International Relations and Development BA Honours
London, United Kingdom
DURATION
3 up to 4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
18 Aug 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 15,400 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* international | UK: £9,250
Introduction
Our International Relations and Development BA focuses on international development and the challenges associated with a political and economic change in the international system.
The course considers the relationships between the Global North and South, examining how colonialism and capitalism have shaped our contemporary world. You'll explore global poverty and inequality and the impact of globalisation on different parts of the world, including Africa, Asia, the Middle East, China, India, Central Asia and Latin America.
The course provides a theoretical framework for understanding the international distribution of power at the global, regional and national levels, and we aim to enthuse and inspire you by building close links to government bodies and the policy world. A degree in International Relations and Development will prepare you for professional life in a range of sectors, including the Civil Service, media, public policy, NGOs, teaching and further research.
In this course, you'll have the opportunity to spend one optional year abroad, where you can complete a work or volunteering placement, undertake a year of study at one of our partner universities, or a combination of the two. The year abroad provides a valuable opportunity to boost employability, enhance language skills and build international experience, something which is highly valued by employers. It also encourages intercultural awareness and capability, qualities of self-reliance and other skills which will further enable you to become mobile and transnational citizen.
The course is based in the School of Social Sciences, which brings together Criminology, Politics and International Relations, Psychology and Sociology. What binds us together is our shared commitment to making education a transformative experience for our students, to conducting research that makes a difference in the social world, and enhancing the diversity of ideas and identities within and beyond the University.
We are in the centre of one of the world’s greatest cities, and we use this vibrant, multicultural setting to ensure that our students discover innovative solutions to the problems facing our world. We are ranked top 20 in the world for the percentage of international students, Times Higher Education World University rankings 2021.
As a School, we also host the world-renowned Centre for the Study of Democracy. The Centre undertakes research across a range of critical challenges to the theory and practice of politics, international relations, sociology and criminology. We have an innovative initiative called the Democratic Education Network, which facilitates dialogue and the sharing of knowledge between our students, international universities and diasporic communities in London.
Top reasons to study with us
- A global environment – we are one of the most diverse universities in the country, and London is a vibrant, global city.
- Supportive staff and student satisfaction – our student satisfaction rate is over 90%, and we do everything we can to ensure our students get the most from studying with us. (Source: Discover Uni – site accessed in December 2020).
- International experience – the course includes a year of studying, working or volunteering abroad.
- Development theories and practice in a real-world environment – overseas field trips give students real experience of global development.
Why study this course?
- Innovative research inspires our teaching
The research undertaken by our world-renowned Centre for the Study of Democracy means the department is at the forefront of global political understanding. - Central London location
Our location in a global political hub provides a perfect platform for exploring the rest of the world and we regularly invite leading intellectuals, policy-makers, officials and political activists to speak to our students. - Student satisfaction
Our supportive environment and expert teaching staff keep our student satisfaction at a high level – 92% of students agreed that they're satisfied with the quality of the course.
Source: Discover Uni (Accessed December 2020)
Career Opportunities
- Successful alumni
Recent graduates of this course have found employment in companies and organisations, including the Greater London Authority, the Home Office and the Young European Federalist. - International experience
You'll have the opportunity to spend a year abroad working or volunteering, developing key international experience and boosting your employability. - Employers around the world
The University’s Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping all our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.
Career development
Graduates in politics and international relations are adaptable and able to respond to new challenges faced within economic, social and global political life.
Students on this course have the option to participate in a year working or volunteering abroad, both of which provide valuable opportunities to boost your employability and ground your studies in an experiential setting.
Graduates with international experience are particularly valued by employers, and a one-year period of residence abroad enhances your language skills and contributes experiences and contacts that can be valuable in your career.
Job roles
This course prepares students for roles including:
- Advocacy
- Network or communication officer
- Policy researcher
- Project manager or coordinator
- Research or policy officer or adviser
Graduate employers
Recent graduates of this course have found employment in companies and organisations, including:
- BronzeGate
- Gender Action for Peace and Security
- Greater London Authority
- Home Office
- The Takshashila Institution
- Young European Federalist
Admissions
Curriculum
Teaching and learning include small group work, problem-based tutorials, review sessions, workshops, symposia, debates, Q&A sessions, document analysis sessions, and structured role-plays.
Assessment methods are wide-ranging on this course and include essays, exams, policy reports, project work, individual and group presentations, blogs, posters, and debates.
Students on this course have the opportunity to spend one optional year abroad.
The following subjects are indicative of what you will study in this course.
Year 1
Our teaching programme is structured to support your transition to higher education, with our first year designed to immerse you in the key concepts, issues and major themes in international relations and development.
Subjects of study include:
- British Politics
- Critical Perspectives on Global Politics
- Democracy in Crisis
- Dilemmas of International Development
- Global Governance and Development
- Introduction to International Relations
- Political Ideas in Action
- The Politics of Migration
Credit Level 4
Year 2
In the second year, you will be encouraged to think about the operation of the global economic system through an in-depth overview of the international political economy. You will explore the contemporary challenges to developing states in the context of the world market and explore the origins of capitalism through detailed case studies in different regional settings. More significantly, you will be encouraged to think about the impact of global economic forces on individual states, territories and regions in world politics.
Subjects of study include:
- Geopolitics
- Global Security
- Governance in Europe
- International Political Economy
- Learning in an International Environment
- Middle East Politics
- Nationalism and the State in the Global South
- Political Research and Practice
- Politics and International Relations Internship
- Power and the State
- Rethinking Development
- The Politics of Killing
- Theorising Politics and International Relations
Credit Level 5
Year Abroad
Students on this course have the opportunity to spend one optional year abroad. You may complete a work or volunteering placement, both of which provide valuable opportunities to boost your employability and ground your studies in an experiential setting. You may also undertake a study placement at one of our university partners. You can also undertake a combination of both study and work.
Year 3
In your third year, you will examine the regional constellations of development and how different regions of the world have been affected by developmental politics.
Subjects of study include:
- American Power in a Multi-Polar World
- Contested Sovereignty: Territory, Borders and Resistance
- Digital Politics
- Dissertation
- Energy and Development in the Middle East and Central Asia
- Equality, Justice and Citizenship
- Ethics, Morality and World Order(s)
- Foreign Policy and Diplomacy in a Changing World
- Gender and Politics
- Humanitarian Intervention and International Relations
- Learning from NGOs in an International Context
- Policy and Practice
- Postcolonial Politics and International Relations
- Radical Democracy
- Security and the Surveillance State
- Special Topic in Politics and International Relations
- The Politics of Protest: Social and Political Movements Today
- The Global Politics of Climate Change: Security, Sustainability and Low-Carbon Transition
Credit Level 6
International Opportunities
Many of our courses offer international study and work experiences, and the University provides other global opportunities that all students can apply for - so whatever you're studying, you'll have the chance to go abroad.
Opportunities could include:
- Taking part in a semester or year-long exchanges at institutions around the world
- Attending an international summer school or field trip
- Developing your CV through volunteering or work placements abroad
International experience broadens horizons, boosts self-confidence, and improves global understanding, alongside being fantastic for your career.
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Program Tuition Fee
Scholarships and Funding
The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students, which cover all or part of your tuition fees.