BA International Relations
About this course
BA in Politics and International Relations. Core topics include Research Methods. Students can select from around 20 modules in the final two years, including options on propaganda, climate change and international politics, and comparative politics. A Parliamentary Placement Scheme offers a three to four week internship alongside an MP in Westminster or an MS in Cardiff, and the annual Crisis Games exercise covers political, economic and diplomatic negotiation. A semester abroad is available across destinations in North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: Available to those who are studying for, or who have completed Level 3 qualifications (eg, A-Levels or BTEC diploma) and to mature-aged candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation. IB: Available to those who are studying for, or who have completed Level 3 qualifications (eg, A-Levels or BTEC diploma) and to mature-aged candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation.
What students say
Based on about 8 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 98%
- Learning opportunities: 93%
- Assessment and feedback: 88%
- Academic support: 92%
- Organisation and management: 100%
- Learning resources: 97%
- Student voice: 89%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 80%
- Left higher education: 20%
What graduates do next
Based on about 7 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 65%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 20%
Most common jobs
- Administrative occupations: 15%
- Teaching Professionals: 15%
- Sales occupations: 15%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 70%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 60%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 30%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 125 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 2%
- North West: 5%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 6%
- East Midlands: 2%
- West Midlands: 14%
- East of England: 11%
- London: 11%
- South East: 14%
- South West: 11%
- Wales: 23%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 90%
- Foundation course: 10%
Modules
- How to be a Student 1
- How to be a Student 2
- Information in a Post-Truth World
- Introduction to Social Science
- The "Othered" Migrant: Social Science Perspectives
- Representing the Other: Cultures and Clashes
- Understanding Change - Environment, People, Places
- Understanding Crime: Law, Society and Behaviour
- Behind the Headlines
- Exploring the International 1: Central Concepts and Core Skills
- Globalization and Global Development
- Politics in the 21st Century
- The Making of the Modern World: War Peace and Revolution since 1789
- War, Strategy and Intelligence
- International Relations: Perspectives and Debates
- A War on the Mind: Propaganda and Secret Intelligence from the Great War to the 21st Century
- America at War: A Military History of the United States
- China From the Opium War to the Present
- Climate Change and International Politics in the Anthropocene
- Contemporary Latin America
- Devolution and Wales
- Intervention and Humanitarianism
- Making Sense of Secrets: Intelligence Analysis in Theory and Practice
- People and Power: Understanding Comparative Politics Today
- Political Theory
- Politics in Diverse Societies
- Questions of International Politics
- Russian Security in the 21st Century
- Science, Technology, and International Relations
- Strategy, Intelligence and Security in International Politics
- Terrorism & Counter Terrorism in the Modern World: Policing, Intelligence & War
- The BRICS in World Politics
- The Century of the Superpowers and the Global Cold War
- The Governance of Climate Change: Simulation Module
- The Second World War in Europe
- Total War, Total Peace
- Trade Wars and the Liberal Order
- Warfare after Waterloo: Military History 1815-1918
- Dissertation
- A War on the Mind: Propaganda and Secret Intelligence from the Great War to the 21st Century
- America At War: a Military History of the United States
- China From the Opium War to the Present
- Climate Change and International Politics in the Anthropocene
- Contemporary Latin America
- Devolution and Wales
- Intervention and Humanitarianism
- Making Sense of Secrets: Intelligence Analysis in Theory and Practice
- Political Theory
- Politics in Diverse Societies
- Questions of International Politics
- Russian Security in the 21st Century
- Science, Technology, and International Relations
- Terrorism & Counter Terrorism in the Modern World: Policing, Intelligence & War
- The BRICS in World Politics
- The Century of the Superpowers and the Global Cold War
- The Governance of Climate Change: Simulation Module
- The Second World War in Europe
- Total War, Total Peace
- Trade Wars and the Liberal Order
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA International Relations at Aberystwyth University earn?
The median salary is £25,000 after 15 months, £22,000 after 3 years, £28,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £22,000 and £37,000. The £28,500 median after five years is £5,500 less than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA International Relations at Aberystwyth University do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA International Relations at Aberystwyth University?
98% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA International Relations at Aberystwyth University?
The average entrant had 109 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA International Relations at Aberystwyth University?
80% of students continued into their second year, and 20% left higher education.