Introduction:

With recent and ongoing events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine, the unprecedented rises in the costs of living, and the ever-worrying concerns associated with the Climate Crisis, life as we know it is being fundamentally shaken.

If you have an interest in both domestic and global political issues and want to combine a deeper understanding with an enhanced employability skillset, then our BA (Hons) Politics and International Relations is for you.

There has never been a better time to study current affairs, and through its unique emphasis on the development and integration of knowledge, skills, and experience, this course will provide you with the tools for doing so.

What you’ll study

Politics and International Relations is a live and constantly evolving subject that has a continual and direct impact on the society and world in which we live.

The course is designed to reflect current debates, including trust and political leadership, freedom of speech and expression, sustainability, justice and wellbeing, conflict resolution, and the challenges linked to social media, big tech, and artificial intelligence.

This knowledge is both practiced and assessed through a diverse set of skills linked directly to the requirements of high-skilled employment. These range from core writing, reading, listening, and research skills to a range of key traits such as open-mindedness, creativity and entrepreneurship, resilience, and pitching ideas to – and debating with – diverse audiences.

Careers and employability

Your future

The job titles below give an indication of the careers our recent Politics and International Relations graduates have pursued:

• Communications and Events Officer
• Marketing Executive
• Graduate Development Officer
• Data Analyst
• Business Development Manager
• Police Officer
• European Recruitment Consultant

Your career development

Helping you explore your options and gain the skills, knowledge, experience, and confidence for future careers is central to the course. The BA (Hons) Politics and International Relations course will provide you with a range of subject-specific and key transferable skills. A lot of high-skilled jobs recognise the value of graduates having an openness and understanding of national and international events, institutional processes, and the importance of appreciating social and cultural difference – all of which this course will help you develop.

Subject-specific skills include:

• Identifying competing interests/pitching ideas to diverse audiences
• Working to find/negotiating compromise
• Leadership, entrepreneurship, and ethical awareness.

Key transferable skills include:

• Fluency in written and verbal communication
• Time management and resilience
• Taking the initiative and working as part of a team.

Upon graduation from this course, you will be well placed to apply for a wide range of roles in the public, private and third sector organisations, including:

• charities, fundraising, the media
• local/national government
• the civil service
• international aid and development agencies (e.g., NGOS and INGOS).
• police, armed forces, security services.

Entry requirements

We accept qualifications from schools, colleges and universities all over the world for entry onto our undergraduate degrees.

• A-levels – BBC; or
• BTEC Extended Diploma – DMM; or
• 112 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent qualifications; and
• GCSEs – English and Maths or Science grade C / 4.

We also consider equivalent qualifications and combinations. Please see our website or UCAS Course Search for more details.

Fees and funding

International fees for 2022 entry onto a full-time undergraduate course are:

• £15,600, or
• £16,200 (for courses in the Nottingham School of Art & Design and Nottingham Business School).

Tuition fees are payable for each year that you are at University. Tuition fees for the second and subsequent years of your undergraduate course may increase in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government.

If you choose to do a work placement as part of the undergraduate course the fee for the work placement will be £1,385.

Late Applications

If you missed the UCAS January deadline, it’s not too late to apply to join us in September 2022.

Applying to university after the January deadline isn’t anything to worry about – we accept applications for most of our undergraduate courses until Thursday 30 June 2022.