BA History and International Relations (Study Abroad)
About this course
BA Hons in History and International Relations (Study Abroad), an undergraduate degree focusing on politics and international relations and history, investigates the complex interplay between historical perspective and modern global affairs. Core topics include historical research, research methods, data analysis, statistics, policy analysis, and global & comparative perspective. The curriculum features a dedicated third year spent studying at an overseas partner institution and culminates in a final-year independent dissertation. The first year establishes foundational knowledge through compulsory modules such as Origins and Foundations of International Relations, Medieval and Early Modern Worlds, Global Governance and International Institutions, Revolutions in History, and Modern Worlds, alongside optional choices spanning philosophy, sociology, and language studies. The second year advances into contemporary dynamics with compulsory study in Reshaping Global Order, War and Transformation, and Understanding Political Research, accompanied by diverse optional topics covering authoritarianism, global capitalism, and human rights, plus discovery modules focused on social impact and collaborative problem-solving. The final year centres on the Politics and International Relations Dissertation alongside an extensive selection of specialised advanced options ranging from Cold War history to digital criminology, parliamentary studies, and regional politics across the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
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Entry requirements
A level: AAB IB: 35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects
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What students say
Based on about 60 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 93%
- Learning opportunities: 85%
- Assessment and feedback: 78%
- Academic support: 90%
- Organisation and management: 70%
- Learning resources: 96%
- Student voice: 66%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 110 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 59 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 58%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 20%
- Unemployed: 6%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 25%
- Administrative occupations: 15%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Sales occupations: 10%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 45%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 40%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 120 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 2%
- North West: 48%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 16%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 4%
- East of England: 3%
- London: 14%
- South East: 3%
- South West: 2%
- Wales: 2%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 115 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 94%
- Baccalaureate: 2%
- Other HE qualification: 4%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Origins and Foundations of International Relations
- Medieval and Early Modern Worlds
- Global Governance and International Institutions
- Revolutions in History
- Modern Worlds
- Doing Criminology: How We Know About Crime
- English across Space and Time
- Global Challenges in World Politics
- Knowledge and Reality in a Complex World
- History of Philosophy: Ideas that Shaped the West
- Parties, Populism and Protest
- Thinking Sociologically
- Researching Society: Principles and Practices
- Reshaping Global Order
- War and Transformation
- Understanding Political Research
- Authoritarianism, Repression and Resistance in the 21st century
- Body, Mind and Society
- Death
- Global Capitalism and its Discontent
- Global Superpowers
- Britain in the 20th Century
- Inventing Rights
- Politics of the Global South
- War, Peace and Modernity
- Employability, Purpose and Social Impact (Discovery module)
- Global Challenges and Collaborative Solutions (Discovery module)
- Taking an Idea and Making it Happen (Discovery module)
- Your Year Abroad
- Politics and International Relations Dissertation
- A Global History of the Cold War
- Advertising and Consumerism in Britain, 1853-1960
- Big Data and Dead People: Digital Histories of Crime, Justice and Punishment, 1760-1925
- Critical Political Theory
- Critical Studies of War and Security
- Dangerous Thoughts': Soviet Dissent, Human Rights and the Cold War
- Democracy Under Pressure
- Environment and Development
- Europe and America
- Fascism, Revolution and War in Spain: The Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939
- Forging India: South Asia from Empire to Nation, 1829-1964
- From Balfour to Brexit: Britain as a Great Power since 1914
- From Rebellion to Revolution: The War for the Throne, 1199-1265
- Gender Identities in the People's War: Experiences, Representations and Memories
- Intelligent Design? Science, Religion and the Idea of Design in Nature, 1450-1800
- Paradise Lost: Colonisation and the Jamaican Environment, 1655-1838
- Parliamentary Studies
- Participation, Splendour and Violence: The Italian City-States, c.1100-1350
- Policymaking in the Real World
- Politics of Latin America and Africa
- Politics of the Middle East and Asia Pacific
- Russia and China
- Security, Strategy and Technology
- Beyond Captives and Commodities: Life-making in Portuguese West Africa (1450-1800)
- The Politics of Borders and Migration
- The Politics of Crises and the Future of Governance
- The Use and Abuse of History
- Victorian Bodies: Sex, Gender, Race and Power in Global Britain
- Queer Futures (Discovery module)
- People Power and Collective Action (Discovery module)
- Confronting the Climate Crisis (Discovery module)
- Artistic Fusions (Discovery module)
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA History and International Relations (Study Abroad) at Lancaster University earn?
The median salary is £26,000 after 15 months, £23,500 after 3 years, £29,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,500 and £35,500. The £29,500 median after five years is £4,500 less than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA History and International Relations (Study Abroad) at Lancaster University 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 History and International Relations (Study Abroad) at Lancaster University?
93% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA History and International Relations (Study Abroad) at Lancaster University?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 35 points in the IB. The average entrant had 144 UCAS points.
Does BA History and International Relations (Study Abroad) at Lancaster University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on BA History and International Relations (Study Abroad) at Lancaster University?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.