BA Politics and International Relations
About this course
BA (Hons) in Politics and International Relations is a politics degree that examines political systems, global governance, and international relations. Core topics include Data Analysis, Statistics, Research Methods, Policy Analysis, Critical & Analytical Thinking, and Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning. The course culminates in an independent final-year project. The first year covers foundational concepts through Making Sense of Politics, The Power of Political Ideas, Roots of Contemporary Politics, States and the World, Understanding Change in British Politics, and War, Violence and Peace. The second year introduces core methods and governance via Doing Politics with Words, Global Governance of Peace and Security, and Doing Politics with Numbers, alongside optional modules such as The Politics of Climate Change, The Politics of the EU, Democracy Under Threat, American Politics, Politics of the Global Economy, Foreign Policy: Systems, States and Leaders, and State and Revolution: Foundations of Modern Political Thought. The final year centres on the Final Year Project alongside optional choices covering Negotiation: Theory and Practice, Contemporary Political Theory, Transforming British Politics, Public Opinion in Politics, Dictatorships, Political Theory of the Future, Who Do You Think You Are? On Identity Politics, Politics of the Middle East and North Africa: Space, Society and Politics, and Security Challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
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: BBB IB: 120 tariff points - typically H5, H6, H6 or equivalent
What students say
Based on about 30 final-year students who answered
- Teaching on my course: 81%
- Learning opportunities: 76%
- Assessment and feedback: 76%
- Academic support: 92%
- Organisation and management: 81%
- Learning resources: 84%
- Student voice: 75%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 45 students who started
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 43 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 61%
- Working and studying: 13%
- Further study: 9%
- Unemployed: 6%
Most common jobs
- Administrative occupations: 12%
- Sales occupations: 11%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 9%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 9%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 9%
- Find their work meaningful: 60%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 50%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 25%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 205 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 1%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 2%
- East Midlands: 2%
- West Midlands: 1%
- East of England: 16%
- London: 41%
- South East: 30%
- South West: 5%
- Wales: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 50 students who started
- A levels: 90%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
- Other qualifications: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Making Sense of Politics
- The Power of Political Ideas
- Roots of Contemporary Politics
- States and the World
- Understanding Change in British Politics
- War, Violence and Peace
- Doing Politics with Words
- Global Governance of Peace and Security
- Doing Politics with Numbers
- The Politics of Climate Change
- The Politics of the EU
- Democracy Under Threat
- American Politics
- Politics of the Global Economy
- Foreign Policy: Systems, States and Leaders
- State and Revolution: Foundations of Modern Political Thought
- Final Year Project
- Negotiation: Theory and Practice
- Politics of the Global Economy
- Contemporary Political Theory
- Transforming British Politics
- Public Opinion in Politics
- Dictatorships
- Political Theory of the Future
- Who Do You Think You Are? On Identity Politics
- Politics of the Middle East and North Africa: Space, Society and Politics
- Security Challenges in the Indo-Pacific
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Politics and International Relations at University of Kent earn?
The median salary is £30,000 after 15 months, £25,500 after 3 years, £31,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,500 and £41,000. The £31,000 median after five years is £3,000 less than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA Politics and International Relations at University of Kent do next?
83% 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 Kent?
81% 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 Kent?
The typical offer is BBB at A level. The average entrant had 104 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA Politics and International Relations at University of Kent?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.