BA International Relations with Economics with Year Abroad
About this course
Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with Economics with Year Abroad BA, a politics and international relations degree spanning economics and politics and international relations. Core topics include Statistics, Research Methods, and Global & Comparative Perspective. The course includes a dedicated year abroad spent studying at a partner institution. The first year introduces the foundations through Principles of Economics, Introduction to Mathematics for Economics, Debates in World Politics I, and Understanding International Relations. The second year builds competence in core areas via Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, International Relations Theory, and Research Design. Final-year students can select from optional modules spanning American Foreign and Security Policy, Advanced Macroeconomics, Health Economics, and Labour Economics, alongside an independent 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 260 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 96%
- Left higher education: 4%
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
- Finance Professionals: 43%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 12%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 11%
- Administrative occupations: 5%
- Sales occupations: 3%
- 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
- Debates in World Politics I
- Debates in World Politics II
- Pathways to International Relations Research I
- Pathways to International Relations Research II
- Introduction to Mathematics for Economics
- Introduction to Political Theory
- Principles of Economics
- Understanding International Relations
- International Relations Theory
- Macroeconomics
- Microeconomics
- AI Essentials and Geopolitics
- Challenges to Liberal Democracy in Europe
- Comparative Politics
- Digital Democracy
- Global Governance
- Globalisation, Capitalism and Welfare
- International Political Economy
- International Security
- Political Ethics
- Parties and Voters across the Globe
- Politics of Sex and Sexuality
- Research Design
- Russian Politics: From Revolution to Putin
- Sexuality and Identity Politics
- Social Research II
- The International Law and Politics of Armed Conflict
- UK Politics in a Time of Crisis
- US Politics
- Year Abroad
- Dissertation
- American Foreign and Security Policy
- China: State and Society
- Conflict and Peace in Deeply Divided Societies
- Contemporary International Political Economy
- Corruption and Clientelism: Global Perspective
- Environment and climate politics: from global to local
- Global Capitalism and Migration
- Global Security
- Identity in Middle East International Politics
- Nuclear Crises
- Parliamentary Studies
- Political Theory and Social Criticism
- Politics of South Asia
- Professional Development
- Strategy, Leadership and Foreign Policy
- The Diplomacy of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
- The Politics of Gender, Sex and Sexuality
- The Politics of Memory
- Topics in British Politics
- Understanding Brexit: Identity and Euroscepticism in Europe
- Advanced Behavioural and Experimental Economics
- Advanced Econometrics: Theory and Applications
- Advanced Financial Markets and Institutions
- Advanced Macroeconomics
- Advanced Microeconomics
- Decision Theory and Games
- Economics of the European Union
- Health Economics
- History of Economic Thought
- Industrial Organisation
- International Trade Theory and Policy
- Labour Economics
- Monetary Policy and Dynamic Macroeconomics
- Public Economics
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA International Relations with Economics 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 £12,500 less than the UK median for Economics.
What do graduates of BA International Relations with Economics 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 with Economics 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 with Economics 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 149 UCAS points.
Does BA International Relations with Economics 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 with Economics with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham?
96% of students continued into their second year, and 4% left higher education.