Course content

Whether you want to understand the crisis in the Middle East or climate change, you need to understand both the internal politics of the countries involved as well as how different groups interact across borders. A degree in International Relations and Politics at Keele will equip you with the necessary tools to understand and explain how power operates and how we might begin to tackle these issues. You will study contemporary and policy relevant issues such as democracy, global inequality, protest, globalisation, regime change, energy security, environmental sustainability, human rights and gender politics. You can underpin these issues through an in-depth study of particular countries such as Britain, the United States of America and Russia as well as regions in Europe, Eurasia, Africa and the Middle East.

New Parliamentary Studies module - 2019/20
 
We are thrilled to have been chosen as 1 of 24 Universities who will offer a new, innovative and unique Parliamentary Studies module from the 2019/20 academic year. The aim of the rigorous course is to provide you with detailed knowledge of how Parliament works in both theory and practice. It is approved by and taught in collaboration with the UK Parliament and delivered in partnership with a number of higher education institutions. Find out more  

 

 

Course structure

Our degree courses are organised into modules. Each module is usually a self-contained unit of study and each is usually assessed separately with the award of credits on the basis of 1 credit = 10 hours of student effort. An outline of the structure of the programme is provided in the tables below.

There are three types of module delivered as part of this programme. They are:

• Compulsory modules: a module that you are required to study on this course;
• Optional modules: these allow you some limited choice of what to study from a list of modules;
• Elective modules: a free choice of modules that count towards the overall credit requirement but not the number of subject-related credits.

Students may choose to study elective modules which are offered as part of other programmes in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and across the University. These include:

• Modules in other subjects closely related to International Relations.
• Modules in other subjects in which they may have a particular interest such as  History
• Modules designed to help students for whom it is not their first language to improve their use of English for Academic Purposes.
• Modern foreign languages modules at different levels in French, German, Spanish, Russian, Japanese and Chinese (Mandarin).
• Free standing modules related to the development of graduate attributes, student volunteering, and studying abroad as part of the University’s exchange programme.

International Relations Each year you MUST take a minimum of 45 credits in International Relations. In years 1 and 2 this is achieved by taking two compulsory modules and one optional module. You must also take a minimum of 45 credits in your other principal subject. Your remaining 30 credits may be selected from the list of International Relations optional modules, modules from your other principal subject, or from the range of elective modules provided by other disciplines.

Year 1 (Level 4)

International Relations Year 1 (Level 4)

The two compulsory First year modules provide students with a thorough grounding in the study skills needed for International Relations and an introduction to the nature and scope of International Relations as a discipline. They expose students to the various traditions or schools of thought that have tried to make sense of international politics and familiarise them with many of the problems addressed by, and concepts employed in, the discipline of International Relations. These include war and peace, order and intervention, the balance of power, diplomacy and international organisation, territoriality and the sovereign state, equity and justice, territoriality and governmentality.  International Relations students may also learn about the workings of the global political economy, gain a solid background in the main developments in international history throughout and beyond the Cold War, or examine aspects of the study of Politics.

Compulsory modules	Credits	Optional modules	Credits
Introduction to International Relations	15	The Changing World	15
Securing Global Order	15	Introduction to Global Political Economy	15
		Why Politics Matters	15
		Justice, Authority and Power	15

Politics Year 1 (Level 4) (minimum of 3 modules to be taken)

Compulsory modules	Credits	Optional modules	Credits
Why Politics Matters	15	Debates in American Politics	15
Modern Democracies	15	Justice, Authority and Power	15
		Introduction to International Relations	15
		Securing Global Order	15
		The politics of sustainability	15
		Introduction to Global Politics Economy (GPE)	15

Year 2 (Level 5)

International Relations Year 2 (Level 5)

In the second year students build on the foundations laid in the first year. The two compulsory modules cover core aspects of contemporary international politics: the roles and functions of international institutions, organisations and regimes in mitigating anarchy; the contending perspectives on international relations and contemporary developments in theoretical approaches to the IR discipline. Students have the opportunity also to study a number of specialised aspects of International Relations such as the International Relations of Eurasia, the Modern Middle East, African Politics or the Politics of the European Union or to take modules offered in the Politics programme. They may also take the Work Experience module offered by the School of Politics, Philosophy, International Relations and Environment.

Compulsory modules	Credits	Optional modules	Credits
Contemporary International Relations Theory	15	The International Relations of Eurasia	15
International Organisation: Mitigating Anarchy	15	The Politics of the European Union	15
		African Politics	15
		The Modern Middle East	15
		US Government and Politics	15
		Russian Politics and Society	15
		British Government and Politics	15
		Freedom and Equality	15
		Why Policy Changes	15
		The Practice of Politics	15
		Work Experience in Politics, International Relations and Philosophy	15
		Peace, Conflict and Security	15

Politics Year 2 (Level 5) (minimum of 3 modules to be taken)

Optional modules	Credits	Optional modules	Credits
US Government and Politics	15	British Governance and Politics	15
Russian Politics and Society	15	The Politics of the European Union	15
Foreign Policy	15	Freedom and Equality	15
Environmental Politics and Policy	15	The Practice of Politics	15
Contemporary International Relations Theory	15	International Organisation: Mitigating Anarchy	15
International Relations of Eurasia: Challenges of Globalisation and Geopolitics	15	The Practice of Politics	15
The Practice of Politics	15	Work Experience in Politics, International Relations and Philosophy	15

Year 3 (Level 6)

International Relations Year 3 (Level 6)

In the third year students deepen their knowledge of selected topics in International Relations by choosing to study two or more modules in a range of subjects which vary from year to year but reflect the specialist expertise and active research interests of members of staff. Students taking Combined Honours International Relations may choose to write a research dissertation in International Relations, working under the guidance of a Supervisor who is a member of the academic staff of the School with expertise in the topic chosen by the student.

Compulsory modules	Credits	Optional modules	Credits
None		Dissertation in Politics and International Relations	30
		The Missing Dimension	15
		Politics of Development	15
		Israel-Palestine: Key Debates and Issue	15
		Policing International Order	15
		Britain and War since 1945: War, Cold War and Society	15
		Gendering Global Politics	15
		Understanding Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism	15
		Russia and Europe	15
		The Extreme Right in Western Europe	15
		The Left in Modern Politics	15
		Modern Russia	15
		Environmentalism, Environmental Movements and Protest	15

 

Politics Year 3 (Level 6) (2 or more modules)

Compulsory modules	Credits	Optional modules	Credits
Dissertation in Politics and IR	30	Modern Russia	15
		The Extreme Right in Western Europe	15
		Russia and Europe: Hopes for Partnership, Legacy of Confrontation	15
		Human Rights: Concepts, Norms and Identities	15
		The Modern Middle East: Conflict, Competition and Cooperation	15
		Contemporary Democratic Theory	15
		The Missing Dimension: Conspiracies, Spying and International Relations	15
		Politics of Development	15
		Israel/Palestine: Key Debates and Issues	15
		Policing International Order	15
		Gendering Global Politics	15
		Britain and War since 1945: War, Cold War And Society	15
		Understanding Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism	15
		The U.S. Presidency	15
		Environmental Political Economy	15
		Party Systems and Elections	15

 

If you choose to specialise in International Relations in your final year you will study the following modules:

Compulsory modules	Credits	Optional modules	Credits
Dissertation in Politics and International Relations	30	The Missing Dimension	15
		The Politics of Development	15
		Israel-Palestine: Key Debates and Issue	15
		Policing International Order	15
		Britain and War since 1945: War, Cold War and Society	15
		Gendering Global Politics	15
		Understanding Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism	15
		Russia and Europe	15
		The Extreme Right in Western Europe	15
		The Left in Modern Politics	15
		Modern Russia	15
		Environmentalism, Environmental Movements and Protest	15

If you choose to specialise in Politics in your final year you will study the following modules:

Compulsory modules	Credits	Optional modules	Credits
Dissertation in Politics and IR	30	Modern Russia	15
		The Extreme Right in Western Europe	15
		Russia and Europe: Hopes for Partnership, Legacy of Confrontation	15
		Human Rights: Concepts, Norms and Identities	15
		The Modern Middle East: Conflict, Competition and Cooperation	15
		Contemporary Democratic Theory	15
		The Missing Dimension: Conspiracies, Spying and International Relations	15
		Politics of Development	15
		Israel/Palestine: Key Debates and Issues	15
		Policing International Order	15
		Gendering Global Politics	15
		Britain and War since 1945: War, Cold War And Society	15
		Understanding Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism	15
		The U.S. Presidency	15
		Environmental Political Economy	15
		Party Systems and Elections	15

 

For further information on the content of modules currently offered, including the list of elective modules, please visit: www.keele.ac.uk/recordsandexams/a
z

The module details given above are indicative and will give you a good idea of the range of subjects that we teach. We regularly review our teaching to ensure that the modules we offer are up-to-date; therefore, the modules available to study are liable to change.

Entry requirements

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate’s application. Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements for United Kingdom, European Union and International students.

A Level requirements

• A Level requirement - CCC
  

GCSE requirements

• English Language at C (or 4)

BTEC

• BTEC requirements MMM

International Baccalaureate

• 26 points 

Access to HE Diploma requirements

• Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 96 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction. 

Not got the grades?

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, Foundation Year offers an alternative route to study for this degree.

PREPARATION PROGRAMMES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

International students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this course have the opportunity to study an International Foundation Year programme.

These courses are designed to prepare international students to enter into Keele University undergraduate degrees.

Fees and funding

Going to university can be a daunting as well as an exciting experience. It can be difficult to understand the true costs of being a student, as well as the financial support that is available to help you meet those costs.

We can help you to manage your funds, create a budget and ensure that you receive any funding for which you may be eligible. We also offer financial support such as the Keele University Hardship Fund and emergency loans.

For more information visit our money, advice and guidance section.

Career prospects

96% of Keele graduates were in a job or further study within six months of graduating (DLHE, 2017)

As an International Relations and Politics graduate, there will be many career possibilities available to you, both inside and outside the national and international world of politics. Our graduates are to be found in a wide range of jobs from commerce to industry as well as the civil service, journalism, law, security services, political research, diplomacy and teaching.

Some of our well-known graduates include Laurence Mann, the political private secretary to David Cameron, Jonty Bloom, Business correspondent for the BBC, Farah Faisal, High Commissioner for the Maldives and Paul Rimmer, Director at the Ministry of Defence.

You can gain an enhanced degree title that includes a foreign language competency. You can also graduate with an internationally recognised qualification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) by taking a series of four linked elective modules as part of your degree. If you do an International Year abroad, you will also graduate with an enhanced degree title, for example, ‘BA (Hons) in International Relations and Politics with International Year’.

Recent employers:

• Civil Service
• International Organisations
• Local Government
• The Police Service
• Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• Private Sector Companies

Jobs that a graduate of this course could go on to do:

• Public Affairs Consultant
• Government Research Officer
• Politician’s Assistant
• Public Affairs Consultant
• Social Research Officer
• Civil Service Fast Streamer 
• Local Government Officer 
• FE Lecturer

 

Regardless of which career you pursue after Keele, employers will want evidence of the range of skills and personal qualities you possess and which are required for the job. Your degree is clearly important in this respect but don’t forget the extra-curricular activities, positions of responsibility, jobs and voluntary work you may have been engaged in while studying at Keele. These activities allow you to demonstrate the skills and personal qualities required by employers and will be vital in your attempts to secure graduate employment.

It is estimated that 60% of jobs are open to graduates of any discipline. This demonstrates the flexibility of many graduate employers when setting out their academic requirements and that students are not necessarily restricted to careers related to their degree.

 

Find out more about our careers and employability services, including career planning, alumni mentoring, jobs, internships, starting your own business and much more.