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    International Relations and Politics - BA (Hons)

    Year of entry
    2022
    Course type
    Combined Honours
    Duration of study
    3 years/ 4 years with International Year
    Location
    Keele University campus
    Subject area / School
    Social, Political and Global Studies
    UCAS code
    L251
    • Entry requirements

      • Keele Undergraduate Enquiries Form

      Please submit your question in the form below and a member our enquiries team will be in touch with you shortly.











      Upon submitting this form, your enquiry will be forwarded on to our enquiries team who will contact you  to answer your question and provide further details about the course that you are interested in.

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      We will keep your data for the year that you first enquire with us plus 6 subsequent years. This is to ensure that you are legally protected should you have any issues with the use of your data.

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    Course overview

    International relations and politics are of vital importance to all of us in our daily lives. They concern fundamental choices about the ways in which societies are organised and the way we are governed, both within states and in the international community. You will be taught by researchers in the fields of international relations and politics exploring key issues relevant to your studies and working experience.

      Keele Undergraduate Enquiries Form

      Please submit your question in the form below and a member our enquiries team will be in touch with you shortly.











      Upon submitting this form, your enquiry will be forwarded on to our enquiries team who will contact you  to answer your question and provide further details about the course that you are interested in.

      Your Preferences




      What we’re going to do with your data and why?

      We will securely store your data and send you essential information (examples include updates on an application or booking confirmations for events such as Open Days).

      We would also like to send you useful information about studying at University (particularly Keele) and/or the courses that you have shown an interest in. To do this we need your consent and information on which communication channels you would like to hear from us on (please see opt-in boxes above).

      We will never sell your data to a third party. We only ever share data with companies involved in helping us communicate with you or helping us to manage your data (examples include; Online forms, Printers, Postal services, other University partners etc).

      How long are we keeping it?

      We will keep your data for the year that you first enquire with us plus 6 subsequent years. This is to ensure that you are legally protected should you have any issues with the use of your data.

      Unsubscribe

      By selecting no to the preferences above you will have unsubscribed, however, this does not mean that your data has been deleted. If you would like to invoke your right to be forgotten please refer to the section below.

      What to do if I change my mind?

      To change your preferences after you have closed this form, simply reopen the link to this page. For further information about how your data is held, including your right to be forgotten, please contact dpa@keele.ac.uk

    International Year

    Opportunities to study abroad and explore the world

    Global Top 300

    for International Relations and Politics THE World University Subject Rankings, 2022

    Top 10

    for Student Experience (Times, 2020)

    Student testimonials

    Course content

    Whether you want to understand Brexit, the crisis in the Middle East or climate change, you need to understand why governments make particular decisions and how different groups interact within states and 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 the most pressing domestic and global challenges. You will study contemporary and policy-relevant issues such as democracy, global inequality, protest, globalisation, regime change, energy security, environmental sustainability, human rights, gender politics and terrorism.

    You can underpin these issues through an in-depth study of particular countries such as Britain, the United States and Russia, as well as regions in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

    Enhancing Your Employability

    There are a number of opportunities to enhance your experience and career prospects at Keele, such as study abroad, learn a language, work placement options and volunteering, alongside a dedicated Careers and Employability team. Begin your journey and stand out from the crowd.

    COMBINATIONS

    International Relations is available as a Single or Combined Honours degree:

    Variations to 2020/21 courses

    Entry requirements

    Keele is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. On that basis we operate a range of 'alternative offer' schemes with clear eligibility criteria.

    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 and International students.

    A Level requirements

    • A Level requirement - BBC

    If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

    GCSE requirements

    • English Language at C (or 4)

    BTEC

    • BTEC requirements DMM

    If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

    International Baccalaureate

    • 29 points 

    Access to HE Diploma requirements

    • Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 112 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction. 

    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.

    Foundation year

    You may choose to study this course via foundation year.

    If you’re returning to education following a break, wish to study a new subject or don’t have the grades or sufficient equivalent experience for direct entry to this course, a foundation year may be a good option for you.

    Following successful completion (including any additional progression requirements) of the foundation year you can progress on to this course.

    The foundation year offers September starts across all subjects, and January starts across all science, humanities, social sciences and business routes.

    The January intake excludes the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degree with Foundation Year and other health-related foundation Year degree

    For more details visit our foundation year webpages.

    Foundation year

    Foundation Year Overview

    If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry onto the BA (Hons) International Relations and Politics degree, the Keele Foundation Year can provide an alternative route into your degree.

    Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years’ experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you’ll study on campus, joining our community from the outset, and you will have access to a range of support.

    Read on to find out about:

    • Foundation Year indicative modules for the September intake
    • Foundation Year entry requirements
    • How to apply
    • UCAS code for this course

    The information within this page is for students wishing to start their studies in September. If you would like to start this course in January, please visit our January pages for further details.

    Course Content

    Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.

    Our combined honours foundation year is a two semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BA (Hons) International Relations and Politics degree. For example, the Foundations of Social Sciences 1 module introduces you to the ‘backbone’ of social sciences, the concept of social inclusion, the factors that lead to exclusion and the impact this may have on individuals, families and communities. Meanwhile, the Foundations of Social Sciences 2 module considers the topic of migration and mobility by exploring how migrants are framed in terms of law, economy, data and the media over time and how ideas regarding migration are often shaped by socio-political discourses of ‘race’ and the ‘other’, creating an ‘us’ versus ‘them’ narrative. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do. 

    Find out more about the Keele Foundation Year, including information about teaching and assessment methods by visiting the Foundation Year homepage. 

    Course Structure

    The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

    Semester One Modules

    FYO-00247 Foundations: Breaking the code - Understanding Academic Writing 15 credits
    FYO-00263 Foundations of Social Sciences 1 15 credits
    FYO-00257 Foundations of Humanities 1 15 credits

    FYO-00265

     

    FYO-00259

    Foundations in Social Sciences 2

    Or

    Foundations in Humanities 2

    15 credits

     

    15 credits

    Semester Two Modules

    FYO-00269 Advancing Social Sciences 30 credits
    FYO-00271 University Research Portfolio 30 credits

    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.

    • Between 40-48 UCAS points from at least 1 A level/level 3 qualification or equivalent, or
    • Relevant work experience

    AND

    • GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C), or Level 2 Functional Skills, or
    • IELTS 5.5 (with 5.5 in all subtests) 

    How to Apply

    Students will need to apply for BA (Hons) International Relations with Foundation Year (UCAS code: L2L3) through UCAS at www.ucas.com. You will then be contacted to confirm your second subject by a member of our team.

    Direct Entry Students

    If you already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.

    Information for International Students

    International students who do not meet the entry requirements for this integrated Foundation Year course may be eligible to study an International Foundation Year stand alone programme.

    Please visit the International Foundation Year pages for information on how to apply, entry requirements and course details.

    To find additional course information to complement the information on this tab, please view our Foundation Year programme specifications.

    The offer you receive will be determined by your subject and application.

    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)

    Our graduates are to be found in a wide range of jobs from commerce to industry as well as government, the civil service, journalism, law, security services, political research, diplomacy and teaching. Some of our prominent graduates include Laurence Mann, political private secretary to David Cameron, Jonty Bloom, a Business correspondent for the BBC, Farah Faisal, High Commissioner for the Maldives and Paul Rimmer, Director at the Ministry of Defence, as well as a number of current MPs.

    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’.

    Previous 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.

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

    Additional opportunities

    Foundation year Learn a language International year Study abroad Explore more

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