BA International Relations with Year Abroad
About this course
Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with Year Abroad BA, a politics and international relations degree focused on global political systems and diplomatic practices. Core topics include Research Methods and Global & Comparative Perspective. Students spend their third year studying abroad at an international partner institution before returning to complete a final-year dissertation. The first year establishes fundamental concepts through modules such as Debates in World Politics I, Understanding International Relations, Global History, and Introduction to Political Theory. The second year expands into broader thematic areas with compulsory and optional study including International Relations Theory, Global Governance, Comparative Politics, and International Political Economy. The fourth year offers advanced specialist options covering foreign policy, security, and regional politics, alongside the 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 8 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 98%
- Learning opportunities: 85%
- Assessment and feedback: 87%
- Academic support: 88%
- Organisation and management: 79%
- Learning resources: 97%
- Student voice: 72%
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 7 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 80%
- Further study: 10%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 25%
- Finance Professionals: 12%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 9%
- Elementary occupations: 8%
- Media Professionals: 6%
- 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 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 95%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
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
- Global History
- Introduction to Political Theory
- Understanding International Relations
- Understanding Politics
- Global Governance
- International Relations Theory
- Research Design
- AI Essentials and Geopolitics
- Africans in the Global Diaspora
- Anthropology of the Middle East
- Challenges to Liberal Democracy in Europe
- Comparative Politics
- Digital Democracy
- Feminist Political Ideas
- International Political Economy
- International Politics of East Asia
- International Relations of the Middle East
- International Security
- Kinship, Gender and Sexuality
- Parties and Voters across the Globe
- Political Anthropology
- Political Ethics
- Political Science and International Studies Semester Abroad
- Politics of Sex and Sexuality
- Politics of Sustainable Development
- Post-Colonial Britain: Race, Identity & Belonging
- Russian Politics: From Revolution to Putin
- Sexuality and Identity Politics
- The Anthropology of Sport and Recreation
- 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
- 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
- International Cooperation among Developing states
- International Negotiation
- Nuclear Crises
- Parliamentary Studies
- Political Theory and Social Criticism
- Politics of South Asia
- Racism, Empire, and Colonial Capitalism
- Rising Powers & Global Order
- 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 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 £2,000 more than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA International Relations 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 Year Abroad at University of Birmingham?
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 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 135 UCAS points.
Does BA International Relations 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 Year Abroad at University of Birmingham?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.