BA International Relations (Placement Year)
About this course
BA Hons in International Relations (Placement Year), a politics and international relations degree centred on the study of global governance, international institutions, and contemporary world politics. Core topics include Statistics, Research Methods, Policy Analysis, Historical Research, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, and Global & Comparative Perspective. The programme incorporates a dedicated work-based learning placement year, allowing students to gain professional experience in a sector of their choice. The first year introduces foundational themes 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. The second year advances core knowledge via Reshaping Global Order and Understanding Political Research, alongside optional choices addressing global capitalism and political movements. The third year consists entirely of a professional placement in industry or a relevant sector. The final year focuses on an independent Politics and International Relations Dissertation, supported by advanced optional modules covering subjects such as critical security studies, regional politics, and policymaking.
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 100%: 19 offers from 19 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 80 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 88%
- Learning opportunities: 80%
- Assessment and feedback: 70%
- Academic support: 88%
- Organisation and management: 63%
- Learning resources: 93%
- Student voice: 65%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 150 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 9%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 1%
What graduates do next
Based on about 47 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 57%
- Working and studying: 13%
- Further study: 12%
- 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: 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 120 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 89%
- Baccalaureate: 2%
- Access course: 1%
- Other HE qualification: 8%
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)
- Work Based Learning Year
- 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 (Placement Year) 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 (Placement Year) at Lancaster University do next?
82% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA International Relations (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
88% 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 (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 134 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA International Relations (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
100% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 19 offers from 19 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA International Relations (Placement Year) at Lancaster University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory placement year.
How many students continue on BA International Relations (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 9% left higher education.