Politics, International Relations and a Modern Language

Our aim is for you to become a ‘global citizen’ who thinks critically, understands cultural diversity and has a wealth of transferable skills.

Our 4-year BA in Politics, International Relations and a Modern Language gives you a golden opportunity to study the politics and government of individual states, to explore important political ideas such as freedom, democracy and justice, and to investigate relations between states and non-state actors on the world stage. You’ll also develop high-level communication and critical-thinking skills, and foster resilience and independence through time spent in immersive foreign language contexts.

This degree gives you access to a wide range of fascinating topics, from close study of institutions at the state and sub-state level to wide examination of politics at the global level. This includes themes such as justice, governance, conflict, populism, security and gender. Alongside this, you can choose to study one of the 3 different languages - either Chinese, French or Spanish.

We run 2 modern language programme pathways. If you have an A level or equivalent competence in a modern language, you’ll take the Upper Elementary pathway. If you have limited or no knowledge of a modern language, you’ll take our Elementary pathway.

You’ll explore the language you’re studying and its social, political, historical and cultural contexts from a global perspective. Through a variety of language learning resources and materials, and range of student-centred learning activities, you’ll develop your reading, writing, oral, listening and mediation skills.

An integral part of this programme is the opportunity to spend time working or living abroad to experience life in the culture of the language you are studying. You’ll have the choice of either studying at a partner university or completing a work placement in each semester.

As a Politics, International Relations and Modern Languages (BA) student, you’ll find that often there are complementary issues and perspectives that link these subjects. This programme offers challenging and stimulating modules emphasising diversity and celebrating cultural and linguistic mobility.

You’ll graduate with an excellent understanding of the political world at many levels and having gained the intellectual and communications skills that will be of value whether you work in government, for organisations such as the United Nations, or in the private or voluntary sectors.

Distinctive Features of the Programme

Links to political institutions
Benefit from links to Westminster parliament, Senedd Cymru, the European Union and NATO.

Study current global issues
Choose modules ranging from cyber security and nuclear politics to climate change and feminism.

Extra-curricular activities
A vibrant programme of events – such as language cafes and student societies - supports your language learning and immersion into the culture.

Skills for the future
A structured skills programme embeds academic, transferable and employability skills into learning from the very beginning.

The world is your classroom
Spend your third year studying or working in the country of your chosen language.