BA Politics and International Relations
About this course
A BA (Hons) in Politics and International Relations is a three-year undergraduate degree covering both disciplines in combination. Core topics include Research Methods and Policy Analysis. In Year 2, students choose between Foundations of Western Political Thought and Analytical Politics, and between International Theory and International Organisations. The degree can be extended to four years through an optional placement or study-abroad year. The first year covers foundations through compulsory modules including Researching Politics and International Relations, Introduction to Comparative Politics, Introduction to International Relations, Introduction to Political Theory and Perspectives of Political Economy. Year 2 pairs the compulsory Research Project with two either/or choices: Foundations of Western Political Thought or Analytical Politics, and International Theory or International Organisations. Optional modules in the second year span areas such as International Security, Gender and Politics, Capitalism: History and Theory and Democracy, Conflict and American Society, and a language module is offered by the Centre for Foreign Language Study. The final year is built around the 40-credit Dissertation, with options including The Politics of Inequality, Decolonising International Society, Theories of Liberty and Climate, Nature and the Global Economy.
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: AAA including a social science or humanities subject IB: 36 with 666 in higher level subjects, including a social sciences or humanities subject
Real offers for this course
Applicants have posted 2 UCAS decisions for BA Politics and International Relations (L253) at Durham University for 2027 entry so far. The published offer is AAA at A level.
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 25%: 95 offers from 385 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 30 final-year students who answered
- Teaching on my course: 97%
- Learning opportunities: 89%
- Assessment and feedback: 89%
- Academic support: 99%
- Organisation and management: 89%
- Learning resources: 98%
- Student voice: 89%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 55 students who started
- Continued on course: 98%
- Left higher education: 2%
What graduates do next
Based on about 7 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 45%
- Working and studying: 20%
- Further study: 20%
Most common jobs
- Finance Professionals: 20%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 15%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 15%
- Media Professionals: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 80%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 55%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 155 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 4%
- North West: 2%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- East Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 5%
- London: 62%
- South East: 13%
- South West: 4%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 80 students who started
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Researching Politics and International Relations - 20 credits
- Introduction to Comparative Politics - 20 credits
- Introduction to International Relations - 20 credits
- Introduction to Political Theory - 20 credits
- Perspectives of Political Economy - 20 credits
- Example optional modules
- Research Project - 20 credits
- Choose one of the following two modules:
- EITHER Foundations of Western Political Thought - 20 credits
- OR Analytical Politics - 20 credits
- EITHER International Theory - 20 credits
- OR International Organisations - 20 credits
- Example optional modules
- Dissertation - 40 credits
- Example optional modules
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Politics and International Relations at Durham University earn?
The median salary is £32,000 after 15 months, £34,000 after 3 years, £48,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £36,000 and £63,000. The £48,000 median after five years is £14,000 more than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA Politics and International Relations at Durham University do next?
80% 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 Durham University?
97% 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 Durham University?
The typical offer is AAA at A level. The average entrant had 162 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Politics and International Relations at Durham University?
25% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 95 offers from 385 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Politics and International Relations at Durham University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Politics and International Relations at Durham University?
98% of students continued into their second year, and 2% left higher education.