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Politics and International Relations BA (Hons)

Everything is political. From local decisions about planning and parks to global conflicts, the events, ideas and issues that impact us all are shaped through Politics and International Relations. This course provides tools for understanding how governments and international institutions work and the skills to become effective changemakers.

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Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments - rather than lots of exams at the end of the year - and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging.

Read more about block teaching

Overview

Studying Politics and International Relations at DMU offers a dynamic experience, ranging from understanding theoretical ideas that underpin the way the world works to experiences beyond the classroom and engaging with real-world projects. This vibrant course will develop your understanding of political events and processes and the skills to use your knowledge in real-life settings. 

After a common core of modules that challenge you to think about politics from the local to the global, you will have the opportunity to follow one of two pathways specialising in either Politics or International Relations. On the Politics pathway, you can explore British Politics beyond Westminster, the politics of the Americas, race, identity and class in the City and the politics of sustainable futures. On the International Relations pathway, you will focus on global inequalities and development, security and peace issues and international crisis management. You will undertake a final project on a subject of your own choice, developing your skills and knowledge towards your career aspirations.

Key features

  • You will have the opportunity to engage with real political actors, including local councils, MPs and community organisations, on current issues.
  • Develop highly sought-after tranferable skills to prepare you for a wide range of careers related to Politics and International Relations and beyond.
  • Benefit from research-informed teaching from passionate academics who are actively engaged in the subjects taught, creating an intellectually stimulating learning environment.
  • Explore fascinating contemporary topics from environmental issues to poverty and inequality and sustainability. DMU is the only UK university to act as a global hub for UN Sustainable Development Goal 16 (to promote peace, justice and strong institutions).
  • Experience a range of teaching activities and a variety of assessment methods, ensuring your learning remains dynamic and enabling you to develop a broader range of skills.
  • Gain professional experience with placement opportunities that have seen students work in local government, not-for-proft organisations and with global companies.
  • Tailor the course to your own passions with a final project on a subject of your own choosing. Previous topics have included air pollution in London, the Black Lives Matter campaign, the rise of right-wing politics in the UK and cyber security in the USA.
  • Benefit from Education 2030, where a simplified ‘block learning’ timetable means you will study one subject at a time and have more time to engage with your learning, receive faster feedback and enjoy a better study-life balance.

Scholarships

DMU offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships and bursaries to help you realise your academic ambitions.

International student scholarships

Find out about available international scholarships or visit our fees and funding page for more information.


 

 

  • UK
  • EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course codes: L200

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with a placement.

Fees and funding: 

2024/25 tuition fees for UK students: £9,250

Find out more about course fees and available funding.

Find out more about additional costs and optional extras associated with this course.

Institution code: D26

UCAS course codes: L200

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with a placement.

Fees and funding:

2024/25 tuition fees for international students: £15,750.

Find out more about available funding for international students.

Find out more about additional costs and optional extras associated with this course.

Entry criteria

  • A typical offer is 112 UCAS points. You need to study at least two subjects at A-level or equivalent (eg BTEC)

Plus, five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English Language and Maths

Alternative qualifications include:

  • Pass Access with 30 Level 3 credits at Merit (or equivalent) with English (Language or Literature) and Maths GCSE required as separate qualifications at grade 4

We will normally require students to have had a break from full time education before undertaking the Access course

  • International Baccalaureate: 26+ points or
  • T Levels Merit

Mature students

We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard qualifications and recognise all other equivalent and international qualifications.

English language

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential. English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

UCAS tariff information

Students applying for courses starting in September will be made offers based on the latest UCAS Tariff.

Contextual offer 

To make sure you get fair and equal access to higher education, when looking at your application, we consider more than just your grades. So if you are eligible, you may receive a contextual offer. Find our more about contextual offers.

 

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessment

Contact hours

 

Year 1

  • Block one: Politics, People and Place
  • Block two: Ideas and Change in Politics and International Relations
  • Block three: Global Challenges: Politics and Social Policy
  • Block four: Democracy in Times of Crisis

Year 2

  • Block one: Making Public Policy
  • Block two: Political Research in Action
  • Block three: Choose one pathway from the below:
    • Politics pathway: Political Theory: Why Big Ideas Matter
    • International Relations pathway: Contemporary International Relations Theory
  • Block four: Choose one pathway from the below:
    • Politics pathway: Not in Westminster: National and Local Politics
    • International Relations pathway: Global Political Economy: Gender, Race and Class

Year 3

  • Block one: Choose one pathway from the below:
    • Politics pathway: The Politics of the Americas
    • International Relations pathway: Global Inequalities
  • Block two: Choose one pathway from the below:
    • Politics pathway: Decolonising Politics
    • International Relations pathway: Security, Peace and Conflict
  • Block three: Choose one pathway from the below:
    • Politics pathway: Sustainable Futures
    • International Relations pathway: Tackling Global Crises
  • Block four: Politics and International Relations Project

Overview

The course is delivered through lectures, workshops, seminars, tutorials, online activities, opportunities for field trips and self-directed study. Each module provides a two-hour surgery each week for individual consultation with the academic leading the course. You will also have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor and careers and/or subject meetings scheduled throughout the year.

We have developed a range of alternative and authentic assessments including podcasts, posters, policy papers, blog posts, reflective portfolios, projects and photo essays that provide different ways to demonstrate your skills.

Contact hours

In your first year you will normally attend up to 10 hours of timetabled taught sessions each week, and we expect you to undertake at least 28 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research. This is a full-time course and in total you should be prepared to devote approximately 28 hours a week to your studies. 

 

Facilities and features

More flexible ways to learn

 We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. 

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including the Virtual Learning Environment, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

Campus centre

The home of  De Montfort Students' Union, (DSU) our Campus Centre offers a welcoming and lively hub for student life. Conveniently located at the heart of campus, it includes a convenience store, a Subway and a Starbucks. Here you can find the DSU-owned charitable accommodation service Sulets and DSU’s shop, SUpplies, selling art supplies, stationery and clothing, and printing and binding services. The building is also home to the DSU officer team. 

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

DMU's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities DMU Careers Team

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Placements

As part of this course, you will have the option to complete a paid placement year which offers invaluable professional experience.

Our award-winning Careers Team, can help you secure a placement through activities such as mock interviews and practice aptitude tests, and you will be assigned a personal tutor to support you throughout your placement.

Our students have taken placements with companies including the House of Commons, Welsh Assembly, GlaxoSmithKline and Rolls Royce. Gavin undertook a placement in local government as a Democratic and Electoral Services Officer.  A highlight was his work on climate change, where Gavin acted as the lead coordinator on an event to present work contributing to the council’s target of reducing their environmental impact. He said: “I received excellent feedback from senior leaders, and it was such an honour to find out that my event has actually got the ball rolling on positive action to reduce the climate impact of the council.”

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DMU Global

Our innovative international experience programme DMU Global aims to enrich studies, broaden cultural horizons and develop key skills valued by employers. 

Through DMU Global, we offer an exciting mix of overseas, on-campus and online international experiences, including the opportunity to study or work abroad for up to a year.

 

Students on this course have visited Berlin to gain an in-depth understanding of the city’s crucial position at the centre of the Cold War.

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Graduate careers

This degree will empower you to apply academic theory to real-life situations. Our lecturers will equip you with the skills sought by employers – from communication and team working to independent research and critical analysis.

Graduates from this course have progressed to careers in the private and public sectors in positions such as Campaign Manager for Labour, Deputy Social Media Editor for the Independent, a graduate position on IBM’s sought-after HR Leadership Development Programme and a place on a Local Government trainee scheme.

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