BA Politics and International Relations
Queen Mary University of London
About this course
BA (Hons) in Politics and International Relations, a politics and international relations degree centred on political thought, institutions, and global systems. Core topics include Research Methods, Policy Analysis, and Global & Comparative Perspective. The curriculum includes a final-year dissertation, and students have opportunities to undertake internships and study abroad. The first year establishes core foundations through compulsory modules such as Thinking Politically: Introduction to concepts, theories and ideologies, Introduction to International Relations, Political Analysis, and Politics in Action, alongside optional choices like Background to British Politics and Global Histories. The final year centres on the compulsory Dissertation in Politics/International Relations, supported by a broad range of optional study areas. Optional modules span regional and thematic subjects, including Africa and International Politics, American Politics, Carceral State and Social Movements, Environmental Politics, Gender and Politics, Parliamentary Studies, and US Foreign Policy.
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
Politics and International Relations - BA (Hons): A-Level: Grades ABB at A-Level. IB: International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum of 32 points overall, including 6,5,5 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. Applications are considered on a case by case basis. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not make offers of study purely on the basis of meeting grade requirements. 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: BBC at A-Level. Our enhanced contextual offer: BCC 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.
Real offers for this course
Applicants have posted 2 UCAS decisions for BA Politics and International Relations (L240) at Queen Mary University of London for 2027 entry so far. The published offer is ABB at A level.
What students say
Based on about 7 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 90%
- Learning opportunities: 88%
- Assessment and feedback: 86%
- Academic support: 85%
- Organisation and management: 95%
- Learning resources: 77%
- Student voice: 90%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 85%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 15%
What graduates do next
Based on about 60 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 65%
- Working and studying: 9%
- Further study: 7%
- Unemployed: 13%
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: 65%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 50%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 30%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 270 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 1%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 1%
- East Midlands: 1%
- West Midlands: 1%
- East of England: 8%
- London: 78%
- South East: 8%
- South West: 1%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 80%
- Baccalaureate: 5%
- Foundation course: 15%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Thinking Politically: Introduction to concepts, theories and ideologies
- Introduction to International Relations
- Political Analysis
- Politics in Action
- Background to British Politics
- Global Histories
- Dissertation in Politics/International Relations
- Africa and International Politics
- American Politics, Carceral State and Social Movements
- Analysing Public Policy
- Analysing Public Policy: Independent Study
- Civil Society – Internship
- Civil Society: Democracy, Activism and Social Change
- Contemporary Russian Politics
- Critical Currents in North American Political Thought
- Environmental Politics
- Gender and Politics
- Global Ethics
- Global Politics of Health and Disease
- Globalisation: Issues and Debates
- Latin American Politics
- Making Democracy Work: Public Opinion, Representation and Information
- Migration and the Politics of Belonging
- Nationalism & Ethnicity in International Relations
- Parliamentary Studies
- Parliamentary Studies (Internship)
- Political Violence and Liberal Modernity
- Politics of South Asia
- Politics of South Asia – Independent Research
- Populism in 21st Century Europe
- Populism: A Global Perspective
- Race and Anti-Racism in World Politics
- Radical Politics Today
- Socialist Political Thought
- Technology, Politics, War
- The Political Economy of Southeast Asia
- The Politics of the Anti-Colonial
- The Political Life of Security Methods
- The Politics of the Post-Colonial Middle East
- US Foreign Policy
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Politics and International Relations at Queen Mary University of London earn?
The median salary is £31,000 after 15 months, £32,000 after 3 years, £42,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £32,000 and £55,000. The £42,500 median after five years is £8,500 more than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA Politics and International Relations at Queen Mary University of London do next?
80% 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 Queen Mary University of London?
90% 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 Queen Mary University of London?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 156 UCAS points.
Does BA Politics 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 Politics and International Relations at Queen Mary University of London?
85% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.