Politics and International Relations

Our Joint Honours Politics and International Relations degree is designed for students who are interested in domestic politics (including the study of political theory, states, elections, and parliaments) as well as politics between countries (with a focus on international relations theory, security studies, and conflict). The degree allows you to develop expertise in both areas and to explore topics (such as environmental politics, global political economy, and global politics) where they intersect.

The course is designed to give you a strong grounding in both politics and international relations in the first year, before allowing greater specialisation as well as increasing focus on the domestic/international intersection in the second year. During the final year the focus is on self-directed learning, allowing you the flexibility to choose topics and areas that you wish to focus on. The opportunity to intern with a Member of the Senedd in our Senedd/Welsh Parliament module in the final year provides a chance to learn first-hand how parliaments and parliamentarians work. You also have the opportunity to participate in the British Parliamentary Studies module, partly delivered by expert staff from the Houses of Parliament.

There is a strong emphasis on employability and skills across the degree. You will typically develop excellent communication skills across a variety of formats, and learn to present ideas in a range of formats (e.g., briefing paper, policy analysis, case studies, podcasts), along with strong research, analytical and problem-solving skills.

Our stunning Singleton Park Campus will keep you grounded and offer the perfect environment for taking a break in the park, and enjoying the views across Swansea Bay on the edge of the beautiful Gower Peninsula.

You will study in one of the few departments in the UK to offer the British Parliamentary Studies module, where you will be taught by our specialist academic staff and Members of the Houses Parliament. This module includes a visit to the Houses of Parliament and engagement with a Member of the House.

You will also have the competitive option of undertaking a work placement module with the Senedd/ Welsh Parliament, assigned to and working closely with the team of a Senedd Member.

This programme includes opportunities to undertake a Semester or Year Abroad, spent in locations such as the USA, Canada, China, Hong Kong, or Singapore, enhancing your learning and offering invaluable life experience.

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.

In Year 1, you will typically study areas including: Politics and the People; International Relations in a Changing World; Foundations in Social Sciences Research and Academic Skills; Disinformation, Ideology, and Bias: Researching and examining political data; The Colour Line: Race and Racism in World Politics; and War and Peace in the Nuclear Age.

In Year 2, you will typically study areas including: Anarchy and Order: Theories in International Relations; The State and Political Institutions; The History of Political Thought; International Security; Disunited Kingdom? Class, Race, Gender and Social Division in Twentieth-Century Britain; Philosophy of the Enlightenment; Global Justice and Human Rights in the Age of Globalisation; America in Crisis: From the Tet Offensive to Trump; Devolution, Policy Making and Social Change; A Matter of Life and Death: Exploring Existential Philosophy; Global Summit Simulation; Contemporary Wars and Conflicts; and more.

In Year 3, you will typically study areas including: Researching Politics; Dissertation; Senedd Cymru/The Welsh Parliament; Parliamentary Studies; Capitalism and Justice; Genocide; Clear and Present Danger: America and Terrorism; Shadow Wars: US Presidents and covert action from the Cold War to Trump; America and the Bomb; and Global Environmental Politics.

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. Apart from a small number of online-only courses, most of our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students.

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.

Online learning may take place ‘live’ using software such as Zoom, allowing you to interact with the lecturer and other students and to ask questions. 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.