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politics degree, politics ba, international relations and politics

Politics with International Relations (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons)

Politics with international relations is an incredibly diverse and varied subject. At Teesside you explore vital issues such as political violence, international relations, political ideologies, gender and politics, political communications, revolution, fascism, social movements, and electoral and parliamentary politics in the UK and US.

 

L204 BA/PFY

Course routes:

 
  • 100% of politics students agreed that their course has developed future knowledge and skills (National Student Survey 2024).
 

Course overview

You gain transferable skills, experience and knowledge to understand and influence the world around you for careers in frontline politics, the civil service, international organisations, local government, law, accountancy, social work, librarianship, journalism, public relations, teaching, retail management and the third sector.

You develop high level communication skills in a range of verbal and written forms, critical thinking, analysis and time-management. You learn frameworks and concepts to be able to explain and practice politics with international relations in the outside world.

The teaching team are widely published academics and current politicians, meaning you study contemporary events alongside historic ones. You are assigned a personal tutor, undertake practical skills sessions, and can take a bespoke employability module with the option of work-experience in a politics field with an external partner.

This course includes a foundation year - ideal if you need additional preparation or if you don't have sufficient grades to join Year 1 of a degree.

Top reasons to study this course

  • Skills for the future: 100% of politics students agreed that their course has developed the knowledge and skills they think they will need for their future (National Student Survey 2024, tees.ac.uk/source).
  • Research-active staff: our staff are research active and widely published, helping you gain a contemporary, authentic learning experience.
  • Political archives: we host a number of political archives including The Green Party Archive, The Fascism Collection, and The Tom Sawyer Archive (former Labour Party General Secretary, 1994-98).

Download pdf Order prospectus

 

Course details

Course structure

Foundation year core modules

Discovering the Social Sciences, Humanities and Law

You are introduced to the historical and contemporary development of social science disciplines, exploring examples of theoretical challenges and ways in which research is practically applied in society. Gain an understanding of both similarities and differences between disciplines, and how interdisciplinary research is fostered through collaboration. Explore academic standards, ethical guidelines and research protocols, personal development, and both study and transferable skills relevant to your studies and career.

This is a 40-credit module.

Investigating Society and Culture: The Case of Crime

Taking a multidisciplinary approach, explore crime through history, politics, English and creative writing, criminology, sociology, psychology and education to investigate the problems within society and culture.

This is a 20-credit module.

Your Foundation Year Project

Identify and explore an area of interest related to your area of study through small-scale research using secondary data or desk-based research. You analyse an appropriate area of focus for your project using academic support.

This is a 20-credit module.

Your Toolkit for University Success

You develop your personal and academic skills to help prepare you for searching and retrieving information, evaluating different types of evidence, critical thinking and reading skills, note-taking and summarising evidence, presentation skills, groupwork, digital literacy and employability.

This is a 40-credit module.

 

Year 1 core modules

America: From Watergate, Trump and Beyond

The US is more divided now than it has been for quite some time – or so goes a popular theory. Explore the factors that have led to the current political situation in the US, where republicans and democrats are embroiled in a political struggle and culture war that centres on issues surrounding women’s rights, immigration, healthcare, climate change and science, taxation, the media, the powers of congress, and the presidency. You examine the idea that the divisions among the political elite and most politically active, are mirrored within US society as a whole.

This is a 20-credit module.

Britain and Europe from 1870 to the Present

Gain an overview of Britain and Europe from 1870 to the present. Take a chronological approach, from the unification of Germany and Italy, through to two world wars, the Cold War and the European Union. Within the British political history strand of the module, you investigate colonialism, the impact of two world wars on British politics and society, the implications of the introduction of the welfare state and Keynesian economic policies during the consensus period, and the shift towards neo-liberal forms of governance and politics in the late twentieth century and beyond. Within the European political history strand of the module, the chronological approach is shared, but you investigate these years with a more international, European focus. Beginning with a study of the major unifications in 1870, the strand investigates, WW1, the emergence of authoritarian and totalitarian dictatorships in interwar Europe, WW2, the Cold War, and post-Cold war military and economic integration.

This is a 40-credit module.

Foundations of Politics and International Relations

Politics and international relations are central to our everyday lives, exploring both people and power. Gain an introduction to the skills and analytical frameworks needed to study contemporary global politics and international relations. Investigate why politics matters and explore different approaches to the discipline, including political power, authority and the state, elections and political institutions, democracy and political obligation, civil society, and the frameworks of global politics. Acquire an understanding of the development of international relations, and the core concepts and theories for studying it. Understand how the political ideas and international organisations that shape global politics reflect and embody core values such as freedom, justice, security, order and welfare. Key theories examined include liberalism, realism, international political economy, social constructivism and post-positivism.

This is a 40-credit module.

Political Ideologies

Understanding the political ideologies that motivate political actors is key to understanding politics. You gain an introduction to the core political ideologies that have shaped, and continue to shape, the political world in which we live, and the political debates going on around us. You study various themes including liberalism, conservatism, socialism, nationalism, feminism, green politics, multiculturalism and secularism. You also look at how recent developments have overturned the idea that we live in a post-ideological world.

This is a 20-credit module.

 

Year 2 core modules

Future Directions: Research, Careers and Development in the Humanities

Develop graduate skills in preparation for further study, employment or lifelong learning, through engagement with our Student Futures team and humanities practitioners. Gain insight into career pathways and explore the opportunities available to humanities graduates, including as educators, policy-makers, publishers, facilitators, communicators, and creatives. Work on an individual project, either work focused or academic focused.

This is a 20-credit module.

Propaganda and Political Communication

The modern era has seen the birth of celebrity culture, spin, fake news, social media and data hacking as additional weapons for political parties, pressure groups and states. As a result, political parties have used methods such as polling, focus groups and advertising to shape their message in the pursuit of popularity and votes. You examine the use of propaganda and political communications by exploring key themes and theoretical approaches. You create your own knowledge exchange project - a political communication such as a leaflet, newspaper article, advert or podcast.

This is a 20-credit module.

Revolutionary Change: Mass Movements, Peoples and Cultures

Examine one of the key phenomena of the modern age - revolutionary change - and how this has shaped the modern world. The American Revolution, French Revolution, Russian Revolution, Chinese Revolution, anti-colonial revolutions, Iranian Revolution and the counter-revolutions of 1989 - 1991 have been influential across the globe.

Investigate theoretical approaches to understanding the phenomenon of revolution, the political revolution and change. And research other types of revolutionary change in society such as those in the economic, technological, social and cultural fields. You explore counter-revolutionary resistance and attempts to reverse change as the counter-revolution has been, and remains, key to modern history and politics.

This is a 40-credit module.

Understanding Global Threats: Past, Present and Future

You identify and study the most important contemporary relations and politics at national and international level. Examine recent developments and ideas considering key theoretical frameworks, including political violence and its impact on politics - and how international law attempts to challenge it.

This is a 40-credit module.

 

Final-year core modules

Dissertation

Engage in a piece of advanced research into politics or international relations, allowing you to follow a theme or particular interest under the guidance of a supervisor. You are prepared for the workplace, enabling you to apply the skills you have acquired and developed during the course.

This is a 40-credit module.

Nazis, Fascists and Anti-Fascists

The victory of the Allies in the Second World War seemed to mark the end of dictatorship. However, the persistence and revival of the extreme right suggests that we're witnessing a rebirth of fascism. Using theory and conceptual approaches, you explore historical and contemporary forms of fascism and anti-fascism, developing a theoretical and historical understanding of the past, present and future.

This is a 20-credit module.

The State and Politics: Inside and Outside Parliament

Develop your employability skills through a series of workshops with input from the Student Futures team, external professionals and alumni working in relevant sectors. You explore the career opportunities available to graduates - such as educators, policymakers, publishers, facilitators, communicators and creatives in preparing for further study, employment and/or lifelong learning.

This is a 40-credit module.

The Troubles: Conflict and Resolution

The politics of the past have been violently contested in Northern Ireland and continue to create problems now. Address the issues that historians and social scientists face when dealing with the politics of a divided society.

You examine the social, economic and political exploration of Northern Ireland at a time of civil conflict, and you explore the development of the conflict. You investigate the international dimension of moving from conflict to a process of peace. Review reports, newspapers, pamphlets, posters, memoirs and TV programmes.

This is a 20-credit module.

 

Modules offered may vary.

 

How you learn

The course makes use of a variety of teaching methods including classes, lectures, seminars, tutorials and group work, with an emphasis on participatory and active learning. You will be taught by a range of research-active academic staff, lecturers and professors.

How you are assessed

Modules are continuously assessed so that you receive regular feedback to help you develop your skills and abilities. Methods of assessment include essays, presentations, knowledge exchange projects, and examinations. There will be a mix of formative assessment such as in-class presentations, essay plans, and draft work. Work will be marked according to University timelines, and feedback will be available both electronically and in personal tutorials.


Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services

Find out more about financial support
Find out more about our course related costs

 

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

A typical offer is 32-64 tariff points and above from at least two A levels, T level or equivalent, including GCSE English and/or maths at grade 4 (grade C) or equivalent.

For general information please see our overview of entry requirements

International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country


You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL

 

Employability

Career opportunities

A variety of career paths will be open to you, including local, national and international politics, local government, law, accountancy, social work, librarianship, journalism, public relations, international organisations, teaching and retail management.

Work placement

You have the option to take a School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law careers module at either Level 5 or Level 6.

 

Information for international applicants

Qualifications

International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.

Select your country:

  
 

Useful information

Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.

Talk to us

Talk to an international student enrolment adviser

 
 

Other course routes

Full-time

Entry to 2025-26 academic year

Fee for UK applicants
£9,535 a year

Foundation year £5,760

* Subject to passing of legislation expected in early 2025.

More details about our fees

Fee for international applicants
£17,000 a year

More details about our fees for international applicants


What is included in your tuition fee?

  • Length: 4 years
  • UCAS code: L204 BA/PFY
  • Start date: September
  • Semester dates
  • Typical offer: 32-64 points

Apply online (full-time) through UCAS

 

Part-time

  • Not available part-time
 

Choose Teesside

  • News

    Dr Christopher Massey. Link to View the pictures. New politics degree will help students understand the world today
    A leading North-East politician is to share his expertise with students on a new course launched by Teesside University.

    Read the full story

     
 
 

Get in touch

UK students

Email: ssshladmissions@tees.ac.uk

Telephone: 01642 738801


Online chat (general enquiries)

International students

Email: internationalenquiries@tees.ac.uk

Telephone: +44 (0) 1642 738900


More international contacts

 

Open days and events

Sat

18

Jan

Undergraduate open day

9.00am - 3.00pm

On campus


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