BA (Hons) Available in Clearing

Politics and International Relations

Study the workings of society and governments around the globe, including questions of power, justice, democracy, empire, security, revolution, activism, and identity.

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.

Why ARU?
  • Gain important transferable skills for your career, including research and data analysis.

  • Take innovative assessments that include but also go beyond the traditional essay, like blogs, podcasts, presentations and letters.

  • Learn from expert tutors including historians, sociologists and political scientists.

  • Attend events with key political figures organised by our Labour History Research Unit.

  • Study in Cambridge, with its impressive collection of museums, libraries, archives and political clubs.

Logo: THE Awards 2023
 

Study at an award-winning university

We were named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.

Course options

Course options

Key facts

Looking for different course options?

Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.

Year 1
  • Introduction to Politics and International Relations
  • Global Affairs
  • A History of Now
  • Political Thought
  • Into ARU
Year 2
  • From World War to Cold War
  • Give Peace a Chance: Fundamental Issues and Perspectives on Contemporary International Relations
  • Researching Society and Culture
  • Ruskin Module (15 credits)
  • The United States in the 20th Century *
  • Intoxicants and Intoxication *
  • The British Empire 1783-1919 *
  • International Human Rights Law *
  • Welfare State to European State: Britain 1906-1975 *
  • Mobilities and Migration *
  • Ireland and the Irish after Independence *
Year 3
  • Undergraduate Major Project
  • Hitler to the Hashtag: Political Communication in Peace and War
  • From Theory to Practice International Relations in the 21st Century
  • A Global History of Government and Society, 1945-1999
  • Research Communication
  • Gender and Sexuality in Britain: 1880-2000 *
  • Race, Racism and Ethnic Identity *
  • From Communism to Consumerism: Russia since 1917 *
  • Global Feminisms *
  • From Workhouses to Universal Credit: The Past, Present and Future of the British Welfare State *
  • The Era of Thatcher and Blair *
  • The Making of Modern Media *
  • Comparative and Global Criminal Justice *
  • Counter-Terrorism Policing *
  • Organised Crime *
Module details

To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course. Find out more about foundation years.

Year 1
  • Foundation in Humanities, English, Media, Social Sciences and Education
Module details

You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall. Find out more about placement years.

Placement year
  • Work Placement - Humanities and Social Sciences
Module details

Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.

Student experience

Facilities

Benefit from award-winning learning facilities, including extensive library and IT resources and a huge range of digital resources to sustain your research. You can also access support, should you need it, with study skills, careers advice, health and wellbeing, and more.

Studying in the ancient university city of Cambridge will also give you access to many more resources, including libraries, archive, museums and political clubs both in the city and beyond. 

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.

Anglia Ruskin Cambridge campus

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

Entry Requirements

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Fees and Paying for University

Apply for Politics and International Relations

Clearing places available

UK students, apply online

UK students

Call our Clearing line

01245 686868

UK students

Apply through UCAS for 2026

International students

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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