism to refugee action.
• Familiar faces: Develop good working relationships with your tutors – many of whom are active researchers.
• Contemporary issues: The course covers present-day topics in current affairs, from rising nationalism to the climate emergency and tensions in Eastern Europe.
• Creative assessments: It’s not just coursework and essays – assessments take the form of NGO briefings, peace negotiation simulations and reflective diaries.
• Learn a language: Our university-wide language programme is available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.
• Study abroad: You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Oxford Brookes. Although we will help as much as we can with your plans, ultimately you are responsible for organising and funding this study abroad.

Course Details

Course Structure

In your foundation year you will study a Foundation in Humanities, building confidence and essential academic skills.

In the first year of your degree you will learn the key themes of modern international relations. You’ll also explore a broad range of political ideologies and systems, and pick up essential skills for succeeding in your future career.

In the second year you’ll dive into the history of modern politics and the great debates of international relations. By sharpening your analytical and debating techniques, you’ll learn how to mould critical perspectives and turn facts and opinions into logical, compelling arguments.

There’s also the opportunity to take on a work placement. This is your chance to gain hands-on experience in the field of your choice, and boost your job prospects for after graduation.

Your final year involves completing independent research under supervision and working closely with academics who are experts in their disciplines. You’ll also choose from a range of specialist modules.

Learning and Teaching

You’ll learn in a stimulating and friendly environment, where you’ll be encouraged to share perspectives and exchange ideas that may even make you rethink your own. Your modules will explore real world issues, such as global environmental politics, populism in Europe, terrorism, the rise of authoritarianism, migration, sexism, racism.

By challenging and discussing issues, you’ll be well prepared to transfer these skills to your writing through essays, as well as hands-on exploration of some of today’s most pressing issues. This may include creating a role play or video, or even creating a board game.

You’ll be part of a supportive learning community that’s big enough to offer a wide range of modules, yet small enough to have personal support from your expert tutors throughout the course.

Want to put yourself in the shoes of a world leader? Well you may be able to get involved with the Model United Nations and argue ‘your country’s’ perspective on world affairs.

Assessment

Assessment is by coursework and examination.

With a wide range of modules on offer, you’ll be able to focus on your personal areas of interest. Your coursework will be highly practical and industry-relevant. This may include:

• Policy brief writing for NGOs
• Negotiation simulations
• Small class debates.

Some modules involve an element of examination at the end of the semester, but others are assessed solely on the basis of your work during the semester.

Your dissertation takes the form of a 10,000 word piece of work entirely on a topic that interests you. Previous dissertations include:

• Is counter-terrorism counter productive?
• Trump, Brexit and Nationalism
• The relationship between football and politics
• The role of Arab women in peacemaking.

Field Trips

Depending on your module choices, you may have the opportunity to visit a local initiative that is tackling global politics on a local level. For example, you may visit a local organic farm and see how, and why, they provide an alternative to the globalised food system and the impact on a local level.

Study Modules

Teaching for this course takes place face-to-face. In your foundation year, you can expect around 10 hours of contact time per week. In addition to this, you should also anticipate a workload of 1,200 hours per year. When you begin your degree programme, you can expect around 7 hours of contact time per week. In addition to this, you should also anticipate a workload of 1,200 hours per year. Teaching usually takes place Monday to Friday, between 9.00am and 6.00pm.

Contact hours involve activities such as lectures, seminars, practicals, assessments, and academic advising sessions. These hours differ by year of study and typically increase significantly during placements or other types of work-based learning.

Foundation Year

Compulsory Modules

• Being Human: Love, Sex and Death
• Cultural Moments
• Language, Vision and Representation
• Research Project
• The Reflective Learner
• Nation and Identity

Optional Modules

• Customs, Icons and Symbols
• Development Studies
• Political Philosophy
• French Beginners 2
• Spanish Beginners 2
• Origins of the Climate Crisis: A Global History of the Environment
• Global Issues
• Creating Criminology 2
• Young Children's Outdoor Learning
• Modern British Art

Year 1

Compulsory Modules

• Political Socialisation and Ideology
• Politics in Comparative Perspective
• From Empires to States: the Origins of International Relations
• Global Challenges in International Relations
• Social Differences and Divisions
• Critical Skills in Politics and International Relations

Optional Modules

• Superpowers: An International History of the Cold War
• Philosophy of Ethics
• Theory of Knowledge
• Foundations of Social Theory

Year 2

Compulsory Modules

• Political Thought
• UK Politics
• Great Debates in International Relations: Inclusion and Exclusion
• Researching Politics and International Relations
• Applying Political Thought

Optional Modules

• The Global Political Economy
• Contemporary Security Studies
• State and Society: Europe and the United States
• Uncivil Society: Constituting Global Order
• Nations and Nationalism
• Work-based Learning in Politics and International Relations

Optional Placement Year

Optional Modules

• Year Abroad

Final Year

Compulsory Modules

• Dissertation in International Relations and Politics

Optional Modules

• South African Politics: From Apartheid to Democracy
• Law, Empires and Revolutions
• Conflict and Peacebuilding
• Global Development, Justice and Sustainability
• State and Society in Contemporary Russia
• Violence, Militarism and Terrorism
• Freedom, Justice and Identity
• Ethics, Power and World Politics
• Violence, Resistance and Identity Politics
• Independent Study

Careers

By the end of the course, you’ll have developed a deep awareness of current events and an active social consciousness. This makes you a suitable candidate for a career in a field such as journalism and law, or in a role within government, trade unions and international organisations. Our graduates have gone on to work for:

• The Civil Service Fast Track Programme
• Oxford University Press
• Hestia (charity supporting those who experience domestic abuse)
• The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women.

You’ll also have the option to attend our Life After Uni events. Here, you can network and get involved in discussions with industry professionals. Past events have included talks from organisations like:

• Humanity and Inclusion
• Right to Play
• Humanitarian Academy for Development
• The Department for Education.

Alternatively, you might consider studying international relations and politics at postgraduate level with our MA courses in International Relations and International Security. You’ll be able to research an aspect of the discipline that fascinates you at an in-depth level.

Entry Requirements

• UCAS Tariff Points: 48
• A Level: DD
• IB Points: 24
• BTEC: PPP or MP

Tuition Fees

• Home (UK) full time: £5,760 (Foundation); £9,535 (Degree)
• Home (UK) part time: £720 per single module (Foundation); £1,190 per single module (Degree)
• International full time: £16,750

Additional Costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.