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Politics and International Relations

  • BA (Hons)
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  • Full-time
  • 21/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
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2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

How is power wielded on a national and international level? What is the relationship between the two? This degree will give you a solid grounding in both politics and international relations, helping you build the skills to make your mark out in the field.

Our Politics and International Relations BA provides you with an understanding of the exercise of power at both the national and international levels and the relationship between the two. You will gain a thorough grounding in the study of both politics and international relations as you will be taught by staff with expertise from all areas of the discipline.

Politics has been taught at Leicester since the 1940s and we have always been at the cutting edge of British political science – we aim to fire your intellectual curiosity about the politics of the world. As well as examining the workings of political systems in Britain and other states, you will explore some of the most important and interesting issues in politics: Who holds power and why? Is there a crisis of political participation? What are the appropriate limits to individual liberty? Is globalisation a positive process? When is war just?

Our lecturers produce internationally renowned, cutting-edge research, and are keen to share their knowledge. During your time with us, we will encourage you to focus your studies on your own areas of interest. All our degrees offer a wide range of exciting module choices – and as our lecturers have such diverse interests, you will receive enthusiastic support and guidance for whichever area you choose.

Employability is embedded into our degrees and we have designed modules that will ensure you are well equipped to secure graduate roles or places on postgraduate courses. The popularity of Politics at degree level also reflects the value of the transferable skills students gain. The ability to analyse complex issues and reach reasoned conclusions, to present coherent arguments in written and oral form, to engage in independent research, and work effectively as a member of a team are skills highly valued by employers. Job prospects are excellent, with 98% of our Politics and International Relations students in employment or further study, six months after graduating.

Modules

For more information on this course and a full list of modules, visit the course information page on our website

Assessment method

For more information on the methods of assessment on this course, visit the course information page on our website

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 to 4 years

Start dates

  • 21/09/2026

Apply by
14 January

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:
L290
Institution code:
L34
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1, 2

University of Leicester 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
14 January

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:
L290
Institution code:
L34
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

Contact the Admissions Team at study@le.ac.uk with details of the course you are studying including modules taken, previous qualifications obtained with grades (at GCSE and A level or equivalent), the reason for your transfer request.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

A level - BBB

All subjects accepted. Two AS-levels considered in place of one A-level.

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

Access to HE Diploma - D: 24 credits

Pass Access to H.E. Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3, including 24 credits at Distinction.

Scottish Higher

Qualification accepted. Please contact the Admissions Team for further information: study@le.ac.uk

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

Considered alongside other qualifications. Please contact the Admissions Team for further information: study@le.ac.uk

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

Considered alongside other qualifications. Please contact the Admissions Team for further information: study@le.ac.uk

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

Considered alongside other qualifications. Please contact the Admissions Team for further information: study@le.ac.uk

Scottish Advanced Higher

Qualification accepted. Please contact the Admissions Team for further information: study@le.ac.uk

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 28 points

Pass Diploma with 28 points overall.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

Considered alongside other qualifications.

Extended Project

Considered alongside other qualifications. Please contact the Admissions Team for further information: study@le.ac.uk

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

Qualification accepted. Please contact the Admissions Team for further information: study@le.ac.uk

T Level - M

Merit in Management and Administration. Other subjects may be considered. Please contact the Admissions Team for further information: study@le.ac.uk

When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the programme of study and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous examination results.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 or equivalent is required. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.

For further details of our English Language requirements please see our website https://le.ac.uk/study/international-students/english-language-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.

The University of Leicester is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all applicants from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to support students who may be impacted by the area they live in, their personal circumstances or who have completed one of our progression programmes. These offers are usually one or two grades lower than the standard entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must apply for an eligible course and meet specific criteria.

Learn more on the University of Leicester website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted 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.

Data from:
This course
Date range:
2022-2024

Grades held by accepted students

For University of Leicester, the top and bottom 5% of student grades have been removed from these calculations. This change helps to remove any extraordinary circumstances that could impact the data. Learn more here .
CCC Most common
  1. ABB
  2. Highest grades
  3. CCD
  4. Lowest grades

Offer rate for UK school & college leavers

100% Students aged 17/18 who applied to this course were offered a place.

How do you compare?

See how students with your grades have been accepted onto this course in the past.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

60 Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)

85 Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

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

This information will be updated as soon as the tuition fees for the academic year 2026/7 have been confirmed.

For further information about fees and funding please see the following page of the University website: https://le.ac.uk/student-life/undergraduates/fees-funding

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