BA Politics and International Relations,
About this course
BA in Politics and International Relations, a politics degree exploring domestic governance, international conflict, and political theory. Core topics include Research Methods and Policy Analysis. The course includes opportunities to intern with a Member of the Senedd and study parliamentary processes through modules partly delivered by parliamentary staff. The first year covers core foundations through Politics and the People, International Relations in a Changing World, Being a Social Scientist, and Disinformation, Ideology, and Bias: Researching and examining political data. The second year examines theoretical frameworks and institutions via Anarchy and Order: Theories in International Relations, The State and Political Institutions, The History of Political Thought, and International Security. Optional modules in the second year cover topics such as global justice, British politics, and modern conflicts. The final year focuses on advanced research and independent study through Researching Politics 1 and Researching Politics 2. Optional final-year modules allow specialisation in areas including Genocide, Global Environmental Politics, and Capitalism and Justice, alongside an optional dissertation.
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.
What students say
Based on about 12 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 94%
- Learning opportunities: 85%
- Assessment and feedback: 89%
- Academic support: 100%
- Organisation and management: 91%
- Learning resources: 91%
- Student voice: 76%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 80%
- Left higher education: 10%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 8 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 75%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 20%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 20%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 20%
- Finance Professionals: 10%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Media Professionals: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 60%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 30%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 135 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 3%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 4%
- East of England: 7%
- London: 18%
- South East: 16%
- South West: 18%
- Wales: 28%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 90%
- Other HE qualification: 10%
Modules
- Politics and the People
- International Relations in a Changing World
- Being a Social Scientist
- Disinformation, Ideology, and Bias: Researching and examining political data
- The Colour Line: Race and Racism in World Politics
- War and Peace in the Nuclear Age
- Anarchy and Order: Theories in International Relations
- The State and Political Institutions
- The History of Political Thought
- International Security
- Disunited Kingdom? Class, Race, Gender and Social Division in Twentieth-Century Britain
- Philosophy of the Enlightenment
- America in Crisis: From the Tet Offensive to Trump
- Global Justice and Human Rights in the Age of Globalisation
- Investigating Gender
- Devolution, Policy Making and Social Change
- The Global First World War
- A Matter of Life and Death: Exploring Existential Philosophy
- Contemporary Moral Controversies
- Global Summit Simulation
- Contemporary Wars and Conflicts
- British Politics and Public Policy
- The Global South in International Relations: Diplomacy, Development, and Resistance
- Researching Politics 1
- Researching Politics 2
- Dissertation
- Senedd Cymru/The Welsh Parliament
- Parliamentary Studies
- Capitalism and Justice
- Genocide
- Clear and Present Danger: America and Terrorism
- Shadow Wars: US Presidents and covert action from the Cold War to Trump
- America and the Bomb
- Global Environmental Politics
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Politics and International Relations, at Swansea University earn?
The median salary is £26,000 after 15 months, £23,000 after 3 years, £31,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,000 and £38,500. The £31,000 median after five years is £3,000 less than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA Politics and International Relations, at Swansea University do next?
100% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Politics and International Relations, at Swansea University?
94% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Politics and International Relations, at Swansea University?
The average entrant had 113 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA Politics and International Relations, at Swansea University?
80% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.