Politics and International Studies BA

at University of Warwick

Core modules

This degree takes place over three years. In each year you study core modules that provide a strong foundation in the academic discipline of Politics and International Studies.

You then have the choice to tailor your degree with optional modules. Optional modules are divided into four specialisms or pathways:

• Political Theory and Public Policy
• International Relations and Security
• Comparative Politics and Democratisation
• International Political Economy

Pick modules from one pathway to specialise your degree or mix and match across different pathways to suit your interests.

Lectures and seminars take place for 25 weeks during the academic year. The last 5 weeks are dedicated to final examinations.

Year One
Introduction to Politics
Introduction to Politics gives you a broad overview of the main issues and theoretical perspectives within Politics. You'll learn first to understand and then apply the core concepts of comparative political science and theory to processes, institutions, ideologies and practical policy-making. You'll conduct a comparative study of different political systems and political change, both in writing and in open debate.

 

World Politics
In this module, you'll be introduced to world politics and the role that international relations plays in the interactions between nations. You'll gain a solid understanding of the historical underpinnings of the structure and systems of states, and become familiar with major theories of international relations post-1945. You'll analyse contemporary writings on world politics and engage critically, both orally and in writing, with key concepts and theoretical debates on the nature of international political systems.

 

Political Research in the 21st Century
On this course, we aim to make you a better communicator and critical thinker. Armed with cutting-edge research methods and the academic skills to make a successful transition to university-level study. This module focuses on how best we can support you to become independent learners, giving you the firm foundations from which to achieve the best possible degree, in addition to valuable transferable skills post graduation.

 

Year Two
Political Theory from Hobbes: Seeking Freedom and Equality
How should human beings be governed? The thinkers you'll study – from Hobbes to Marx – had very different answers to this question. Building on your understanding of political philosophy, you'll read significant primary and secondary texts to develop your understanding of how political convictions are shaped by the context and history of individual thought and social interaction. You'll confront and assess complex ideas in political theory, and present and defend your point of view, both orally and in writing.

 

Optional core modules (also available as Optional modules)

• Politics of International Development
• Theories of International Relations
• States and Markets: An Introduction to International Political Economy
• International Security

Year Three
Issues in Political Theory
Should parents send their children to private schools? Is freedom of movement a moral right? Is it unjust to rear animals for food? Who should bear the costs of climate change? You'll explore fundamental questions of political morality by critically analysing complex arguments from contemporary political philosophy. You'll study closely John Rawls’s theory of justice, and consider the rival theories of Robert Nozick, G. A. Cohen and Ronald Dworkin. You'll have practical opportunities to develop and defend your own ethical standpoint through your considered judgements on current dilemmas, taking into account opposing arguments and perspectives.

 

Optional modules

Year One

• Contemporary Themes in Comparative Politics
• Foundations of Political Economy
• Justice, Democracy, and Citizenship
• Nine Ideas in International Security
• Introduction to Qualitative Methods
• Introduction to Social Analytics I
• Introduction to Social Analytics II
• Understanding Social Inequalities

Year Two

• Politics in the UK
• Politics of the USA
• Politics of Contemporary China
• Europe: Politics and Ideas
• Core Issues in Comparative Politics
• Themes in European Integration
• Capitalism and its Alternatives
• Gender Matters in International Relations
• Political Economy and the Liberal-Democratic State
• Introduction to Comparative Public Policy
• Public Policy for 21st Century Challenges
• Intermediate Social Analytics: Survey Design and Data Collection
• Intermediate Social Analytics: Survey Analysis and Reporting

Year Three

• Gender and Development
• Governing Britain Since 1918
• European Union Policy-Making
• Politics of Globalisation
• United States Foreign Policy
• Britain and the War on Terror
• Critical Security Studies
• Vigilant State: The Politics of Intelligence
• East Asian Transformations: A Political Economy Perspective
• State, Power, Freedom: European Political Theory
• The Political Economy of Money
• International Relations of the Americas
• Latin America: Democratisation and Development
• War in the 21st Century
• Politics and Culture in the Middle East
• Violence, Rights, Justice and Peace in the Middle East
• The Global Energy Challenge
• The Politics of Climate Change
• Applying Quantitative Methods to Social Research
• Experiments in the Social Sciences and Humanities
• Public Opinion
• Determinants of Democracy
• Dissertation

All applicants, regardless of their visa requirements, are required to show that their ability to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English is sufficiently high for them to derive full benefit from their degree course. The level of competence required depends on what type of degree you wish to study. Many applicants can demonstrate this through a satisfactory level of achievement in, for example, GCSE English Language or the English courses within the International Baccalaureate.

Applicants whose academic qualifications meet the University’s admissions requirements, but whose English language qualifications are not accepted as equivalent, may be offered a place at Warwick conditional on an acceptable English language qualification being achieved before they join the University. A number of English language tests are accepted; some of the most frequently offered ones are detailed below.

Please note that certain English tests (including IELTS and PTE) must be taken within two years and one month prior to the start of your course at Warwick. Applicants whose tests fall outside this timescale will need to retake a suitable English language test.

Applicants who require a visa to study in the UK may, depending on the circumstances, be asked to provide evidence of a secure English language test (e.g. IELTS for UKVI (Academic)), rather than an examination (such as International Baccalaureate English) due to the visa requirements set by the UK government.

If you are an overseas or EU student enrolling in 2022, your annual tuition fees will be as follows:

• Band 1 – £22,280 per year (classroom-based courses, including Humanities and most Social Science courses)
• Band 2 – £28,410 per year (laboratory-based courses, plus Theatre and Performance Studies, Economics, and courses provided by Warwick Business School, with exceptions)

Fees for 2023 entry have not been set. We will publish updated information here as soon as it becomes available, so please check back for updates about 2023 fee rates before you apply.

Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship 2022

We believe there should be no barrier to talent. That's why we are committed to offering a scholarship that makes it easier for gifted, ambitious international learners to pursue their academic interests at one of the UK's most prestigious universities. This new scheme will offer international fee-paying students 250 tuition fee discounts ranging from full fees to awards of £13,000 to £2,000 for the full duration of your Undergraduate degree course.

We have a dedicated careers consultant who can support you with your career choices. We offer one-to-one appointments and workshops to help you find a career path, internship or work placement.

Graduates from these courses are working in:

• Government and politics (national, regional and international)
• Public affairs
• Education
• Charity and campaigning
• Media
• Public relations
• Journalism
• IT
• Banking and finance
• Recruitment
• Hospitality
• Advertising

Our graduates have gone on to work for employers such as:

• United Nations
• BBC Television
• Houses of Parliament
• OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)
• Lloyds Banking Group
• Human Rights Watch