Program Overview

BSc Politics and International Relations - 2026 entry

Overview

The BSc Politics and International Relations degree programme is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of politics and international relations. The programme covers a wide range of topics, including government, politics, and international relations, as well as research methods and data analysis.

Entry Requirements

• Typical offer: A-Level: AAA, IB: 36/666, BTEC: DDD
• Contextual offers: A-Level: ABB, IB: 32/655, BTEC: DDM
• Required subjects: None
• GCSE: Grade 4/C in English language
• Access to HE: 30 L3 credits at Distinction Grade and 15 L3 credits at Merit Grade
• T-Level: Distinction
• Other accepted qualifications: View other accepted qualifications
• English language requirements: International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2.

Course Content

The BSc Politics and International Relations degree programme is made up of compulsory (core) and optional modules, which are worth 15 or 30 credits each. Full-time undergraduate students need to complete modules worth a total of 120 credits each year.

Year 1

• Compulsory modules:
  • POL1000: Critical Skills for Politics and International Relations (15 credits)
  • POL1017: Globalisation of World Politics (15 credits)
  • POL1019: Power and Democracy (15 credits)
  • SSI1005: Introduction to Social Data (15 credits)
  • SSI1006: Data Analysis in Social Science 1 (15 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • POL1018: The Challenges of World Politics in the Twenty-First Century (15 credits)
  • POL1020: Politics in Europe (15 credits)
  • POL1025: Classical Political Thought (15 credits)
  • POL1026: Early Modern Political Thought (15 credits)
  • POL1029: Introduction to Comparative Politics (15 credits)
  • POL1045: International Politics of the Global South (15 credits)
  • POL1046: The State of the UK: Identifying Marginalised Identities and Addressing Inequalities (15 credits)
  • POL1047: Global Sustainability Governance and Policy (15 credits)
  • POL1048: The Politics of Development (15 credits)
  • ARA1010: Politics and Economy of the Contemporary Middle East (15 credits)
  • SPA1002: Population and Society (15 credits)
  • SPA1001: Animal Politics (15 credits)
  • SPA1004: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (15 credits)
  • ARA1041: Religious Communities of the Middle East: Culture, Endangerment and Survival (15 credits)

Year 2

• Compulsory modules:
  • SSI2004: Research Design in the Social Sciences (15 credits)
  • SSI2005: Data Analysis in Social Science 2 (15 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • 90 credits from list of all POL2* modules

Year 3 (Final Year)

• Compulsory modules:
  • POL3101: Futures of Politics (15 credits)
  • POL3102: Futures of International Relations (15 credits)
  • SSI3019: Quantitative Dissertation (30 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • 75 credits from list of all POL3* modules

Course Variants

BSc Politics and International Relations with Study Abroad

• UCAS code: L293
• Duration: 4 years
• Entry year: 2026
• Campus: Streatham Campus
• Discipline: Politics and International Relations

BSc Politics and International Relations with Employment Experience

• UCAS code: L298
• Duration: 4 years
• Entry year: 2026
• Campus: Streatham Campus
• Discipline: Politics and International Relations

Fees

• Tuition fees for 2025 entry:
  • UK students: £9,535 per year
  • International students: £24,700 per year
• Scholarships: The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education.

Learning and Teaching

• How will I learn?: We use a wide range of teaching methods as well as encouraging independent study with an increasing emphasis on seminar discussion and project work in your second and third years.
• How will I be assessed?: Exams, essays, projects, individual and small group presentations, dissertation in your final year.

Your Future

• Develop skills valued by employers: As a Politics and International Relations graduate you will have an understanding of complex political and cultural issues, often in changing environments which will be valued by employers in both the public and private sectors.
• Career paths: The University has an excellent reputation with graduate recruiters and our graduates compete very successfully in the employment market.
• Further study: Further study is a popular choice for a number of students following graduation.