BA International Relations
About this course
BA (Hons) International Relations is an undergraduate degree within politics and international relations that examines global systems and political structures. Core topics include Research Methods. The course runs for three years full-interim and includes an option to add a placement year or a year abroad. The first year introduces foundational subjects through compulsory modules such as Political Analysis, Introduction to Comparative Politics, Introduction to Political Theory: States, Liberty and Revolution, and Introduction to Global Politics. The second year expands the curriculum into specific theoretical and regional studies. Final-year students complete a compulsory Dissertation alongside chosen options in specialist areas like International Crisis Diplomacy, Terrorism and Counter-terrorism, or The Global Food System.
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 IB: 35 points overall BTEC: DDD We consider a range of BTEC qualifications equivalent to 3 A Levels, or in combination with A Levels or other qualifications. For example: Distinction, Distinction in BTEC Level 3 National Diploma plus A at A Level Distinction in BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate plus AA at A level Distinction, Distinction in 2 BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificates plus A at A level
What students say
Based on about 20 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 90%
- Learning opportunities: 85%
- Assessment and feedback: 80%
- Academic support: 96%
- Organisation and management: 96%
- Learning resources: 82%
- Student voice: 80%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 40 students who started
- Continued on course: 80%
- Left higher education: 15%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 81 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 65%
- Working and studying: 13%
- Further study: 11%
- Unemployed: 4%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 15%
- Administrative occupations: 14%
- Finance Professionals: 11%
- Elementary occupations: 8%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 7%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 67%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 30%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 200 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 3%
- North West: 6%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 18%
- East Midlands: 4%
- West Midlands: 3%
- East of England: 8%
- London: 37%
- South East: 14%
- South West: 3%
- Wales: 3%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 35 students who started
- A levels: 95%
- Other qualifications: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Political Analysis
- Introduction to Comparative Politics
- Introduction to Political Theory: States, Liberty and Revolution
- Introduction to Global Politics
- Global Challenges: From Theory to Practice
- York Policy Lab
- International Relations Theory and Planet Politics
- Research Design
- Can Democracy Work?
- Capitalism: Beyond States and Markets
- Justice, Equality, and Difference
- European Union Politics
- Democracy, Autocracy and the State
- Human Rights and Wrongs
- The Rising Powers
- Critical Global Security Studies
- Things Fall Apart: Political Thought in Times of Crisis
- The Politics of Gender
- Empire, War and Law
- Politics of Development
- British Politics
- The US and Global Politics after the Cold War
- War and Peace
- Global Political Economy
- Dissertation
- Africa and International Politics
- Constitutional and Territorial Ideologies in Britain and Ireland
- India and its Neighbourhood
- Democracy and Emergency
- Development Paradigms
- Morality and Modern Warfare
- Gender, Violence and Resistance
- Global Governance: Purpose, Power and Performance
- Governmentality: Michel Foucault and the Analytics of Power
- Green Politics
- International Crisis Diplomacy
- Political Psychology and Public Opinion
- Politics of Peace after Civil War
- The Global Food System
- "We, the People": Ideas of Democratic Representation
- Britain in a Changing Global Economic Order
- Ethnicity and Conflict
- From War to Peace? Statebuilding and Political Transition in Southeast Asia
- Global Politics of Nuclear Weapons
- Global Sustainability and Energy Policy
- Karl Marx
- Politics of Technology: From the Luddites to the Unabomber
- Politics of the Middle East: Regimes and Societies in Transition
- Regionalism in World Politics
- Terrorism and Counter-terrorism
- The European Far Right
- The Labour Party and Socialism
- The Politics of (Post-)Colonialism
- Applied Quantitative Analysis
- Dissertation (Applied Quantitative Analysis)
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA International Relations at University of York earn?
The median salary is £28,000 after 15 months, £27,500 after 3 years, £37,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £28,500 and £48,500. The £37,000 median after five years is £3,000 more than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA International Relations at University of York do next?
88% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA International Relations at University of York?
90% 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 York?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 35 points in the IB. The average entrant had 146 UCAS points.
Does BA International Relations at University of York 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 York?
80% of students continued into their second year, and 15% left higher education.