BA International Relations
About this course
BA Hons in International Relations, a politics and international relations degree centred on political structures, global governance, and contemporary world affairs. Core topics include Statistics, Research Methods, Policy Analysis, Historical Research, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, and Global & Comparative Perspective. Students can apply for annual internships through the Richardson Institute for Peace Studies to work alongside external policy and research organisations. The first year introduces foundational ideas through modules such as Origins and Foundations of International Relations, Global Challenges in World Politics, Global Governance and International Institutions, and Critical Perspectives on Global Politics, examining core concepts of the state system, sovereignty, and global order. The second year builds on this knowledge with compulsory study in Reshaping Global Order and Understanding Political Research, alongside optional choices covering topics like authoritarianism, global capitalism, and the politics of the Global South. The final year centres on the Politics and International Relations Dissertation, allowing students to complete an independent research project on a topic of personal interest. Optional modules in the final year let students explore specialized areas such as Critical Studies of War and Security, Parliamentary Studies, Policymaking in the Real World, and The Politics of Borders and Migration.
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: ABB IB: 32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 88%: 37 offers from 42 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 7 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 90%
- Learning opportunities: 87%
- Assessment and feedback: 67%
- Academic support: 96%
- Organisation and management: 67%
- Learning resources: 94%
- Student voice: 44%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 100%
What graduates do next
Based on about 6 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 60%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Unemployed: 20%
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: 70%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 60%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 35%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 95 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 41%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 7%
- East Midlands: 4%
- West Midlands: 4%
- East of England: 7%
- London: 22%
- South East: 5%
- South West: 5%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 3%
Who gets in
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 90%
- Baccalaureate: 5%
- Foundation course: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Origins and Foundations of International Relations
- Global Challenges in World Politics
- Global Governance and International Institutions
- Critical Perspectives on Global Politics
- Political Theory for a Troubled World
- Parties, Populism and Protest
- Medieval and Early Modern Worlds
- History of Philosophy: Ideas that Shaped the West
- Foundations of Microeconomics
- Thinking Sociologically
- Reshaping Global Order
- Understanding Political Research
- Authoritarianism, Repression and Resistance in the 21st century
- Global Capitalism and its Discontent
- Global Superpowers
- 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)
- Politics and International Relations Dissertation
- Critical Studies of War and Security
- Critical Political Theory
- Democracy Under Pressure
- Environment and Development
- Europe and America
- Parliamentary Studies
- 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
- The Politics of Borders and Migration
- The Politics of Crises and the Future of Governance
- 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 International Relations at Lancaster University earn?
The median salary is £27,500 after 15 months, £27,000 after 3 years, £36,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £28,500 and £47,000. The £36,000 median after five years is £2,000 more than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA International Relations at Lancaster University do next?
70% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA International Relations at Lancaster University?
90% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA International Relations at Lancaster University?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 126 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA International Relations at Lancaster University?
88% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 37 offers from 42 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
How many students continue on BA International Relations at Lancaster University?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.