Politics and International Relations BA (Hons)

at University of Sussex

Year 1

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Autumn teaching

• British Political History

• Explanatory Concepts in Political Science

• Introduction to International Relations

• The Rise of the Modern International Order

Spring teaching

• Classical Political Theory & International Relations

• Foundations of Politics

• Research Skills and Methods in Political Science

• The Short Twentieth Century and Beyond

Year 2 

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Autumn teaching

• Contemporary International Theory

• European Politics

• Introduction to International Political Economy

• Modern Political Thought

Year 3

Options

You choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

Autumn teaching

• Death of Socialism?

• International Relations of the Modern Middle East

• Mercenaries, Gangs and Terrorists: Private Security in International Politics

• Political Change: Contemporary France

• Political Change: Eastern Europe in Transition

• Political Change: Global Crisis and European Political Economy

• Political Change: India

• Political Change: Political Parties and Party Systems

• Political Change: Politics and International Business

• Political Change: The European Union as a Global Actor

• Political Change: the Politics of Brexit

• Political Change: The Rise of Anti-politics

• Political Economy of the Environment

• Race, Gender and Global Capitalism

• Religions in Global Politics

• The Global Politics of Health

• The Politics of Armed Groups: Rebels, State and Society

• Trade, (De)Globalisation, and the New Mercantilism

​​​​​​​Spring teaching

• Capitalism and Geopolitics

• Democracy and Inequality

• Dirty Wars? Conflict and Military Intervention

• East Asia Rising: Beyond the American Century?

• Feminism and Women's Political Activism in Britain

• Global Politics of Food

• Global Resistance: Subjects and Practices

• Governing Technology

• Independent Study/Internship Option

• NGOs in World Politics

• Parties and Voters in the UK

• Political Corruption

• Politics of Terror and Global Histories of Violence

• Putin, Power, Populism: Russia and Eurasia in Global Politics

• The Politics of Feeling

• What is War

International Baccalaureate

Typical offer    

30 -32 points overall from the full IB Diploma.

European Baccalaureate

Typical offer    

Overall result of at least 75% to 77%.

Other international qualifications

Typical offer    

Standard XII results

• 80% from ISC Indian School certificate of Education (CISCE)  

• 80% from SSC All India Senior School Certificate Examination (CBSE)

• 80% HSC Higher Secondary Certificate ( Maharashtra )

Additional requirements    

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

English language requirements

• IELTS (Academic): 6.0 overall, including at least 5.5 in each component

Home students: £9,250 per year

Channel Islands and Isle of Man students: £9,250 per year

International students: £18,500 per year

By studying a Politics and International Relations BA, you'll gain the analytical and research skills to work for multinational businesses, government and international organisations, or go into politics.

You could go on to jobs such as:

• parliamentary or think-tank researcher in the UK and UN civil services

• campaign manager for pressure groups or non-governmental organisations

• press or communications officer.

We also offer sessions to help you apply for UK and international graduate schemes and jobs in the public, private, and voluntary sectors.

Recent Department of Politics graduates have gone on to jobs such as:

• UK anti-corruption policy team lead, Home Office

• campaign management, The Diana Award

• journalists, BBC and Sky News.