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Politics and International Relations

  • Bachelor of Science (with Honours)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-Time
  • September 2027
  • Undergraduate
Clifton Campus
More about University of Bristol

Course options

2025-20262026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

Our BSc Politics and International Relations degree is ambitious and bold. We explore power, who exercises it and with what consequences. You'll gain expert insight into the politics of different countries, regions and systems, as well as global and local political issues and movements.

Bristol is home to prominent scholars and many of our academics are global leaders in areas of political study, including:

  • international relations

  • security

  • gender

  • political philosophy

  • international development

  • peace-building

  • environmental politics.

Their expertise spans the politics of Latin America, Africa, South and East Asia, the Middle East, Europe, the US and Britain.

At Bristol, you'll be joining a vibrant academic community. We provide regular workshops, guest speakers, reading groups and social events. We also support the student societies associated with this programme.

Skills development is woven throughout your programme, enabling you to graduate with valuable, transferable skills that ensure you are well placed to pursue your career goals.

Learn how the political sphere operates, specialise in areas that fascinate you and go on to make a real difference in the world.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Clifton Campus

Study options

  • Bachelor of Science (with Honours) • Full-Time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • September 2027

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
L200
Institution code:
B78
Campus name:
Clifton Campus
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Bristol has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
L200
Institution code:
B78
Campus name:
Clifton Campus

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level
AAA

Standard offer: AAA including an essay-based subject.

Contextual offer: ABB including an essay-based subject.

Essay-based subjects include: Ancient History; Anthropology; Archaeology; Art and Design (all pathways); Business Studies; Chinese; Classical Civilisation; Classics; Drama; Economics; English Language; English Language and Literature; English Literature; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Film; French; Geography; German; Government and Politics; Greek; Health and Social Care; History; History of Art; Italian; Latin; Law; Media Studies; Music; Performance; Philosophy; Politics; Portuguese; Psychology; Religious Studies; Russian; Social Care; Social Policy; Sociology; Spanish; Theatre Studies and Welsh.

Please visit bristol.ac.uk/contextual-offers for more information about contextual offers.

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

Scottish Higher
AAAAB

Higher: AAAAB.

Access to HE Diploma
Distinction: 30 Merit: 15

Access to HE Diploma in Humanities, Social Sciences, Law or History (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include:

at least 30 credits at Distinction and 15 at Merit or above; and
at least 12 credits (with 9 at Distinction) in a single essay-based subject.

Mature students can contact mature-students@bristol.ac.uk to check the suitability of their Access course.

Scottish Advanced Higher
AA

Advanced Higher: AA including an essay-based subject.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Offer: 36

Standard offer: 36 points overall with 18 at Higher Level, including 6 at Higher Level in an essay-based subject.

Contextual offer: 32 points overall with 16 at Higher Level, including 5 at Higher Level in an essay-based subject.

Essay-based subjects include: Ancient History; Anthropology; Archaeology; Art and Design (all pathways); Business Studies; Chinese; Classical Civilisation; Classics; Drama; Economics; English Language; English Language and Literature; English Literature; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Film; French; Geography; German; Government and Politics; Greek; Health and Social Care; History; History of Art; Italian; Latin; Law; Media Studies; Music; Performance; Philosophy; Politics; Portuguese; Psychology; Religious Studies; Russian; Social Care; Social Policy; Sociology; Spanish; Theatre Studies and Welsh.

Please visit bristol.ac.uk/contextual-offers for more information about contextual offers.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales or the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DDD

DDD in any essay-based Applied General BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)

Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/ D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/ M2 is B, and M3 is C.

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/2027/politics-international-relations/bsc-politics-and-international-relations/#entry-requirements

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. We consider a large range of contextual factors when making application decisions.

If you receive and accept an offer from the University of Bristol, and you meet the terms of your offer in full, you will be accepted.

Learn more on the University of Bristol website

International entry requirements

The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students and accepts a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate study. If you studied at a school, college or university outside the UK, please select the relevant page for further information on qualification equivalences, scholarships and details of our education representatives in your country/region. https://www.bristol.ac.uk/international/countries/

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Republic of Ireland & InternationalTBC

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Fees are subject to annual review and are liable to rise each year. Home fees will be set in line with UK government policy and updated as per their guidance, while international fees increase annually in line with expected inflation rises. Visit bristol.ac.uk/ug-fees-funding for further information, including estimated fees for subsequent years and typical total costs.

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