BA Politics and International Relations with Year Abroad
About this course
Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Relations with Year Abroad BA, a politics and international relations degree focused on political systems, diplomacy, and global affairs. Core topics include Research Methods and Global & Comparative Perspective. Students spend the third year studying abroad at a partner institution. The first year establishes fundamental knowledge through Understanding Politics, Understanding International Relations, Global History, and Introduction to Political Theory. The second year builds analytical capability with Comparative Politics, International Relations Theory, Research Design, and Global Governance. In the final year, students select from diverse optional modules covering specialised topics such as Global Security, Nuclear Crises, and Parliamentary Studies, alongside the option to complete 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 17 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 89%
- Learning opportunities: 89%
- Assessment and feedback: 79%
- Academic support: 93%
- Organisation and management: 90%
- Learning resources: 77%
- Student voice: 78%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 100%
What graduates do next
Based on about 8 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 65%
- Working and studying: 5%
- Further study: 20%
Most common jobs
- Elementary occupations: 20%
- Finance Professionals: 20%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 20%
- Secretarial and related occupations: 10%
- Media Professionals: 10%
- 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 45 students who started
- 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 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
- AI Essentials and Geopolitics
- 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
- Parties and Voters across the Globe
- Political Ethics
- 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 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
- Issues in US Domestic Politics
- Nuclear Crises
- Parliamentary Studies
- Political Theory and Social Criticism
- Politics of South Asia
- Professional Development
- 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 Politics and 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 Politics and International Relations with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham do next?
95% 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 with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham?
89% 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 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 130 UCAS points.
Does BA Politics and 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 Politics and International Relations with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.