BA(Hons) Politics and International Relations (with Foundation Year)

Content

The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.

Year zero (foundation year)

All foundation year students study together and will take four compulsory modules covering introductions to Sociology, Criminology, Philosophy, Politics and International Relations, Psychology, and university level academic and study skills.

This will ensure that you have the necessary grounding across all the social science disciplines, enabling you to develop a range of perspectives that will enrich your learning at year one and beyond.

You'll study:

• Essentials of Academic Practice
• Exploring the Social World and the Problems of Crime
• From Plato to NATO
• People and Social Science.

You normally need to pass your foundation year before going into year one.

Year one

You'll study:

• Critical Thinking and Political Theory
• International Relations
• Politics of Crisis and Change
• Politics, States and Resistance.

Year two

You'll study:

• Governing Society
• Interrogating the International
• Political Innovation, Leadership and Communication.

Plus two optional modules from:

• Atrocities in Global Politics
• Foreign Policy
• Gender in Politics
• Global Political Economy.

At the discretion of the Programme Leader, a set of optional Independent Study modules may be made available to facilitate participation in, and completion of, study abroad exchange schemes. 

Placement year (if applicable)

If you study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work or study placement after year two.

You'll complete a placement learning module.

See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.

Final year

You'll study:

• Advanced Debates in International Relations
• Advanced Debates in Politics.

Plus, either one or two optional modules* from:

• Dissertation Project
• Global Governance
• Justice in Global Politics.

*You'll have the choice to study either one or two of these modules, but if you complete the Sandwich year you'll only study one of them.

Plus, optional modules (the amount depending on credit requirement)** from:

• Climate and Society
• Decolonisation in Theory and Practice
• Parliamentary Studies
• Terrorism: History, Myths and Policy.

**If you've studied two Final Year optional modules at this point, then none of these four modules will be available to study. 

This structure is for full-time students only. Part-time students study the same modules but the delivery pattern will be different.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.

Learning and Teaching

You'll learn through a combination of lectures, workshops, and hands-on activities. We have embedded practice-oriented learning at all levels of the course. You'll get involved in activities such as live briefs, simulation exercises, and conflict resolution games. We also have an active learning community where students and academic staff exchange ideas in research seminars, roundtable events, and guest lectures.

Where possible, you'll also have the opportunity to go on field trips to places such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to see modern politics in action.

Independent study is vital. You'll read around the subject in your own time, looking at books, articles, official documents and websites.

The course lecturers and tutors are involved in internationally-renowned research. Read about some of their work on e-International Relations.

You'll have a personal academic tutor, and peer-assisted learning (PAL), where you'll be mentored by a second or third year student.

Staff hold weekly office hours, where you can discuss your work or your progress more generally. We try to see you outside those times as well, and get back to any emails promptly.

Our teaching ethos is informal, supportive and welcoming.

See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.

Get involved

Attend our fortnightly student-staff events where guest speakers discuss contemporary issues and explain the role of politics in different professions. Recent topics have included: criminalising hate speech in a democratic society, the EU's role in the former Yugoslavia, and Iran's nuclear programme.

Keep up to date with the latest news and discuss contemporary political developments on the UWE Bristol Politics and International Relations X (formerly Twitter).

Study time

You'll have at least 12 hours of teaching and related activities each week.

Assessment

We'll assess you using a mix of essays, seminar presentations, timed assignments, case studies, literature reviews, oral presentations, simulation games, your dissertation and formal unseen examinations.

See our full glossary of assessment terms.