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International Relations BA (Hons)

Learn how to analyse contemporary events in international politics and develop responses to them.

Overview

Global forces are shaping our decisions on crucial issues in contemporary international politics.

On this course you will develop an in-depth understanding of some of the crucial developments impacting our world including the rise of China and India, the crisis in Syria, the challenges of facing terrorism and the persistence of poverty and inequality in the global south.

Choose from a wide range of modules including Global Comparative Politics, Corruption and its Avoidance, Making of a Global World, Politics of Nationalism and American Presidency.

Our teaching links theory and practice through simulations, engagement with House of Commons committees and the DMU Policy Commission – a supervised project-based module where staff and students work together to co-produce policy proposals in response to a contemporary political issue.

Key features

  • You will have the opportunity to go on field trips to the House of Commons and further afield to EU institutions in Brussels and our partner institution in Hong Kong.
  • DMU is the only university in the UK to hold both ‘Congress to Campus’ and ‘European Parliament to Campus’ events, featuring visits from prominent political figures to enhance your study experience.
  • DMU is recognised as a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence because of the high standards of research and teaching in European Studies.
  • Enjoy an international experience linked directly to your studies through our DMU Global programme. International Relations students have recently visited Hong Kong, Berlin, Washington D.C. and New York. Students in Brussels gained an understanding of the history of Europe and how that’s shaped life today.

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.

More courses like this

Politics BA (Hons)

 

  • UK
  • EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course codes: L250

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.

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Book an Open Day

Submit a study-related enquiry

Institution code: D26

UCAS course codes: L250

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.

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

  • A typical offer is 112 UCAS points from at least two A-levels, or 
  • BTEC National Diploma/Extended Diploma at DMM

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

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

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

  • Introduction to Politics
  • Introduction to Contemporary International Relations
  • Global Comparative Politics
  • Introduction to Globalisation

Year 2

  • Politics in Action
  • Themes and Debates in Contemporary International Relations Theory
  • Political Analysis

Plus two of the following options:

  • The Making of a Global World
  • The Politics of the European Union
  • Unity and Diversity in Contemporary America
  • Corruption and its Avoidance

Year 3

These options:

  • International Relations Dissertation
  • International Security in a Globalised World
  • Politics of Nationalism
  • Globalisation and Democracy
  • American Presidency
  • Policy Commission
  • Power, Politics and Morality

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Teaching and assessment

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, group work and self-directed study. Assessment is through coursework (presentations, essays and reports) and usually an exam or test, which is typically weighted as follows in your first year:

  • Exam: 33%
  • Coursework: 67%

These assessment weightings are indicative only. The exact weighting may vary depending on option modules chosen by students and teaching methods deployed by the academic member of staff each year. Indicative assessment weighting and assessment type per module are shown as part of the module information. Again these are based on the current academic session. 

Contact hours

This is a full-time course. Each module is worth 30 credits. It is expected that student will spend a total of 300 hours of study for each module. You should be prepared to devote approximately 10 contact hours a week to your studies and additional independent hours of study in order to succeed. Teaching is through a mix of lectures, tutorials, seminars and lab sessions and the breakdown of these activity types is shown in each module description.

Other: In addition, each module provides a two-hour surgery each week for individual consultation with the lecturer. You will also have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor and careers and/or subject meetings scheduled throughout the year.

Self-directed study: In order to prepare for, and assimilate, the work in lectures and seminars you will be expected to use our on-line resources, participate in flipped or virtual classroom discussions on our virtual learning environment (VLE) and engage in personal study and revision for approximately 25 hours per week.

Facilities and features

 
Placements
Placements
Placements
 

Hugh Aston Building

You will have access to our purpose-built Hugh Aston Building, equipped with lecture theatres and classrooms, break-out spaces for group work, quiet study zones for individual work and IT labs. Wherever possible, students will be given home access to specialist software.

You’ll also have access to the building’s new £5.5 million extension called The Yard, which provides more than 22,000 square metres of extra space. This is designed to facilitate your learning experience with large and airy breakout spaces, a new Student Advice Centre, and a balcony on the top floor. The Yard also features more comfortable classrooms and self-study spaces, allowing you to carry out independent study as well as group work.

 

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.

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.

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 Rolls Royce, GlaxoSmithKline, Heathrow Airport and the House of Commons.

We advertise posts in all locations in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, including some international posts.

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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.

Through DMU Global, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

International Relations students have visited Germany to participate on a trip called Berlin and the Cold War which enabled students to develop their knowledge of the Cold War by gaining an in-depth understanding of the city’s crucial position at the centre of the Cold War.

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Graduate careers

The course prepares you for roles within a range of public and private organisations.

Recent graduates have gone onto careers such as Communications officer at the UK Ministry of Defence, Case Worker at Ministry of Justice, Internal Communications Advisor at Heathrow and Prosecution Manager at Arriva Rail North. 

Business and Globalisation student Gareth Watson was offered a role in project management with Defence Aerospace - Rolls-Royce during his final year at DMU. Find out more here.

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