BA Politics and International Relations
About this course
BA (Hons) Politics and International Relations is a politics and international relations degree centred on the study of governance, political systems, and international affairs across global societies. Core topics include Research Methods, Legal Analysis, Historical Research, Critical & Analytical Thinking, and Global & Comparative Perspective. Students complete a substantial independent final-year major project alongside communication training for their dissertation research. The first year establishes foundational knowledge through compulsory modules including Introduction to Politics and International Relations, Global Affairs, A History of Now, Political Thought, and Into ARU. In the second year, students build analytical skills via compulsory modules such as From World War to Cold War, Give Peace a Chance: Fundamental Issues and Perspectives on Contemporary International Relations, Researching Society and Culture, and Ruskin Module, while tailoring their studies with optional choices like International Human Rights or Mobilities and Migration. The final year focuses on advanced subjects through compulsory modules including Undergraduate Major Project, Hitler to the Hashtag: Political Communication in Peace and War, From Theory to Practice International Relations in the 21st Century, A Global History of Government and Society, 1945-1999, and Research Communication. Optional modules in the final year allow students to explore diverse specialist areas such as Gender and Sexuality in Britain: 1880-2000, Global Feminisms, Counter-Terrorism Policing, and European Union Law.
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
112-96 UCAS Tariff points. We accept A Levels, T Levels, BTECs, OCR, Access to HE and most other qualifications within the UCAS Tariff. 3 GCSEs at grade C, or grade 4, or above, including English. If English is not your first language you will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 6.0 (Academic level) or equivalent English Language qualification, as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University.
What students say
Based on about 8 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 85%
- Learning opportunities: 84%
- Assessment and feedback: 84%
- Academic support: 85%
- Organisation and management: 80%
- Learning resources: 77%
- Student voice: 80%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 10 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 75%
- Left higher education: 25%
What graduates do next
Based on about 10 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 70%
- Working and studying: 15%
- Further study: 5%
Most common jobs
- Protective service occupations: 30%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 20%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Secretarial and related occupations: 10%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 84%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 66%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 75%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 375 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 1%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 1%
- East Midlands: 4%
- West Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 67%
- London: 15%
- South East: 5%
- South West: 3%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 10 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 90%
- Other HE qualification: 10%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Introduction to Politics and International Relations
- Global Affairs
- A History of Now
- Political Thought
- Into ARU
- From World War to Cold War
- Give Peace a Chance: Fundamental Issues and Perspectives on Contemporary International Relations
- Researching Society and Culture
- Ruskin Module
- The United States in the 20th Century
- Intoxicants and Intoxication
- The British Empire 1783-1919
- International Human Rights
- Welfare State to European State: Britain 1906-1975
- Mobilities and Migration
- Ireland and the Irish after Independence
- Undergraduate Major Project
- Hitler to the Hashtag: Political Communication in Peace and War
- From Theory to Practice International Relations in the 21st Century
- A Global History of Government and Society, 1945-1999
- Research Communication
- Gender and Sexuality in Britain: 1880-2000
- Race, Racism and Ethnic Identity
- From Communism to Consumerism: Russia since 1917
- Global Feminisms
- From Workhouses to Universal Credit: The Past, Present and Future of the British Welfare State
- The Era of Thatcher and Blair
- The Making of Modern Media
- Comparative and Global Criminal Justice
- Counter-Terrorism Policing
- Organised Crime
- European Union Law
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Politics and International Relations at Anglia Ruskin University earn?
The median salary is £28,000 after 15 months, £23,000 after 3 years, £27,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £21,000 and £34,500. The £27,500 median after five years is £6,500 less than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA Politics and International Relations at Anglia Ruskin University do next?
95% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2022-23).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Politics and International Relations at Anglia Ruskin University?
85% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2024-25.
What grades do I need for BA Politics and International Relations at Anglia Ruskin University?
The average entrant had 63 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA Politics and International Relations at Anglia Ruskin University?
75% of students continued into their second year, and 25% left higher education.