BSc Politics and International Relations
About this course
BSc in Politics and International Relations, a politics degree exploring global affairs, political systems and public policy. Core topics include Data Analysis, Statistics, Research Methods, and Policy Analysis. The curriculum includes a compulsory final-year dissertation. The first year covers foundational concepts through International Conflict and Cooperation, Democracy and Authoritarianism, Science, Scientific Discovery and Statistics, and Foundations of Political Thought. The second year builds methodological and theoretical competence via Qualitative Research Methods, Ethics and Public Policy, and Quantitative Data Analysis. Optional modules allow specialisation in areas such as British Politics, International Security, Politics of the European Union, and International Development and Public Policy. In the third year, students complete a compulsory Dissertation module alongside advanced optional study.
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
A level: AAA (An essay-based subject preferred.) IB: 38 points (A total of 18 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5. Higher level in an essay-based subject is preferred.)
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 15%: 121 offers from 817 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 55 final-year students who answered
- Teaching on my course: 86%
- Learning opportunities: 74%
- Assessment and feedback: 62%
- Academic support: 84%
- Organisation and management: 75%
- Learning resources: 90%
- Student voice: 69%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 110 students who started
- Continued on course: 96%
- Left higher education: 3%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 1%
What graduates do next
Based on about 20 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 55%
- Working and studying: 20%
- Further study: 20%
Most common jobs
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 15%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Media Professionals: 10%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 10%
- Information Technology Professionals: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 90%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 75%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 20 graduates, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- North West: 5%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 15%
- London: 60%
- South East: 15%
- South West: 5%
Who gets in
Based on about 130 students who started
- A levels: 53%
- Baccalaureate: 33%
- A degree: 9%
- Other HE qualification: 2%
- Other qualifications: 3%
- No formal qualifications: 1%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- International Conflict and Cooperation
- Democracy and Authoritarianism
- Science, Scientific Discovery and Statistics
- Foundations of Political Thought
- Public Sector Economics
- Policy Making
- Climate Change: Politics and Policy
- Extremism and Populism
- Refugees
- Protest and Revolution
- Prejudice, Inclusion and Equal Rights
- Political Violence
- Economic Inequality and Democracy
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Ethics and Public Policy
- Quantitative Data Analysis
- British Politics
- International Security
- Politics of the European Union
- International Development and Public Policy
- Gender and Politics
- Global Environmental Politics
- Human Rights and World Politics
- Welfare Politics
- The Ethics of Crime and Punishment
- Authority, Democracy and Resistance
- Dissertation
- Causal Analysis in Data Science
- Measurement in Data Science
- British Politics
- International Security
- Politics of the European Union
- International Development and Public Policy
- Gender and Politics
- Global Environmental Politics
- Human Rights and World Politics
- Welfare Politics
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BSc Politics and International Relations at University College London earn?
The median salary is £32,000 after 15 months, £33,500 after 3 years, £48,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £33,000 and £65,500. The £48,000 median after five years is £14,000 more than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BSc Politics and International Relations at University College London do next?
95% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2022-23).
Are students happy with the teaching on BSc Politics and International Relations at University College London?
86% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2024-25.
What grades do I need for BSc Politics and International Relations at University College London?
The typical offer is AAA at A level, or 38 points in the IB. The average entrant had 191 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BSc Politics and International Relations at University College London?
15% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 121 offers from 817 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
How many students continue on BSc Politics and International Relations at University College London?
96% of students continued into their second year, and 3% left higher education.