BA Politics and International Relations
About this course
Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Relations BA, a politics and international relations degree centred on the study of political systems and global affairs. Core topics include Research Methods and Global & Comparative Perspective. The course runs for three years as an undergraduate programme. The first year introduces foundational themes through modules such as Debates in World Politics I, Introduction to Political Theory, and Understanding Politics. The second year expands into specialized subjects, featuring compulsory and optional study in areas like Comparative Politics, International Relations Theory, and Research Design. Final-year students tackle advanced international topics and complete a substantial independent project titled Dissertation. Optional modules throughout the course allow students to explore diverse regional and thematic areas.
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
Real offers for this course
Applicants have posted 2 UCAS decisions for BA Politics and International Relations (L256) at the University of Birmingham for 2027 entry so far. The published offer is AAB at A level.
What students say
Based on about 38 final-year students who answered
- Teaching on my course: 87%
- Learning opportunities: 80%
- Assessment and feedback: 80%
- Academic support: 89%
- Organisation and management: 89%
- Learning resources: 84%
- Student voice: 76%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 60 students who started
- Continued on course: 97%
- Left higher education: 3%
What graduates do next
Based on about 37 graduates who answered
- Working: 72%
- Working and studying: 4%
- Further study: 12%
- Unemployed: 1%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 25%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 10%
- Media Professionals: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 90%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 85%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 45%
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 110 students who started
- A levels: 97%
- Baccalaureate: 1%
- Other qualifications: 2%
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 Political Research I
- Pathways to Political Research II
- Global History
- Introduction to Political Theory
- Understanding International Relations
- Understanding Politics
- Comparative Politics
- International Relations Theory
- Research Design
- Africans in the Global Diaspora
- AI Essentials and Geopolitics
- Anthropology of the Middle East
- Challenges to Liberal Democracy in Europe
- Digital Democracy
- Feminist Political Ideas
- Global Governance
- Globalisation, Capitalism and Welfare
- International Political Economy
- International Politics of East Asia
- International Relations of the Middle East
- International Security
- Kinship, Gender and Sexuality
- 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
- Dissertation
- African Popular Culture
- American Foreign and Security Policy
- Africans in the Global Diaspora
- 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
- Issues in US Domestic Politics
- Kinship, Gender and Sexuality
- Media, Politics and Public Opinion
- Nuclear Crises
- Parliamentary Studies
- Political Anthropology
- Political Theory and Social Criticism
- Politics of South Asia
- Professional Development
- Religion and Ritual
- 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 Politics and International Relations 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 Politics and International Relations at University of Birmingham do next?
88% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Politics and International Relations at University of Birmingham?
87% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Politics and International Relations at University of Birmingham?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 131 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA Politics and International Relations at University of Birmingham?
97% of students continued into their second year, and 3% left higher education.