International Relations with Modern Languages with a Year in Industry

As technology, transport, and a more complex and globalised economy make our world smaller, the value of peaceful and cooperative relationships between states and nations is increasingly important. At the same time, the threats that states, communities, and individuals face are increasing in intensity and breadth. How do states cope with the changing nature of conflicts and new threats to security? How do we maintain and strengthen peaceful relations between people and states? What role can international institutions play alongside state actors in a complex and interconnected world?

Our BA International Relations and Modern Languages degree provides you with an opportunity to investigate the impact of a globalised world on states and citizens, the role of digital communication in shaping understanding of events, and the evolution of global human rights. The drivers and forces behind international cooperation and conflict form part of our degree just as much as the impact of conflict on the relationship between states and people. You will learn how power, norms and institutions, as well as legal frameworks, affect our day-to-day lives and how historical events still have a noticeable impact on the global world order.

As part of your degree you will also study the rich diversity of your chosen language (French, Spanish or German) at a level suitable to your existing knowledge, with the opportunity to undertake a year abroad. This allows you a first-hand opportunity to gain cultural insights, to directly interact with other cultures and educational systems, and to further enhance your linguistic skills.

This course also offers you the opportunity to spend a Year in Industry, in the UK or overseas, enabling you to gain valuable workplace experience. The University advocates for paid-only placements, which on average have a salary of over £20,000. Unpaid placements are considered on a case-by-case basis.

The optional Foundation Year for this programme can give you an exciting introduction to higher education, setting you up with the skills, confidence, and knowledge that you’ll need to be successful in your undergraduate degree. It’s ideal if you need a little more support after further education, or are returning to education after a gap. Following successful completion of the Foundation Year, you will progress onto Year 1 of your BA.

In Year 1, you will typically study areas including:
Introduction to International Relations, War and Peace in the Nuclear Age, Critical Reasoning, Fundamental Issues in Philosophy

In Year 2, you will typically study areas including:
Anarchy and Order: Theories in International Relations, Globalisation, The History of Political Thought, Global Summit Simulation, Contemporary Wars and Conflicts

You will have the opportunity to spend a year in industry between your second and final year, broadening your skills and experience.

In your final year you will complete an independent dissertation project or you have the competitive option of undertaking a work placement module with the Sennedd Cymru/ Welsh Parliament.

You will also complete a compulsory group work project plus optional modules chosen from a wide variety of subject areas including:
The Russian Civil War, Philosophy, Capitalism and Justice, Clear and Present Danger: America and Terrorism, Digital Futures, Global Environmental Politics, Africa in International Relations

We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course.

Practical skills sessions, lab work seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group working and demonstrations. We also operate virtual labs and Simulated Learning Environments which will facilitate greater access to training opportunities in the future. However, our approach also includes the use of some online learning to support and enhance traditional face-to-face teaching.

Lecture recordings also allow for more flexibility to revisit material, to revise for assessments and to enhance learning outside of the classroom. Some modules have extra resources in Canvas, such as videos, slides and quizzes enabling further flexible study.