International Relations

BA International Relations covers themes such as war and security, diplomacy and development, globalisation and global power relations, communication and resistance, and international political economy.

You will gain a solid foundation in the history of international relations and IR theory, studying subjects such as decolonisation, international organisations, European integration, foreign-policy making, counterterrorism, human migration and non-state violence – allowing you to understand better the complexity of contemporary global governance and the theories that explain it. As you progress through the degree, the flexible nature of the course allows you to specialise in those aspects of international relations that most interest you.

You will gain an in-depth understanding of international politics, examining how states, groups and individuals interact across borders, and you will consider some of the most important issues that confront the world today. Your studies will give you a solid grasp of how the world of international relations works, taking into account, among other things, the recent global economic crisis, changes in the European Union, immigration, human rights, global terrorism, the rise of China, the power of the US, conflict in the Middle East and the problems hampering African states.

The Department of Politics and International Relations has a strong commitment to high-quality, cutting-edge research, all of which informs our teaching. We are a research community that applies various theories and methods to the study of domestic, transnational, regional and global politics. We have expertise in African, British, Chinese, European, Middle East, North American and South Asian politics, and our research covers areas such as security, democratisation, youth politics, international diplomacy and political communication, as well as contemporary and radical theories of democracy and power.

Study with leading experts on Europe, Africa, Asia and North America.

Study key issues in conflict and security, humanitarian crises and development.

Be a Model UN delegate or visit an embassy with our student societies.

The flexibility to specialise in what interests you.

Work placement opportunities.

Course Modules

Core Modules

Year 1

• Introduction to International Relations

• Introduction to Politics and Government

• Classic and Contemporary Readings in Politics and International Relations

• Researching Politics and International Relations: Methods, Techniques and Analysis

Year 2

• International Relations Theory

• Researching Politics and International Relations: Analysis, Design and Practice

Year 3

• Politics and/or International Relations Dissertation

Optional Modules

Below is a taster of some of the exciting optional modules that students on the course could choose from during this academic year. Please be aware these do change over time, and optional modules may be withdrawn or new ones added.

Year 1

• All modules are core

Year 2

• International Political Economy

• War and Security in World Politics

• Introduction to Political Communication

• Democracy in Britain

• Contemporary Political Theory

• Modern Political Thought

• Government and Politics of the United States

• Politics Outside the West

Year 3

• European Union Public Policy

• European Union Foreign Policy

• Politics in Action: The Politics and International Relations Experience Placement

• US Foreign Policy - History

• The Politics of Africa

• Radical Political Theory I: Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche

• Political Theories of Freedom

• Comparative Political Leadership

• Military Change in the 21st Century

• Young People's Politics

• Leadership, Power and the British Prime Ministership

• American Political Development

• The Politics of Russia and Eastern Europe

• Politics of South Asia

• Social Diversity and Political Representation

• Parliamentary Studies

• Latin American Politics

• Defence and Security Governance

• Global Environmental Politics

• Visual Politics

• Issues in Democratic Theory

• Politics of the Law and Rights

• Global Health Policy

• Freedom of Expression: Concepts and Controversies

• The Political Economy of Racial Injustice

• Why and How People Vote

• Narrative in World Politics

• Identity, Emotions and Trauma in International Politics

• Ethnic Politics and Ethnic Conflict

• Gender and Nationalism in the Middle East and South Asia

https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/undergraduate/politics-and-international-relations/international-relations/

The course has a modular structure: you will take 12 course units at the rate of four per year. Some course units are compulsory while others are elective thereby offering flexibility and choice.

Assessment is by a mixture of coursework and end-of-year examination in varying proportions, depending on the course units you choose to take. The first year is foundational and marks do not count towards your final degree. The second year and final year marks do count, with more importance being given to the final year marks in order to reward progress and achievement.