International Relations
Entry requirements
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE English Language at Grade 4 or above (Grade C for those sitting their GCSE before 2017) or equivalent. Key Skills Level 2, Functional Skills Level 2 and the Certificate in Adult Literacy are accepted in place of GCSEs.
UCAS Tariff
A minimum of 72 points from two A levels or equivalent, excluding General Studies.
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
**Study global issues such as poverty, debt and famine, and how we can address the challenges faced by humanity from an international relations perspective.**
**You'll choose a pathway to study:**
- BA (Hons) International Relations
- BA (Hons) International Relations with Global Development
- BA (Hons) International Relations with Politics
- BA (Hons) International Relations with Human Rights
Gain an international perspective by exploring how nations interact on the global stage.
**As part of this course, you’ll:**
- Critically explore global issues such as security, poverty, debt and famine
- Understand how we can address the challenges faced by humanity from an international relations perspective
- Examine global inequalities, the rise of the superpower nations and what power looks like at a global level
- Understand how major developments, including the Cold War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, globalisation, changing global power relations and the emergence of new terror threats and social movements have shaped the world
- Evaluate theories of international relations and diplomacy and analyse the ideas, ideologies, policies and institutions that form the foundations of global politics
- Analyse what happens during conflict, and the challenges faced by states and world organisations trying to preserve peace and security
- Undertake a volunteering placement giving you work experience in the field
- Blend critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills
*You can apply to study the single honours degree or one of the combined awards listed below. You'll be able to apply direct to UCAS for the combined awards using the UCAS codes provided.
**BA (Hons) International Relations with Global Development (UCAS code L258)**
**BA (Hons) International Relations with Politics (UCAS code L254)**
**BA (Hons) International Relations with Human Rights (UCAS code L253)**
**International perspective**
You’ll gain experiences and insight that will enhance your world view and help build your network of international contacts. Studying the roles of international organisations such as the World Bank, the World Trade Organisation and the United Nations will give you an understanding of their working processes and limitations. You’ll be encouraged to think critically and develop ideas that might help them to achieve their goals.
**High profile speakers**
Our annual Politics & International Relations Festival and Peace Lecture have previously attracted guest speakers such as Sir Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition, former Labour MP David Miliband, and Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas.
**Research expertise**
Our academic team are research-active and are involved in international activism and global development. They include Professor Rachel Julian, who is currently researching local understandings of conflict in Myanmar through culture and stories.
**Volunteering**
You’ll also carry out a volunteering placement of your choice, enriching your concept of society and citizenship, and developing your skills for employment.
**Why study International Relations at Leeds Beckett University...**
- 98% of students were positive about the teaching on BA (Hons) International Relations (pathways)*
- Pathways available, with the option to change direction after Year 1
- Fantastic placement opportunities
- Guest lectures, including annual festival of Politics and International Relations
- Volunteering opportunities
- 93.3% of graduates in work or further study 15 months after graduation**
National Student Survey 2023
*Percentage of respondents from this course, HESA Graduate Outcomes 20-21
Modules
Year 1 Core Modules:
- Politics, Ethics & Justice
- International Actors & Institutions
- World Politics
- Introduction to Political Economy
- Understanding International Relations
Year 2 Core Modules:
- Active Citizenship
- Understanding Security
- Global Inequalities
- Environment & World Politics
In addition, choose from a list of Year 2 option modules. Please check our website for a full and up-to-date list.
Year 3 Core Modules:
- Dissertation in International Relations
- Rethinking Diplomacy
- Governing Globalisation
In addition, choose from a list of Year 3 option modules. Please check our website for a full and up-to-date list.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
City CampusC
Clinical and Applied Sciences
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Politics
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Politics
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
The numbers of people taking politics degrees fell sharply last year and we'll keep an eye on this one - it can't really be because of graduates getting poor outcomes as politics grads do about as well as graduates on average. Most politics or international relations graduates don't actually go into politics - although many do, as activists, fundraisers and researchers. Jobs in local and central government are also important. Other popular jobs include marketing and PR, youth and community work, finance roles, HR and academic research (you usually need a postgraduate degree to get into research). Because so many graduates get jobs in the civil service, a lot of graduates find themselves in London after graduating. Politics is a very popular postgraduate subject, and so about one in five politics graduates go on to take another course - usually a one-year Masters - after they finish their degrees.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Politics
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£19k
£23k
£27k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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