BA International Relations and Development with Year Abroad
About this course
Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Development with Year Abroad BA, a politics and international relations and international development degree centred on global affairs. Core topics include Research Methods. The course includes a compulsory year abroad in the third year and culminates in a dissertation. The first year covers the foundations through Global Development Challenges I, Pathways to International Relations Research I and Introduction to International Development. The second year builds on this with modules such as Understanding development assistance, Global Governance and International Relations Theory. The final year allows students to select from various advanced options like African Politics, Development: The Environmental Challenge and Human Rights and Development, alongside completing a dissertation.
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: AAB. IB: 6,6,5 at Higher Level with a minimum of 32 points overall. BTEC: BTEC options considered
What students say
Based on about 233 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 88%
- Learning opportunities: 82%
- Assessment and feedback: 81%
- Academic support: 93%
- Organisation and management: 89%
- Learning resources: 88%
- Student voice: 77%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 100%
What graduates do next
Based on about 61 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 69%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 12%
- Unemployed: 4%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 14%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Sales occupations: 9%
- Teaching Professionals: 9%
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 7%
- Find their work meaningful: 71%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 66%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 40%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 295 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 7%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 2%
- East Midlands: 4%
- West Midlands: 20%
- East of England: 8%
- London: 33%
- South East: 17%
- South West: 5%
- Wales: 2%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Global Development Challenges I
- Global Development Challenges II
- Pathways to International Relations Research I
- Pathways to International Relations Research II
- Global History
- Introduction to International Development
- Politics of Development
- Understanding International Relations
- Understanding development assistance
- Working in Development
- Global Governance
- International Relations Theory
- Economics Perspectives on Development
- Governing States and Societies
- AI Essentials and Geopolitics
- Comparative Politics
- Digital Democracy
- Feminist Political Ideas
- Globalisation, Capitalism and Welfare
- International Political Economy
- International Politics of East Asia
- International Relations of the Middle East
- International Security
- Parties and Voters across the Globe
- Political Ethics
- Politics of Sustainable Development
- Post-Colonial Britain: Race, Identity & Belonging
- Sexuality and Identity Politics
- The International Law and Politics of Armed Conflict
- The Politics of the European Union
- UK Politics in a Time of Crisis
- US Politics
- Year Abroad
- Dissertation
- African Politics
- Development: The Environmental Challenge
- Human Rights and Development
- Identity, Inequality and Inclusive Development
- American Foreign and Security Policy
- China: State and Society
- Conflict and Peace: Theory and Practice
- Contemporary International Political Economy
- Environment and climate politics: from global to local
- Global Capitalism and Migration
- Global Security
- Identity in Middle East International Politics
- International Negotiation
- Issues in US Domestic Politics
- Nuclear Crises
- Parliamentary Studies
- Political Theory and Social Criticism
- Politics of South Asia
- Social Justice and Politics
- Statelessness and Citizenship
- Strategy, Leadership and Foreign Policy
- The Diplomacy of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
- The Politics of Gender, Sex and Sexuality
- The Politics of Memory
- The Politics of Protest and Dissent
- Topics in British Politics
- Understanding Brexit: Identity and Euroscepticism in Europe
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA International Relations and Development with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham earn?
The median salary is £31,000 after 15 months, £28,000 after 3 years, £36,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £29,000 and £47,500. The £36,000 median after five years is £5,500 more than the UK median for Development studies.
What do graduates of BA International Relations and Development with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham 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 and Development with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham?
88% 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 and Development with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 156 UCAS points.
Does BA International Relations and Development with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on BA International Relations and Development with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.