BA H Politics and International Relations
London, United Kingdom
DURATION
3 up to 6 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 17,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* full-time international| home £9,250 per year; part-time international £4,250 per 30 credits | home £2,312 per 30 credits
Introduction
With so much going on in the world of politics, this is the ideal time to study our politics and international relations degree. The course will prepare you for roles in government and public service.
If you've ever wondered why people vote the way they do or why political systems differ, this degree in politics and international relations gives you the answers. You'll also get the chance to study a language. In your final year, you may be offered a work placement in regional or local politics.
Popular careers for our politics and international relations graduates include public service, information and communications, teaching, and roles in central and local government.
What you should know about this course
- You can specialise in Politics and International Relations and take options in other subjects
- Our modules provide a suitable introduction to politics and the practical implementation of political activity
- Explore development and political economy, liberalism and political thought, political conspiracies, and international relations and security
- You can undertake a work placement in regional or local politics, such as at a London-based interest and pressure group, or even at the House of Commons
Gallery
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
There is a range of financial support options available to support your studies, including the Aspire@Greenwich award for study resources that many full-time students will receive.
EU students may be eligible for a bursary to support their studies. View our EU bursary to find out more.
Discover more about grants, student loans, bursaries and scholarships. We also provide advice and support on budgeting, money management, and financial hardship.
Curriculum
Full time
Year 1
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Introduction to Politics (30 credits)
- Introduction to International Relations (30 credits)
- Global Issues (30 credits)
Students are required to choose 30 credits from this list of options.
- Mandarin 1 (30 credits)
- Mandarin 2 (30 credits)
- Mandarin 3 (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 1) (a30 credits)
- European Languages (French 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 3) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 4) (30 credits)
- Conflict, Commerce and Culture: Britain and the World, 1600-2000 (30 credits)
- Making the Modern World: Europe, Asia, and Africa in the Long Nineteenth Century (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 1) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 3) (30 credits)
- Writing for the Media (30 credits)
- Inequality and Social Change (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 1) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 3) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 4) (30 credits)
Year 2
Option Set 1
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Liberalism: Freedom & Toleration (30 credits)
- Approaches to Development: Theories, Actors, and Alternatives (30 credits)
- Applied Politics and International Relations (30 credits)
Students are required to choose 30 credits from this list of options.
- Mandarin 1 (30 credits)
- Mandarin 2 (30 credits)
- Mandarin 3 (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 1) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 3) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 4) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 1) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 3) (30 credits)
- Writing Journalism (30 credits)
- Language Research Project (French, Italian, Spanish) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 1) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 3) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 4) (30 credits)
Option Set 2
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Liberalism: Freedom & Toleration (30 credits)
- Approaches to Development: Theories, Actors, and Alternatives (30 credits)
- Applied Politics and International Relations (30 credits)
Students are also required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.
- 'The People's War': The Second World War, Society, Culture and Legacy (15 credits)
- A Global History of Genocide Level 5 (15 credits)
- Education and Social Formation (15 credits)
Students are also required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.
- Empire and Nation in the Middle East (15 credits)
- Rebel Earth? History and Politics in the Anthropocene (15 credits)
- Sociology of Work (15 credits)
Year 3
Option Set 1
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Language, Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy (30 credits)
- International Relations and International Security (30 credits)
- Political Conspiracy and Slander (30 credits)
Students are required to choose 30 credits from this list of options.
- Mandarin 2 (30 credits)
- Mandarin 3 (30 credits)
- Dissertation (HPS) (30 credits)
- Dissertation - Languages and International Studies (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 3) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 4) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 3) (30 credits)
- Journalism in Practice (30 credits)
- Work Placement (Level 6) (30 credits)
- Language Research Project (French, Italian, Spanish) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 3) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 4) (30 credits)
Option Set 2
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Language, Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy (30 credits)
- International Relations and International Security (30 credits)
- Political Conspiracy and Slander (30 credits)
Students are also required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.
- Footprints of Everyday Life: The Environmental History of Modern Britain (15 credits)
- Parliamentary Studies (15 credits)
- Globalisation: Social and Political Perspectives (15 credits)
Students are also required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.
- Projecting Nations: Film, History and Propaganda (15 credits)
- Dissertation in Parliamentary Studies (15 credits)
- Migration and Citizenship (15 credits)
Part-time
Year 1
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Introduction to Politics (30 credits)
- Introduction to International Relations (30 credits)
Year 2
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Global Issues (30 credits)
Students are required to choose 30 credits from this list of options.
- Mandarin 1 (30 credits)
- Mandarin 2 (30 credits)
- Mandarin 3 (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 1) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 3) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 4) (30 credits)
- Conflict, Commerce and Culture: Britain and the World, 1600-2000 (30 credits)
- Making the Modern World: Europe, Asia, and Africa in the Long Nineteenth Century (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 1) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 3) (30 credits)
- Writing for the Media (30 credits)
- Inequality and Social Change (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 1) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 3) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 4) (30 credits)
Year 3
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Approaches to Development: Theories, Actors, and Alternatives (30 credits)
- Applied Politics and International Relations (30 credits)
Year 4
Option Set 1
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Liberalism: Freedom & Toleration (30 credits)
Students are required to choose 30 credits from this list of options.
- Mandarin 1 (30 credits)
- Mandarin 2 (30 credits)
- Mandarin 3 (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 1) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 3) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 4) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 1) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 3) (30 credits)
- Writing Journalism (30 credits)
- Language Research Project (French, Italian, Spanish) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 1) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 3) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 4) (30 credits)
Option Set 2
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Liberalism: Freedom & Toleration (30 credits)
Students are also required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.
'The People's War': The Second World War, Society, Culture and Legacy (15 credits)
- A Global History of Genocide Level 5 (15 credits)
- Education and Social Formation (15 credits)
Students are also required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.
- Empire and Nation in the Middle East (15 credits)
- Rebel Earth? History and Politics in the Anthropocene (15 credits)
- Sociology of Work (15 credits)
Year 5
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Language, Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy (30 credits)
- International Relations and International Security (30 credits)
Year 6
Option Set 1
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Political Conspiracy and Slander (30 credits)
Students are required to choose 30 credits from this list of options.
- Mandarin 2 (30 credits)
- Mandarin 3 (30 credits)
- Dissertation (HPS) (30 credits)
- Dissertation - Languages and International Studies (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 3) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 4) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 3) (30 credits)
- Journalism in Practice (30 credits)
- Work Placement (Level 6) (30 credits)
- Language Research Project (French, Italian, Spanish) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 3) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 4) (30 credits)
Option Set 2
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Political Conspiracy and Slander (30 credits)
Students are also required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.
Footprints of Everyday Life: The Environmental History of Modern Britain (15 credits)
- Parliamentary Studies (15 credits)
- Globalisation: Social and Political Perspectives (15 credits)
Students are also required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.
- Projecting Nations: Film, History and Propaganda (15 credits)
- Dissertation in Parliamentary Studies (15 credits)
- Migration and Citizenship (15 credits)
Sandwich
Year 1
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Introduction to Politics (30 credits)
- Introduction to International Relations (30 credits)
- Global Issues (30 credits)
Students are required to choose 30 credits from this list of options.
- Mandarin 1 (30 credits)
- Mandarin 2 (30 credits)
- Mandarin 3 (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 1) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 3) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 4) (30 credits)
- Conflict, Commerce and Culture: Britain and the World, 1600-2000 (30 credits)
- Making the Modern World: Europe, Asia, and Africa in the Long Nineteenth Century (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 1) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 3) (30 credits)
- Writing for the Media (30 credits)
- Inequality and Social Change (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 1) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 3) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 4) (30 credits)
Year 2
Option Set 1
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Liberalism: Freedom & Toleration (30 credits)
- Approaches to Development: Theories, Actors, and Alternatives (30 credits)
- Applied Politics and International Relations (30 credits)
Students are required to choose 30 credits from this list of options.
- Mandarin 1 (30 credits)
- Mandarin 2 (30 credits)
- Mandarin 3 (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 1) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 3) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 4) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 1) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 3) (30 credits)
- Writing Journalism (30 credits)
- Language Research Project (French, Italian, Spanish) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 1) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 3) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 4) (30 credits)
Option Set 2
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Liberalism: Freedom & Toleration (30 credits)
- Approaches to Development: Theories, Actors, and Alternatives (30 credits)
- Applied Politics and International Relations (30 credits)
Students are also required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.
- 'The People's War': The Second World War, Society, Culture and Legacy (15 credits)
- A Global History of Genocide Level 5 (15 credits)
- Education and Social Formation (15 credits)
Students are also required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.
- Empire and Nation in the Middle East (15 credits)
- Rebel Earth? History and Politics in the Anthropocene (15 credits)
- Sociology of Work (15 credits)
Year 3
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- HPSS Sandwich Placement
Year 4
Option Set 1
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Language, Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy (30 credits)
- International Relations and International Security (30 credits)
- Political Conspiracy and Slander (30 credits)
Students are required to choose 30 credits from this list of options.
- Mandarin 2 (30 credits)
- Mandarin 3 (30 credits)
- Dissertation (HPS) (30 credits)
- Dissertation - Languages and International Studies (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 3) (30 credits)
- European Languages (French 4) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Italian 3) (30 credits)
- Journalism in Practice (30 credits)
- Work Placement (Level 6) (30 credits)
- Language Research Project (French, Italian, Spanish) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 2) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 3) (30 credits)
- European Languages (Spanish 4) (30 credits)
Option Set 2
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Language, Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy (30 credits)
- International Relations and International Security (30 credits)
- Political Conspiracy and Slander (30 credits)
Students are also required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.
- Footprints of Everyday Life: The Environmental History of Modern Britain (15 credits)
- Parliamentary Studies (15 credits)
- Globalisation: Social and Political Perspectives (15 credits)
Students are also required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.
- Projecting Nations: Film, History and Propaganda (15 credits)
- Dissertation in Parliamentary Studies (15 credits)
- Migration and Citizenship (15 credits)
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Will I have a work placement?
This course can be taken in sandwich mode, which means you can take a year to work in industry between your second and final years of study. Sandwich placements are relevant to your degree subject and are paid roles. It is the very best way of preparing you for successfully finding a job quickly when you graduate.
You will also have the option to select a module for which you will be required to undertake a short-term placement. The module will be assessed on your reflection on this placement and how you can apply your knowledge to the workplace. Many placements are found through our network of industry contacts, and students are supported in securing these.
How long is my placement?
Sandwich placements last for between 9-13 months. Work-based learning module placements are normally one day a week for either one or two terms depending on the number of credits available from the module.
What are the financial arrangements?
Sandwich placements are paid roles whereas work-based learning module placements are normally unpaid.
What sort of careers do graduates pursue?
The skills you acquire through studying our courses will prepare you for careers in a wide range of industries and jobs. Graduates of this course have gone on to careers in public service, information and communications, and media and voluntary sectors, as well as in the National Health Service, teaching, research, business, and central and local government. Some career options may require further study.
Are internships available?
Students are encouraged to take up Summer internships during the Summer holidays, though it is up to the student to find them. Support is available to students from the Employability and Careers Service when applying for placements and internships.
Do you provide employability services?
Employability activities take place all the time at Greenwich and students are encouraged to take part in as many opportunities as possible. The central Employability and Careers Service provides support for students preparing to apply for placements and graduate roles, such as CV clinics, mock interviews and employability skills workshops. In addition, your School has a dedicated Employability Officer who will be organising work-related activities throughout the year which will help you to build you industry knowledge and networks.