Politics and International Relations, BA (Hons)

COURSE OVERVIEW

Our Joint Honours Politics and International Relations degree is designed for students who are interested in domestic politics (including the study of political theory, states, elections, and parliaments) as well as politics between countries (with a focus on international relations theory, security studies, and conflict). The degree allows students to develop expertise in both areas and to explore topics (such as environmental politics, global political economy, and international development) where they intersect.

The course is designed to give students a strong grounding in both politics and international relations in the first year, before allowing greater specialization as well as increasing focus on the domestic/international intersection in the second year and building to a final year that centers on self-directed learning, allowing students flexibility to choose topics and areas that they wish to focus on. In the final year you also have the chance to take an internship with the Welsh Parliament and a British Parliamentary Studies module, partly taught by expert staff from the Houses of Parliament.

There is a strong emphasis on employability and skills across the degree, 91% of graduates are employed or in further study within six months of graduating (DLHE 2015).  Students on this course typically develop excellent oral and writing skills and you will learn to present your ideas in a range of formats, along with strong research, analytical and problem-solving skills.

Our graduates are truly international and are employed all around the world.

They have careers in:

• Government and politics
• Education
• Humanitarian organizations
• Business
• Media, communication, and public relations
• Law
• Public services

POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Overall, Politics and International Relations students can go into a wide range of careers, including: Political analysis & strategy; political research; electoral office; public policy; local government and public administration; corporate governance; political communication; political risk analysis; lobbying and advocacy; diplomacy; international civil service work; Security sector work; international humanitarian work.

Potential employers, including employers of recent graduates are: Political parties and organizations, the UK civil service (including FCO, Treasury, MOD, DFID), Devolved administrations (especially the Welsh Parliament); Local government (councils); Armed forces; the Police; PR and Communications firms; Education; Policy think tanks and foundations; Charities and non-governmental organizations; Inter-governmental organizations (e.g. World Bank, United Nations Development Programme); Broadcast, digital and print media organizations (e.g. BBC) ; Social media companies; Management consultancies; Security firms and risk consultancies (e.g. Control Risks).