Undergraduate Study

Course content

Our Course Information Documents (CIDs) are designed to give you all of the details you need to make an informed decision about what and where to study.

Single Honours Course Information Document (PDF) Dual Honours and Major Minor Course Information Document (PDF)

Looking for a more complete list of modules? You can view the module list for 2016 entry on our Module Catalogue. Please note this is not a guaranteed module list for future intakes:

Module Catalogue

Single Honours

Below is an indicative range of modules you could study as part of single honours International Relations. 

First year 

Core modules: 

• Introduction to International Relations 
• The Changing World: International Relations since 1945
• Securing Global Order
• Introduction to Global Political Economy

Elective modules: 

• Why Politics Matters
• British Politics Since 1945
• Contemporary Political Issues and Debates
• The Politics of Sustainability
• Modern Democracy
• Justice, Authority and Power
• How to Think
• Environmental Ethics

Second year

Core modules: 

• Contemporary International Relations Theory
• Peace, Conflict and Security: Theories and Practice

Optional core modules: 

• International Relations of Eurasia
• U.S. Government
• German Government and Politics
• Balkan Politics
• British Government and Politics
• International Relations of the Environment
• The Politics of the European Union
• The Practice of Politics
• Power to the People
• Russian Politics and Society
• Work Experience in Politics, International Relations and Philosophy 

Third year

Optional core modules: 

• Arms Control and Disarmament 
• The Missing Dimension: Conspiracies, Spying and International Relations 
• The Modern Middle East: Conflict, Competition and Cooperation
• The Global South
• The Left in Modern Politics
• Feminist Theory
• The U.S. Presidency
• The European Union and Eastern Europe
• Communism and Post- communism in Eastern Europe
• Russia and Europe: Hopes for Partnership, Legacy of Confrontation
• Party Systems and Elections
• Policing International Order
• Proliferation
• The Other Middle East: Power, People and Politics
• The Northern Dimension: Resources, Environment and Security in the Arctic
• The Falklands War 1982
• The Extreme Right in Western Europe
• Human Rights: Concepts, Norms and Identities
• Sustainability and Social Justice
• Urban Politics
• Environmental Politics in the US
• Protest and Social Movements
• Dissertation  

Dual Honours

Below is an indicative range of modules you could study as part of dual honours International Relations. 

First year

Core modules: 

• Introduction to International Relations 
• Securing Global Order

Elective modules

• The Changing World: International Relations since 1945 
• Why Politics Matters
• British Politics Since 1945
• Contemporary Political Issues and Debates
• The Politics of Sustainability
• Introduction to Global Political Economy
• Modern Democracy
• Justice, Authority and Power
• How to Think
• Environmental Ethics 

Second year 

Core modules: 

• Contemporary International Relations Theory
• Peace, Conflict and Security: Theories and Practice 

Elective modules: 

• International Relations of Eurasia
• U.S. Government
• German Government and Politics
• Balkan Politics
• British Government and Politics
• International Relations of the Environment
• The Politics of the European Union
• The Practice of Politics
• Power to the People
• Russian Politics and Society
• Work Experience in Politics, International Relations and Philosophy

Third year 

Optional core modules: 

• Arms Control and Disarmament
• The Missing Dimension: Conspiracies, Spying and International Relations 
• The Modern Middle East: Conflict, Competition and Cooperation
• The Global South
• The Left in Modern Politics
• Feminist Theory
• The U.S. Presidency
• The European Union and Eastern Europe
• Communism and Post- communism in Eastern Europe
• Russia and Europe: Hopes for Partnership, Legacy of Confrontation
• Party Systems and Elections
• Policing International Order
• Proliferation
• The Other Middle East: Power, People and Politics 
• The Northern Dimension: Resources, Environment and Security in the Arctic
• The Falklands War 1982
• The Extreme Right in Western Europe
• Human Rights: Concepts, Norms and Identities
• Sustainability and Social Justice
• Urban Politics
• Environmental Politics in the US
• Protest and Social Movements
• Dissertation 

Major Minor

Below is an indicative range of modules you could study as part of major honours International Relations. 

First year

Core modules: 

• Introduction to International Relations 
• Securing Global Order

Elective modules: 

• The Changing World: International Relations since 1945 
• Why Politics Matters
• British Politics Since 1945
• Contemporary Political Issues and Debates
• The Politics of Sustainability
• Introduction to Global Political Economy
• Modern Democracy
• Justice, Authority and Power
• How to Think
• Environmental Ethics 

Second year 

Core modules: 

• Contemporary International Relations Theory
• Peace, Conflict and Security: Theories and Practice 

Elective modules: 

• International Relations of Eurasia
• U.S. Government
• German Government and Politics
• Balkan Politics
• British Government and Politics
• International Relations of the Environment
• The Politics of the European Union
• The Practice of Politics
• Power to the People
• Russian Politics and Society
• Work Experience in Politics, International Relations and Philosophy

Third year 

Optional core modules: 

• Arms Control and Disarmament
• The Missing Dimension: Conspiracies, Spying and International Relations 
• The Modern Middle East: Conflict, Competition and Cooperation
• The Global South
• The Left in Modern Politics
• Feminist Theory
• The U.S. Presidency
• The European Union and Eastern Europe
• Communism and Post- communism in Eastern Europe
• Russia and Europe: Hopes for Partnership, Legacy of Confrontation
• Party Systems and Elections
• Policing International Order
• Proliferation
• The Other Middle East: Power, People and Politics 
• The Northern Dimension: Resources, Environment and Security in the Arctic
• The Falklands War 1982
• The Extreme Right in Western Europe
• Human Rights: Concepts, Norms and Identities
• Sustainability and Social Justice
• Urban Politics
• Environmental Politics in the US
• Protest and Social Movements
• Dissertation 

Skills and Careers

What will this mean for my future? 

This course provides an invaluable lens through which to see and approach the world, which appeals to many employers. You might work in journalism, the civil service or the European Parliament or as a political researcher for an MP or thinktank. You might join international organisations such as aid and development agencies, charity foundations or businesses. About 25% of graduates from this course study for higher degrees. Some of our well-known graduates include Laurence Mann, the political private secretary to David Cameron, Farah Faisal, Higher Commissioner for the Maldives, and Paul Rimmer, Director at the Ministry of Defence.

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Codes and Combinations

Codes and Combinations

For overseas students who do not meet direct entry requirements, we offer the opportunity to take an intensive International Year One in International Relations and Politics leading to second year degree entry.

Popular combinations

International Relations and Politics

International Relations and Politics are closely related, sharing several important concepts and many practical concerns, such as global inequality, climate change, globalisation, human rights and security. Both disciplines address issues concerning government, power, justice and the future of political community at various levels.

International Relations and Philosophy

Questions of International Relations often conceptually overlap with questions of political and moral philosophy, and there is a shared concern between the two disciplines with a wide range of contemporary issues, such as climate change, genetic engineering and global inequality. Both are interested in issues about government, social structures, power, justice and the relationship between the individual and the state. The clarity and precision in analysis provided by training in Philosophy complements the wide-ranging scope of International Relations concerns, many of which have profound ethical implications of the kind dealt with in moral philosophy.

Students are candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) (BA Hons) if their two principal courses are in humanities and/or social science subjects.

All students who study a science subject are candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Science (with Honours) (BSc Hons).

Full Unistats data is available at unistats.direct.gov.uk (opens new window)

Study abroad

For those taking a dual honours course it may be possible to choose an International Year as part of your degree resulting in a 4 year course.

On the International Relations programme you have the opportunity to spend a semester abroad in your second year studying at one of Keele’s international partner universities. Exactly which countries are available depends on the syour choice of degree subjects. An indicative list of countries is on the website Partner Universities however this does not guarantee the availability of study in a specific country as this is subject to the university’s application process for studying abroad.

No additional tuition fees are payable for studying abroad but you do have to bear the costs of travelling to and from their destination university, accommodation, food and personal costs. Depending on the destination you are studying at additional costs may include visas, study permits, residence permits, and compulsory health checks. You should expect the total costs of studying abroad to be greater than if they study in the UK, information is made available from the Global Education Team throughout the process, as costs will vary depending on destination.