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BA (Hons) Politics and International Relations

How to apply Come to an Open Day

Introduction to our Politics and International Relations degree

On our BA Politics and International Relations degree, you’ll study the workings of society and governments around the globe, including questions of power, justice, democracy, empire, security, revolution, activism, and identity.

Alumni success

Politics BA (Hons) graduate Natasha discusses her ARU journey and landing her 'dream role' working on Irish policy control with the UK Civil Service.

Natasha's story
Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2023 logo

Study at an award-winning university

We're the Times Higher Education (THE) University of the Year. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.

Our curriculum stretches from Africa to America to Britain and Europe. You’ll gain insights into change and continuity in national and global governance, how leaders and politicians have influenced such processes, and how the directions and decisions of political parties and institutions have affected the lives of ordinary people.

You’ll explore the impact of individual leaders like Tony Blair and Vladimir Putin alongside the role of international organisations and alliances, as well as wider issues of international conflict and world peace, consumption and trade, crime and terrorism, and media and communication.

In addition to the focus on politics and international relations, you’ll also gain a range of transferable skills to equip you for your graduate future. Your use of data analysis and different sources from government documents to focus groups plus innovative assessments that include, but go far beyond, the traditional essay, will give you an impressive narrative to tell in future job applications.

Course options

Course options

Key facts

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Entry Requirements

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Fees and Paying for University

Facilities

Outstanding student support

Join our student community in Cambridge and:

  • learn from expert tutors including historians, sociologists and political scientists
  • develop your own specialisms with a range of optional modules
  • choose to study in the USA for a semester, and apply for funding to help cover the cost
  • benefit from award-winning learning facilities, including extensive library and IT resources
  • access support, should you need it, with study skills, careers advice, health and wellbeing, and more.

Take a guided tour and meet our students.

Careers

As a BA (Hons) Politics and International Relations graduate, you could go on to work in a variety of fields, including local government, charities, NGOs, and European and international organisations and agencies. You might also explore career paths in public service, the criminal justice system, future energy policy and planning, security, negotiation and peacekeeping, or communication and media.

As part of your degree you have the option to learn a language, through our Anglia Language Programme. This can boost your employability in international areas such as UN conflict resolution and diplomacy.

You could also learn more, develop a specialism or start an exciting career in research with our MA International Relations, MA Sociology or MA Criminology. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Employability and personal career development

Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.

You will need to dedicate time outside of your course to develop your employability, through placements, internships or volunteering or through our partner scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). You can evidence this experience on your CV and talk about it in interviews to give you that all important edge.

Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.

Ana Serrano

“I learned to be flexible and adaptable to achieve excellent academic practice in different styles. The in-depth study of everyday issues helps you to see that things are not as simple as we think.”

Ana Serrano

BA (Hons) Politics

Apply now for BA (Hons) Politics and International Relations

Life in Cambridge

Our friendly, bustling campus is a stone’s throw from the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.

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Want to talk to someone?

Do you have a question that we haven't answered so far? Talk to our application experts. You can also ask our Student Ambassadors about life at ARU.

We're here Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm (please note we close at 3.30pm on the first and third Thursday of the month for staff training), and Friday 9am-4.30pm.

Placement year available

You have the option to take a placement year as part of this course. It’s a great chance to get hands-on experience in the industry you want to work in.

Your guide to placements

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