BA History and International Relations
About this course
BA (Hons) in History and International Relations, a history and politics and international relations degree spanning both academic fields. Core topics include Historical Research, Research Methods, Global & Comparative Perspective, and Critical & Analytical Thinking. The first year establishes fundamental concepts through compulsory modules such as Academic Foundations in International Relations, Politics and History, The Atlantic World: The Americas, Europe and Africa since the 15th Century, International Political Theory, What is History?, and The Global Cold War, while optional choices allow study in areas like language acquisition. The second year continues with compulsory modules including Research Methods in Politics and International Relations, Nation and Empire: Sources of British History, and Research Design alongside optional modules covering topics such as political thought and security studies. The final year centres on the compulsory Dissertation module, supported by a wide range of optional modules examining regional politics, international conflicts, and historical periods.
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: 34 (6,5,5 HL) BTEC: BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma: DDM BTEC Level 3 National Diploma: DD plus one A level at Grade B BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate: D plus two A levels at Grades BB Preferred BTEC: BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma Applied Science, Business, Health and Social Care, IT, Sport. Other BTEC subjects may be considered when offered in combination with one A level from the following list: Biology, Business, Classical Civilisation, Chemistry, Economics, English Language/Literature, Geography, History, Languages, Law, Maths/Further Maths, Philosophy, Physics, Politics, Psychology, Religious Studies, and Sociology.
See the highest paying Social Sciences degrees in the UK →
See the highest paying History, Philosophy & Religion degrees in the UK →
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 97%: 102 offers from 105 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 18 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 92%
- Learning opportunities: 85%
- Assessment and feedback: 82%
- Academic support: 89%
- Organisation and management: 89%
- Learning resources: 96%
- Student voice: 74%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 100%
What graduates do next
Based on about 9 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 60%
- Working and studying: 15%
- Further study: 15%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 20%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 10%
- Engineering professionals: 10%
- Information Technology Professionals: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 40%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 70 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 8%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- East Midlands: 10%
- West Midlands: 11%
- East of England: 15%
- London: 29%
- South East: 16%
- South West: 3%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 90%
- Baccalaureate: 5%
- No formal qualifications: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Academic Foundations in International Relations, Politics and History
- The Atlantic World: The Americas, Europe and Africa since the 15th Century
- International Political Theory (20 credits)
- What is History?
- The Global Cold War
- The Contemporary World Arena (10 credits)
- The Contemporary World Arena (20 credits)
- The Making and Unmaking of the World Order (10 credit)
- The Making and Unmaking of the World Order (20 credit)
- Slavery to Black Lives Matter: African American Culture 1840 - present
- Politics and Government (10 credits)
- Art and Visual Culture Since 1850
- Families, Relationships and Communities
- University-wide Language Programme
- Research Methods in Politics and International Relations
- Nation and Empire: Sources of British History
- Research Design
- History of Political Thought (10 credit)
- History of Political Thought (20 Credit)
- Modern China in a Global Perspective
- Victorian Values Reconsidered
- Your Future Career: Preparing for the World of Work
- Critical Security Studies
- Politics of Development
- Small Wars (10 credit)
- Small Wars
- The American Century: US Politics and Society in the 20th Century
- From Rebellion to Partition: British India, 1857-1947
- Modern Germany: Recovery from Ruin, 1945-present (20 credit)
- African States and Nations: Before and After Colonialism, 1850-1990
- Political Economy: Capitalism, Democracy and the State
- Gender and Global Politics
- University-wide Language Programme
- Dissertation
- Jim Crow, Bootleggers and Okies: American Culture 1865-1940
- The Soviet Security State, 1917-present
- Empire, War, and Popular Culture in Britain, c.1880-1914
- The Asia-Pacific in Global Politics
- International Politics of the Middle East
- Politics at the End of the World
- The Politics of Terrorism
- War in the 21st Century
- After Empire: South Asia since 1945
- Special Relationship? Anglo-American Relations since 1900
- International Conflict Management
- Environmental Thought
- The Politics of Monsters
- University-wide Language Programme
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA History and International Relations at Loughborough University earn?
The median salary is £30,500 after 15 months, £27,500 after 3 years, £35,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £29,000 and £48,000. The £35,000 median after five years is £1,000 more than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA History and International Relations at Loughborough University do next?
85% 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 at Loughborough University?
92% 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 at Loughborough University?
The typical offer is ABB at A level. The average entrant had 133 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA History and International Relations at Loughborough University?
97% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 102 offers from 105 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
How many students continue on BA History and International Relations at Loughborough University?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.