BA History and International Relations
Queen Mary University of London
About this course
BA (Hons) in History and International Relations, a politics and international relations and history degree centered on the interplay between historical developments and global political structures. Core topics include Research Methods. The course culminates in a final-year dissertation or special subject across history, politics, or international relations. The first year covers initial foundations through History in Practice and Introduction to International Relations. The second year focuses on methodological training via the History Research Project. In the third year, students complete compulsory studies including The First Age of Globalisation: Money, Race, and Empire 1850-1933 and The Kennedy Years. Optional modules across the degree span topics such as British history, political analysis, international relations theory, and global humanitarianism.
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
History and International Relations - BA (Hons): A-Level: Grades BBB at A-Level. IB: International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum of 30 points overall, including 5,5,5 from three Higher Level subjects. BTEC: See our detailed subject and grade requirements. Access HE: We consider applications from students with the Access to Higher Education Diploma. The minimum academic requirement is to achieve 60 credits overall with 45 credits at Level 3, of which 15 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. This must include at least 6 Level 3 credits in History modules at Distinction. GCSE: Both GCSE English and Maths at grade C or 4 or an acceptable equivalent will be required. EPQ: Alternative offers may be made to applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification. For further information please visit: qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry/epq. Contextualised admissions: Our standard contextual offer: BCC at A-Level. Our enhanced contextual offer: CCC at A-Level. More information on our contextual offer criteria can be found on our contextualised admissions page . Please note that General Studies and Critical Thinking are excluded from any A-Level offer and cannot be considered.
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What students say
Based on about 137 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 92%
- Learning opportunities: 89%
- Assessment and feedback: 88%
- Academic support: 94%
- Organisation and management: 87%
- Learning resources: 86%
- Student voice: 86%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 220 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 87%
- Left higher education: 6%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 7%
What graduates do next
Based on about 127 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 55%
- Working and studying: 15%
- Further study: 11%
- Unemployed: 10%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 19%
- Administrative occupations: 15%
- Teaching Professionals: 10%
- Sales occupations: 6%
- Natural and social science professionals: 6%
- Find their work meaningful: 69%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 54%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 41%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 215 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 3%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 1%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 3%
- East of England: 8%
- London: 69%
- South East: 8%
- South West: 4%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 120 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 87%
- Baccalaureate: 5%
- Access course: 3%
- Foundation course: 1%
- A degree: 1%
- Other HE qualification: 1%
- Other qualifications: 2%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- History in Practice
- Introduction to International Relations
- Unravelling Britain: British History since 1801
- Global Encounters: Conquest and Culture in World History
- Background to British Politics
- Building the American Nation 1756-1900
- Controversies of Science and Technology in the Making of the Modern World
- Europe 1000-1500: The Middle Ages and their legacy
- Europe in a Global Context since 1800
- Global Histories
- Reformation to Revolution: Europe and the World 1500-1800
- Screening History: Representing the Past in the Contemporary Historical Film
- The Foundations of Modern Thought: Introduction to Intellectual History
- Political Analysis
- Politics in Action
- History Research Project
- The American Century: The History of the United States, 1900-2000
- International Relations Theory
- Totalitarianism: Authoritarian Politics in History and Theory, 1920-2003
- The International Politics of the Developing World
- History of Political Thought
- War in World Politics
- Colonialism, Capitalism and Development
- Madness and Medicine in Modern Britain
- Japanese Film: History, Culture and Fantasy
- Women and Gender in Medieval Islam
- Either a History special subject and dissertation or a dissertation in Politics or International Relations
- The First Age of Globalisation: Money, Race, and Empire 1850-1933
- The Kennedy Years
- The War on Terror
- The Idea of 'the West': A History from the Nineteenth to the Twenty-First Century
- Global History of Pandemics from Plague to Coronavirus
- Internationalisms: People, Power and Politics Beyond Borders
- Colonial Fascism: A Global History from Blackshirt Invasion to Black Power
- Cold War America 1945 – 1975
- Nationalism & Ethnicity in International Relations
- The Germans and the Jews since 1871
- Totalitarianism: History & Theory of Twentieth Century Authoritarian Politics
- The Atlantic Slave Trade: Africa, Europe, and the Americas from the Sixteenth to the Nineteenth Centuries
- Saving the World? A Global History of Humanitarianism in the Long Twentieth Century
- Counterrevolutions: Mass Politics and the Birth of the Modern Right, 1790-1870
- Africa and International Politics
- Latin American Politics
- Antifascism and The Global Cold War
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA History and International Relations at Queen Mary University of London earn?
The median salary is £27,500 after 15 months, £27,000 after 3 years, £33,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £27,500 and £40,500. The £33,500 median after five years is £500 less than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA History and International Relations at Queen Mary University of London do next?
81% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2022-23).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA History and International Relations at Queen Mary University of London?
92% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2024-25.
What grades do I need for BA History and International Relations at Queen Mary University of London?
The typical offer is BBB at A level, or 30 points in the IB. The average entrant had 140 UCAS points.
Does BA History and International Relations at Queen Mary University of London include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on BA History and International Relations at Queen Mary University of London?
87% of students continued into their second year, and 6% left higher education.