BSc International Relations
About this course
Bachelor of Science in International Relations, a politics and international relations degree centred on the analysis of global politics, institutions, and political theory. Core topics include Data Analysis, Research Methods, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, and Social & Cultural Analysis. Students can also participate in public engagement activities and optional field trips to Whitehall and Westminster. The first year introduces foundational themes through compulsory modules such as Comparative Politics, Crises of the 21st Century, Engaging Political Ideas, and Introduction to International Relations. The second year focuses on advanced theory through compulsory study in Theorising International Politics. The final year involves independent research culminating in the Dissertation in Politics & International Relations alongside Economics Skills and Employability 3. Students can select from numerous optional modules covering areas such as Chinese Politics, Ethics of War, Gender, Power and Politics, and Migration, Borders, Refuge: Political Ethics in an Age of Mobility.
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: Pass, with 32 points overall with 16 points at Higher Level
Real offers for this course
Applicants have posted 1 UCAS decision for BSc International Relations (L250) at the University of Southampton for 2027 entry so far. The published offer is ABB at A level.
What students say
Based on about 66 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 83%
- Learning opportunities: 71%
- Assessment and feedback: 71%
- Academic support: 81%
- Organisation and management: 71%
- Learning resources: 88%
- Student voice: 67%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 110 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 98%
- Left higher education: 2%
What graduates do next
Based on about 40 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 65%
- Working and studying: 11%
- Further study: 8%
- Unemployed: 6%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 20%
- Administrative occupations: 15%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Media Professionals: 10%
- Leisure, travel and related personal service occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 85%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 35%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 140 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 1%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 1%
- East Midlands: 1%
- West Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 8%
- London: 38%
- South East: 38%
- South West: 9%
- Wales: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 80%
- Baccalaureate: 5%
- Foundation course: 5%
- A degree: 5%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- A (Dis) United Kingdom? An introduction to British Politics
- Comparative Politics
- Crises of the 21st Century
- Engaging Political Ideas
- Introduction to International Relations
- Simple Liars, Damned Liars and Experts: the use of empirical research in social science
- Understanding the Social World
- Foundations of Modern Politics
- Global Dilemmas: Reading Contemporary Politics
- Population and Society
- Theorising International Politics
- Animal Ethics, Animal Minds
- Children and Human Rights
- Chinese Politics
- Collective Action and Social Change
- Comparative Party Politics
- Contemporary Theories of Justice
- Democratic Theory
- Education Policy and Reforms: Global Experiences and Local Contexts
- Ethics of Global Poverty
- Ethics of War
- European Power and the Geopolitics of Europe and Asia
- Gender and Society
- Gender, Power and Politics
- Global Justice: Poverty, Inequality and the Environment
- Globalisation and World Politics
- Green Political Thought: Humans and other stories
- Introduction to Experiments in Social Science
- Introduction to Social Data Analytics
- Migration, Borders, Refuge: Political Ethics in an Age of Mobility
- Moral Philosophy
- Partisans, Public Opinion and Elections: Understanding the Political Mind
- Political Philosophy
- Political Thinking
- Politics and Protest
- Population Change in Low and Middle Income Countries
- Public Opinion in Action: What we know and how we know it
- Qualitative Research in Politics & International Relations
- Race and Ethnicity in Society
- Reinventing Democracy: Innovation, Participation and Power
- The Government Lab
- Dissertation in Politics & International Relations
- Economics Skills and Employability 3
- Children and Human Rights
- Chinese Politics
- Collective Action and Social Change
- Comparative Party Politics
- Contemporary Theories of Justice
- Democratic Theory
- Education Policy and Reforms: Global Experiences and Local Contexts
- Ethics of War
- European Power and the Geopolitics of Europe and Asia
- Gender and Society
- Gender, Power and Politics
- Global Justice: Poverty, Inequality and the Environment
- Globalisation and World Politics
- Green Political Thought: Humans and other stories
- Introduction to Experiments in Social Science
- Migration, Borders, Refuge: Political Ethics in an Age of Mobility
- Partisans, Public Opinion and Elections: Understanding the Political Mind
- Philosophy and Ethics in Psychology and AI
- Philosophy of Sex, Sexuality, and Gender
- Politics and Protest
- Population and Reproductive Health
- Public Opinion in Action: What we know and how we know it
- Race and Ethnicity in Society
- Reinventing Democracy: Innovation, Participation and Power
- The Ethics of Climate Change
- The Government Lab
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BSc International Relations at University of Southampton earn?
The median salary is £28,500 after 15 months, £29,000 after 3 years, £37,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £29,000 and £48,000. The £37,000 median after five years is £3,000 more than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BSc International Relations at University of Southampton do next?
84% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BSc International Relations at University of Southampton?
83% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BSc International Relations at University of Southampton?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 126 UCAS points.
Does BSc International Relations at University of Southampton include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year.
How many students continue on BSc International Relations at University of Southampton?
98% of students continued into their second year, and 2% left higher education.