BA International Relations
About this course
BA in International Relations, a politics and international relations degree examining global politics, foreign policy, and state interactions. Core topics include Research Methods. Students complete a final year project in their third year. The first year introduces foundational themes through compulsory modules such as The Politics of Global Challenges: Becoming an Independent Researcher, International Politics, Making of the Modern World, and Comparative Politics. The second year builds analytical frameworks through compulsory study in Approaches to Analysis, Theories of International Relations, and Global Security Challenges, alongside optional subjects including Politics and Policy in the EU and State and Politics in Africa. The final year focuses on advanced study and independent research through compulsory modules like POLIS Final Year Project, British Foreign Policy, Gender, Violence, and Security in Global Politics, and Nuclear Weapons and Global Politics.
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: AAB EPQ: ABB plus grade A in the EPQ BTEC: DDD. IB: 35 overall (6,5,5 higher).
Real offers for this course
Applicants have posted 1 UCAS decision for BA International Relations (L254) at the University of Leeds for 2027 entry so far. The published offer is AAB at A level.
What students say
Based on about 41 final-year students who answered
- Teaching on my course: 86%
- Learning opportunities: 78%
- Assessment and feedback: 76%
- Academic support: 87%
- Organisation and management: 86%
- Learning resources: 87%
- Student voice: 77%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 115 students who started
- Continued on course: 99%
- Left higher education: 1%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 240 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 12%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 14%
- East Midlands: 2%
- West Midlands: 4%
- East of England: 7%
- London: 47%
- South East: 8%
- South West: 3%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 160 students who started
- A levels: 63%
- Baccalaureate: 1%
- Other HE qualification: 36%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- The Politics of Global Challenges: Becoming an Independent Researcher
- International Politics
- Making of the Modern World
- Comparative Politics
- Approaches to Analysis
- Theories of International Relations
- Global Security Challenges
- Politics and Policy in the EU
- Analysing Data in Politics, International Development and International Relations
- United States Politics
- Politics of Contemporary China
- State and Politics in Africa
- The Political Economy of North-South Relations
- POLIS Final Year Project
- British Foreign Policy
- Gender, Violence, and Security in Global Politics
- American Foreign Policy
- Terrorism
- Europe in the World
- Nuclear Weapons and Global Politics
- Global Political Economy
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA International Relations at University of Leeds earn?
The median salary is £28,500 after 3 years, £37,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £29,000 and £49,000. The £37,000 median after five years is £3,000 more than the UK median for Politics.
Are students happy with the teaching on BA International Relations at University of Leeds?
86% 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 University of Leeds?
The typical offer is AAB at A level. The average entrant had 146 UCAS points.
Does BA International Relations at University of Leeds 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 International Relations at University of Leeds?
99% of students continued into their second year, and 1% left higher education.