International Relations and Languages with Foundation Year

With this foundation year course, you'll gain all the credentials you need to begin your career in international relations and languages. It's ideal for you if you don't yet meet the entry requirements of our undergraduate degree, if you're returning to study after a break away, or you need a bit of extra support to get uni-ready.

You'll spend a year studying with us on campus, through ICP. You'll get the knowledge and academic skills needed to take on a bachelor's degree, learning how to analyse information, do research, and improve your academic writing.

The skills you'll learn will help you work in teams as well as on your own in culturally diverse workplaces. You'll develop your understanding of new workplaces and environments, and how to adapt to new environments.

After your foundation year, you'll be ready to move onto the first year of BA (Hons) International Relations and Languages.

A guaranteed place*
Once you’ve successfully completed your foundation year, you'll be ready to progress onto BA (Hons) International Relations and Languages with a guaranteed place.

Course highlights

• ICP is based on the University of Portsmouth campus so you'll have access to all facilities, support and societies

• When you finish your foundation year successfully, you get a guaranteed place on BA (Hons) International Relations and Languages

• Get used to how lectures, seminars and tutorials work, so you can move onto your degree ready for success

• Learn how to meet the demands of taking on a bachelor's at university

Careers and opportunities
When you complete this foundation year, you'll be all set to continue on to our BA (Hons) International Relations and Languages. The language skills you’ll gain can open up a world of opportunities: they’ll help you to work globally, and open up job opportunities across borders and cultures.

With technology continuing to develop at a frantic pace, there’s also an ever-increasing demand for graduates with the knowledge required to ensure new developments are ethical.

The analytical skills you’ll develop are in demand, too – your ability to understand complex issues and find solutions to them means that roles across government agencies, NGOs, charities, think tanks and international organisations are all within your reach.

When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your skills and cultural experience to work.

What can you do with an International Relations and Languages degree?

Graduates from this degree have gone on to careers in the following sectors:

• local and central government

• embassies

• non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

• security services

• international organisations, like the United Nations (UN)

• international charities like Amnesty International or the Red Cross

• policy research and think tanks

• media and international business consultancy

• political risk analysis

• public relations

• voluntary organisations

• management

• banking and financial services

• tourism

What jobs can you do with an International Relations and Languages degree?

Recent graduates have gone on to roles including:

• bilingual consultant

• multilingual project coordinator

• translator

• political researcher, Houses of Parliament

• civil servant, the Cabinet Office

• senior policy advisor, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

• communications officer, House of Commons

• local government administrator, Government of Jersey

• public affairs consultant

• social researcher

• information officer

• conference producer

After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.

The University of Portsmouth is passionate about creating career-focused modules that do more than support your studies, they empower your academic journey and prepare you for what comes next.

We design modules that have:

• Clear themes and skills development as you progress through each year
• Assessments that feel meaningful, often based on real-world tasks rather than isolated exams
• Career-enhancing opportunities such as placements, live projects, enterprise and volunteering

For a full list of the modules you will study on this course, please visit https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-international-relations-and-languages?studyMode=5-years-with-foundation-year&startDate=september-2026#modules

You'll be assessed in a number of ways on your foundation year, including:

• assignments
• oral presentations
• exams
• lab reports
• portfolio
• court reports

Typically, you can expect to have two assessments per module.