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Becoming aware of the world that surrounds us and how we are connected.

Current, relevant and inspiring, this International Relations and Politics degree offers an exciting opportunity to study the political dimensions of life around the world, recognising the connections between people, locales, ideas and problems. 

What opportunities will you have on an International Relations and Politics degree?

We provide an extensive range of modules, from Foreign Policy to Terrorism and Active Citizens, allowing you to explore politics from all angles. We work with you to explore contemporary challenges that are covered in various modules and from different angles; for example, environmental politics and climate change, the place of contemporary Britain in a changing world, or the role of the media in shaping our understanding of the world, social and political problems, and the political responses to them.

Democracy and Active Citizens

The theme of “democracy and active citizens” encourages you to ask why some states become democratic and others don’t, how politics works in non-democratic countries, what democracy is and whether we still need it, how democracy is practised at local and regional level, and how individuals and groups (active citizens) face today’s crisis of democracy. 

 

War, Conflict and Security

The theme of “war, conflict and security” investigates why states go to war with each other and how they manage to avoid doing so, how we engage with security challenges within and beyond our own borders, how war and conflict are regulated through international organisations, and what type of challenges we face in a world in which war between states has become rare. 

 

Governance

Governance is the unifying theme for both international politics and domestic politics as you will analyse a range of institutions from the local to the international, and ways of managing social and political problems beyond traditional centralised, top-down approaches of organising.

 

 

Why choose Northumbria to study International Relations and Politics?

Taking an integrated approach to academic theory and applying it to real world problems, this International Relations and Politics course will provide you with the tools to make a difference in your personal and professional life.

Student Satisfaction: Over 95% of students studying Politics at Northumbria believed they had chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth (NSS, 2024).

See other similar courses you may be interested in: BSc (Hons) Sociology

Course Information

UCAS Code
L2L2

Level of Study
Undergraduate

Mode of Study
3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad

Department
Social Sciences

Location
City Campus, Northumbria University

City
Newcastle

Start
September 2025

Fees
Fee Information

Modules
Module Information

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News / Social Sciences

Find out what our Social Sciences students and staff are taking part in and achieving.

Department / Social Sciences

The Department of Social Sciences offers an extensive range of courses in Criminology, Sociology, International Relations International Development, Media, Journalism and Mass Communications.

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Book an Open Day / Experience International Relations and Politics BA (Hons)

Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study International Relations and Politics. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.

Entry Requirements 2025/26

Standard Entry

112 UCAS Tariff points

From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.

Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator

Northumbria University is committed to supporting all individuals to achieve their ambitions. We have a range of schemes and alternative offers to make sure as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to study at our University regardless of personal circumstances or background. To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo

Subject Requirements:

There are no specific subject requirements for this course.

GCSE Requirements:

Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.

Additional Requirements:

There are no additional requirements for this course.

International Qualifications:

We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.

If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry

English Language Requirements:

International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).

*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications 

Fees and Funding 2025/26 Entry

UK Fee in Year 1: £9,535

* The maximum tuition fee that we are permitted to charge for UK students is set by government. Tuition fees may increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, these are subject to government regulations and in line with inflation.


International Fee in Year 1: £19,350


Please see the main Funding Pages for 25/26 scholarship information.

 


ADDITIONAL COSTS

During your course you are likely to incur travel costs if you decide to do the optional work experience module IR5006 as part of your programme. You may also incur costs for accommodation. Costs are highly variable depending on the location and duration of your chosen placement.

If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

IR4001 -

Britain, Europe and the World (Core,20 Credits)

You will learn about the changing role of Britain in the world and the challenges that currently face Britain in its engagement with Europe and the wider world.
You will learn how and why British foreign policy changed in response to the political and economic situation in which it found itself at the end of the Second World War, and how Britain struggled to come to terms with the new realities of the post-war world in which its former, prominent position as a world power was being challenged on a number of fronts as economic, political and military power was shifting in a post-war world that was responding to a changed and changing order in which new and different alliances were being forged and European colonial powers were having to respond to pressures to recognise claims for national self-determination.
You will learn about Britain’s so-called ‘special relationship’ with the United States, particularly in the context of the Cold War and the so-called ‘War on Terror’, Britain’s changing attitude to its relationship with the neighbouring western European countries, and how and why Britain decided to join the European Economic Community and its subsequent ‘awkward relationship’ with its fellow member-states.
You will learn about how and why the British Empire was dismantled and, in part, transformed into the Commonwealth.
All of these issues will be studied in their historical context with a focus on how Britain’s foreign relations developed over the course of the mid/late 20th century and into the 21st century.

More information

IR4002 -

Democrats and Dictators (Core,20 Credits)

How can we distinguish between democratic and non-democratic regimes? How does the nature of the political system affect the dynamics of rule, representation, accountability and participation in democratic regimes? Similarly, how can we differentiate between non-democratic regimes and how do we explain their existence? How and why do some countries seek to democratise? Why do these efforts succeed in some cases but fail in others? These are the core questions that you will consider on this module, which is organised around four main topics: the conceptualisation of democratic and non-democratic regimes; political systems in democratic countries; the categorisation and governance of non-democratic regimes, and democratisation, paying attention to the role of domestic and international forces. Each of these topics is further underpinned by the themes of rule, representation, accountability and participation, which you will also explore in modules at levels 5 and 6.

More information

IR4003 -

International Conflict and Cooperation (Core,20 Credits)

In this module I will engage with key concepts and theories of International Relations and learn essential academic skills. I will learn about the three standard schools of International Relations thought, i.e. Liberalism, Realism and Marxism, and begin using them to understand states and state practice, as well as the ordering of the international. In this module I will learn to question common sense beliefs about what states are and the status of the powerful (e.g. US, UK) by engaging with academic literature and case studies. Key concepts will include sovereignty, hegemony, war, peace, security etc.

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IR4004 -

Researching International Relations and Politics (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will learn why political scientists undertake research and how political scientists do it. You will examine the key approaches and methods used to help explain and understand issues in international relations and politics. You will learn about the role of theory in developing research, how research is designed, and how arguments are made and evaluated. You will learn why it is important to collect and consider different types of evidence, and be introduced to quantitative and qualitative methods used to analyse this information. You will learn techniques of critical analysis that will help you apply logic and reasoning to my studies of politics throughout your degree and beyond. The module will provide you with an essential foundation for independent research in year 2 (Applied Research Methods) and final year (the dissertation), but importantly helps you to think critically about international relations and politics and thus to become a graduate.

More information

IR4005 -

Thinking Globally (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will be introduced to, understand and analyse patterns and processes of political globalization and the role of different actors that contribute to political globalization. Actors include the nation-state, non-state actors, and international organizations. You will learn how these different actors interact to create complementing and competing processes in a globalizing world. Thematic areas that you will study may include: international law, global governance, human rights, development, inequality, global commons, global democracy, and global activism.

More information

IR4006 -

Thinking Politically (Core,20 Credits)

The aim of the module is to introduce students to the main thinkers, ideas and debates within political philosophy and political theory. The module differentiates between the different branches of politics (i.e. political economy, political philosophy and theory, and political science) before examining the debates about human nature; the nature of society without government; the arguments for and against democracy; justifying the existence of the state and state rule; liberty; equality; how to produce and distribute the goods and services that society needs and desires; and social justice. Furthermore, it links these debates – and the ideas and theories that inform them – to a range of contemporary political ideologies (e.g. conservatism, liberalism, feminism, etc.) and assesses the impact of these upon politics and society more generally.

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YC5001 -

Academic Language Skills for Humanities and Social Sciences (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.

More information

AD5019 -

Social Sciences Study Abroad (60 credit) (Optional,60 Credits)

The Study Abroad module is a semester based 60 credit module which is available on degree courses which facilitate study abroad within the programme. You will undertake a semester abroad at a partner university equivalent to 60 UK credits. This gives you access to modules from your discipline taught in a different learning culture and so broadens your overall experience of learning. The course of study abroad will be constructed to meet the learning outcomes for the programme for the semester in question, dependent on suitable modules from the partner and will be recorded for an individual student on the learning agreement signed by the host University, the student, and the home University (Northumbria). The module will be assessed by conversion of graded marks from the host University.

Learning outcomes on the year-long modules on which the student is unable to attend the home institution must be met at the host institution, and marks from the host are incorporated into the modules as part of the overall assessment.

More information

IR5001 -

Applied Research Methods (Core,20 Credits)

In this module I will learn how to design and carry out a political research project. My learning will build on year one to further examine how political scientists undertake research. I will be introduced to a number of research methods used within the discipline of International Relations and Politics and have the opportunity to apply key research skills. I will have the opportunity to practice the various stages of a research project and learn how to relate the findings to key issues and debates within international relations and political science.

This module adds practical depth to the theoretical frameworks developed in my first year of study and is the foundation for undertaking the systematic investigation required for the Dissertation module in my final year. However, I recognise that in many ways everything about the study of international relations and politics is ‘research’ and this module will bring together the theory and practice of political research which underpins everything I am studying. I realise that learning about the process of undertaking a piece of political research has the potential to transform my understanding of and engagement with everything I learn here at university.

More information

IR5003 -

Theories and Practice of Democracy (Core,20 Credits)

What is a democracy? Are elections enough? How can Western European democracy be improved in contemporary society? In this module you will be invited to challenge the traditional view that elections are sufficient for democracy. In doing so, you will explore democracy beyond the ballot box; examining theoretical and contemporary debates and practices surrounding direct and indirect democracy, political representation and participation. Case studies will be used to explore themes such as: citizen participation (e.g. participatory budgeting, consultation, citizen juries, deliberative polls), non-electoral representation, partnership working and governance, in context of the so called shift from government to governance.

There is a key focus on building your employability in the module. As part of the assessment, you will be asked to take part in a participatory budgeting/competitive funding bidding process. Where feasible, this will be based on a real life project remit linked with the goals and objectives of an external organisation. You will learn knowledge and practice skills used in policy-making, public governance, community engagement and developing and assessing successful funding applications. This is relevant to many roles in the public, private and voluntary and community sectors e.g. community and volunteer engagement officers, elected members, fund-raising officers, researchers etc. Employment related skills gained from this include: team-work, presentation skills, creating and justifying arguments, developing and assessing the merits of funding bids, finding and using evidence, using online IT tools and systems, budgeting public funds and developing projects to meet specific criteria.

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IR5005 -

Global Governance (Core,20 Credits)

You will learn about global governance and international organisations in theoretical-conceptual terms as mechanisms to steer and solve problems of international/global scope. You will explore one or more international organisation to understand whether and how these organisations are able to meet the demands required for that purpose, studying in depth both their normative and institutional framework. This will include studying the main actors and bodies of an organisation, the organisation’s aspirations set out in the respective charter as well as key policy development over time.

Historic case studies or policy analysis will be used to supplement your understanding of the successes or failures of the international organisation to meet its own aspirations and/or facilitate international cooperation.

Subject to staff availability, the international organisations analysed may include the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, etc.

More information

IR5006 -

Politics Work Experience (Optional,20 Credits)

In this module I will learn about the practice of politics. This module complements my learning of political concepts and academic theory by introducing me to the real world of politics. The module provides me with the opportunity to utilise my academic knowledge and develop my understanding by reflecting on how politics operates in the working environment. I will be required to reflect on the connections between academic theory and my experience of practice. It also provides me with the opportunity to develop my research skills which will be applied to a real piece of research. The module will also introduce me to possible careers in politics and enable me to have a more practical understanding of how politics works and, also, the skills required for a career in this area.

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IR5008 -

Theories of International Relations (Core,20 Credits)

In this module I will learn how different scholars have thought about and conceptualised international relations. I will study the range of theories of International Relations, including the three main schools of Liberalism, Realism, Marxism and their variants, and post-structural and critical theories. Learning about the different ways in which we can see, understand and explain international relations will provide me with a better range of tools to form my own understanding and explanation of what I observe, study and read, and thus enhance my skills of critical analysis when engaging with academic literature but also when engaging with political events around the world.

Theories covered in this module will include:
• Neorealism, Neoliberal institutionalism, English School, Constructivism, neo-Marxism
• Critical theory, Postmodernism/Poststructuralism, Feminism, Postcolonialism, International Political Theory

More information

IR5009 -

UK Politics Beyond Westminster (Core,20 Credits)

On this module I will investigate the changing nature of the British political system. This module will develop my understanding of how politics in the UK operates beyond the traditional Westminster Model by focusing on debates about the relationship between identities and politics in the UK. In this module I will gain a clear understanding of the conceptual and theoretical basis of identity through a focus on class and nation. The module enhances my empirical knowledge with a strong historical focus on the changing nature of the British political system. The module will test a number of my assumptions about the nature of the British political system and give me a clearer understanding of the forces of identity and how this shapes political action in the UK.

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IR5010 -

Foreign Policy Analysis (Optional,20 Credits)

You will learn about the most significant issues and challenges of our times in the domain of foreign policy. While grounded in IR theory, you will be introduced to foreign policy analysis (FPA)-specific frameworks and levels of analysis such as to systems of governance, decision making structures and models, leadership analysis, the role of the media, public opinion and special interest groups. Empirically, you will learn about the foreign policy of key actors in the international system towards a region or set of issues such as, for example, US and China foreign policy.

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IR5011 -

From Bastille to Strasbourg- A Journey through Human Rights (Optional,20 Credits)

On this module you will explore human rights through three main themes: the philosophy of human rights, the implementation of human rights, human rights and globalisation.

In the ‘philosophy of human rights’ section, you will analyse the history of the concept of human rights and its critiques, starting with the first universal declaration in 1789.

In the ‘implementation of Human Rights’ section, you will critically analyse its gradual codification and legal implementation, at an international, European and national levels, and how real protection mechanisms were implemented after the Second World War, and critically evaluate its limitations. You will focus on three areas: the European Convention on Human Rights and the new rights acquired by European citizens to defend themselves against their own State; the rise of constitutional courts, focusing on the development of constitutional democracies as opposed to majority democracies and the frictions such a change has entailed, using France and Britain as case studies; the role the EU has played for the protection of human rights, starting from the So Lange case in Germany that forced the EU to become more attentive to Human Rights to an exploration of the four freedoms and finishing with an analysis of the European Charter of fundamental Rights.

In the ‘Human Rights and globalisation’ section you will examine the challenges human rights face in a globalised world by focusing on the universalist versus relativist debate on the one hand, humanitarian intervention and right to protect on the other.

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IR5012 -

Representing Political Violence (Optional,20 Credits)

This module looks at the ways in which political violence is represented in the media, specifically the ways political violence is racialised and gendered. You will look at race and gender as analytical categories in international relations, along with the methodologies that scholars use to research these, and you will apply these understandings to the study of political violence via case studies such as the FARC, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the War in Iraq, Daesh and Black Lives Matter.

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YC5001 -

Academic Language Skills for Humanities and Social Sciences (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.

More information

AD5017 -

Social Sciences Work Placement Year (Optional,120 Credits)

The Work Placement Year module is a 120 credit year-long module available on degree courses which include a work placement year, taken as an additional year of study at level 5 and before level 6 (the length of the placement(s) will be determined by your programme but it can be no less than 30 weeks. You will undertake a guided work placement at a host organisation. This is a Pass/Fail module and so does not contribute to classification. When taken and passed, however, the Placement Year is recognised in your transcript as a 120 credit Work Placement Module and on your degree certificate in the format – “Degree title (with Work Placement Year)”. The learning and teaching on your placement will be recorded in the work placement agreement signed by the placement provider, the student, and the University.

Note: Subject to placement clearance; this is a competitive process and a place on the module cannot be guaranteed.

More information

AD5018 -

Social Sciences Study Abroad Year (Optional,120 Credits)

The Study Abroad Year module is a full year 120 credit module which is available on degree courses which include a study abroad year which is taken as an additional year of study at level 5 and before level 6. You will undertake a year abroad at a partner university equivalent to 120 UK credits. This gives you access to modules from your discipline taught in a different learning culture and so broadens your overall experience of learning. The course of study abroad will be dependent on the partner and will be recorded for an individual student on the learning agreement signed by the host University, the student, and the home University (Northumbria). Your study abroad year will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. It will not count towards your final degree classification but, if you pass, it is recognised in your transcript as a 120 credit Study Abroad Module and on your degree certificate in the format – “Degree title (with Study Abroad Year)”.

Note: Subject to placement clearance; this is a competitive process and a place on the module cannot be guaranteed.

More information

IR6001 -

Active Citizens (Core,20 Credits)

Questions about the concept of crisis and the nature of crisis provide the starting point for this module. It encourages you to build upon the critical understanding of democracy and governance that you gained in Theories and Practices of Democracy at level 5 and Democrats and Dictators at level 4, but approaches the topic from a different perspective. Against this background, you will explore the range of different ways that citizens, particularly as part of organisations and global social movements seek to influence and, in some cases, challenge the state and/or market. In this respect, the concept of civil society and the dynamics of state, market and civil society relationship are central to this module. Using case studies, the module will consider themes such as anti-globalisation and anti-capitalist movements; the politics of pressure, lobbying and campaigning; think tanks; wealth, power and philanthropy; and the politics of “everyday activism” and volunteering.

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IR6002 -

Critical Security (Core,20 Credits)

In this module I will critically engage with the concept of security. I will especially be introduced to traditional and non-traditional concepts of security. This includes an engagement with traditional notions of security (i.e. state security) and the emergence and increasing political importance of non-traditional security (including, but not limited to, human security, comprehensive security, environmental security, food security, energy security, water security). I will critically evaluate the utility of traditional and non-traditional notions of security. Within the non-traditional security complex, I will examine the different types of security, including their differences and similarities, their usefulness, and through case studies and I will engage with their real-life application and global political relevance.

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IR6003 -

Dissertation (Core,40 Credits)

In this module you will have the opportunity to pursue independently a self-selected research project on a topic related to the field of International Relations and Politics. Through your research, you will analyze about a specific topic in the subject of International Relations and Politics, gaining in-depth understanding. You will learn to put into effect the skills that you have learned on other modules, in particular those relating to research methods and the management of research projects.



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IR6004 -

Genocide (Optional,20 Credits)

In this module I will analyse how ideas of genocide have evolved throughout the twentieth century. I will be encouraged to consider the political and legal consequences of genocides, and to engage with the socio/cultural/ethno/economic/religious explanations that some key thinkers have forwarded as being causal factors of genocide. I will also examine how policymakers have grappled with the problem of preventing and stopping genocides once they have begun.

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IR6005 -

Media Power and Propaganda (Optional,20 Credits)

Most people find out about politics, and what is going on in the wider world, through the media. It is therefore critical to understand how the media functions in contemporary society. This module focuses upon the debate about the role of the media in liberal democracies: is it an independent check on the exercise of power or an instrument by which the powerful manipulate the masses? What is the impact of the media upon individuals: does it inform us or brainwash us? How are the Internet and other new technologies affecting individual’s ability to access alternative sources of information to the established media? What implications do these new media have for states that seek to direct, if not control, the public’s access to information? What role, if any, should propaganda play in a liberal democracy? Using concepts, such as power, and theories of media effects, media performance and interpersonal communication, students will be encouraged to engage with these fundamental questions.

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IR6007 -

Politics of Oil and Global Warming (Optional,20 Credits)

Two of the most important problems facing humanity are climate change and energy security. In terms of solutions, a number of very different approaches have been suggested that range from the technological to the radical; how we address and solve these problems is therefore political. This module highlights how energy and resource intensive the average Western way of life is and what this means for climate change and energy security; explores the debate about peak oil (i.e. the point at which cheap and easily accessible oil starts to run out) and considers its political implications; investigates how Western foreign policy has been influenced by the desire to access, if not control, energy sources (e.g. Middle Eastern oil); evaluates the debate about climate change and how politicians have, and could, respond; and assesses the debate about energy policy and how politicians have, and could, respond to the twin demands of tackling global warming while ‘keeping the lights on’.

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IR6008 -

Terrorism (Optional,20 Credits)

In this module I will analyse how ideas of terrorism have evolved throughout the twentieth century. This module offers me an opportunity to study in some depth the modern terrorism phenomenon and the methods currently being undertaken to counter it. I will focus essentially on two questions: what, exactly, is terrorism and what can be done about it?

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IR6010 -

War Games- Negotiating Security through Simulations (Optional,20 Credits)

‘War Games’ is a module aimed at training students in negotiation techniques through the usage of simulation games. The module has general and specific objectives. At the general level, it aims to provide students with key skills in international negotiations, applied to international organisations’ decision making (including the European Union and the United Nations). It also aims at providing students with a greater knowledge of international organisations’ policies and politics. The last general objective is to allow students to experience negotiation processes through real feel simulations, which will underline the challenges associated with international diplomacy and decision-making. Where the specific objectives are concerned, this module is very much focused on employability and on developing students’ skills for the challenges to the job market. War Games is directly linked to the students’ learning journey through the International Relations and Politics degree and rests on the shoulders of the ‘Global Governance’ and ‘International Conflict and Cooperation’ modules.

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IR6011 -

Decolonial Politics (Optional,20 Credits)

This module will give students a theoretical and empirical understanding of decolonial politics. The first part of the module will cover key schools of thought in decolonial theory and the historical context of the five hundred years of European colonialism on which they draw. The second part of the module will apply decolonial theories and concepts to a number of contemporary issues and topics, including humans’ relationship to nature and the climate emergency, indigenous sovereignty, decolonial research methodologies, the case for reparations, and debates around decolonising higher education itself. Students will be encouraged to think and learn through objects and museum exhibits alongside standard, text-based resources, and this aspect of the module is fully integrated into the form of assessment.

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YC5001 -

Academic Language Skills for Humanities and Social Sciences (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.

More information

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

IR4001 -

Britain, Europe and the World (Core,20 Credits)

You will learn about the changing role of Britain in the world and the challenges that currently face Britain in its engagement with Europe and the wider world.
You will learn how and why British foreign policy changed in response to the political and economic situation in which it found itself at the end of the Second World War, and how Britain struggled to come to terms with the new realities of the post-war world in which its former, prominent position as a world power was being challenged on a number of fronts as economic, political and military power was shifting in a post-war world that was responding to a changed and changing order in which new and different alliances were being forged and European colonial powers were having to respond to pressures to recognise claims for national self-determination.
You will learn about Britain’s so-called ‘special relationship’ with the United States, particularly in the context of the Cold War and the so-called ‘War on Terror’, Britain’s changing attitude to its relationship with the neighbouring western European countries, and how and why Britain decided to join the European Economic Community and its subsequent ‘awkward relationship’ with its fellow member-states.
You will learn about how and why the British Empire was dismantled and, in part, transformed into the Commonwealth.
All of these issues will be studied in their historical context with a focus on how Britain’s foreign relations developed over the course of the mid/late 20th century and into the 21st century.

More information

IR4002 -

Democrats and Dictators (Core,20 Credits)

How can we distinguish between democratic and non-democratic regimes? How does the nature of the political system affect the dynamics of rule, representation, accountability and participation in democratic regimes? Similarly, how can we differentiate between non-democratic regimes and how do we explain their existence? How and why do some countries seek to democratise? Why do these efforts succeed in some cases but fail in others? These are the core questions that you will consider on this module, which is organised around four main topics: the conceptualisation of democratic and non-democratic regimes; political systems in democratic countries; the categorisation and governance of non-democratic regimes, and democratisation, paying attention to the role of domestic and international forces. Each of these topics is further underpinned by the themes of rule, representation, accountability and participation, which you will also explore in modules at levels 5 and 6.

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IR4003 -

International Conflict and Cooperation (Core,20 Credits)

In this module I will engage with key concepts and theories of International Relations and learn essential academic skills. I will learn about the three standard schools of International Relations thought, i.e. Liberalism, Realism and Marxism, and begin using them to understand states and state practice, as well as the ordering of the international. In this module I will learn to question common sense beliefs about what states are and the status of the powerful (e.g. US, UK) by engaging with academic literature and case studies. Key concepts will include sovereignty, hegemony, war, peace, security etc.

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IR4004 -

Researching International Relations and Politics (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will learn why political scientists undertake research and how political scientists do it. You will examine the key approaches and methods used to help explain and understand issues in international relations and politics. You will learn about the role of theory in developing research, how research is designed, and how arguments are made and evaluated. You will learn why it is important to collect and consider different types of evidence, and be introduced to quantitative and qualitative methods used to analyse this information. You will learn techniques of critical analysis that will help you apply logic and reasoning to my studies of politics throughout your degree and beyond. The module will provide you with an essential foundation for independent research in year 2 (Applied Research Methods) and final year (the dissertation), but importantly helps you to think critically about international relations and politics and thus to become a graduate.

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IR4005 -

Thinking Globally (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will be introduced to, understand and analyse patterns and processes of political globalization and the role of different actors that contribute to political globalization. Actors include the nation-state, non-state actors, and international organizations. You will learn how these different actors interact to create complementing and competing processes in a globalizing world. Thematic areas that you will study may include: international law, global governance, human rights, development, inequality, global commons, global democracy, and global activism.

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IR4006 -

Thinking Politically (Core,20 Credits)

The aim of the module is to introduce students to the main thinkers, ideas and debates within political philosophy and political theory. The module differentiates between the different branches of politics (i.e. political economy, political philosophy and theory, and political science) before examining the debates about human nature; the nature of society without government; the arguments for and against democracy; justifying the existence of the state and state rule; liberty; equality; how to produce and distribute the goods and services that society needs and desires; and social justice. Furthermore, it links these debates – and the ideas and theories that inform them – to a range of contemporary political ideologies (e.g. conservatism, liberalism, feminism, etc.) and assesses the impact of these upon politics and society more generally.

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YC5001 -

Academic Language Skills for Humanities and Social Sciences (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.

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AD5019 -

Social Sciences Study Abroad (60 credit) (Optional,60 Credits)

The Study Abroad module is a semester based 60 credit module which is available on degree courses which facilitate study abroad within the programme. You will undertake a semester abroad at a partner university equivalent to 60 UK credits. This gives you access to modules from your discipline taught in a different learning culture and so broadens your overall experience of learning. The course of study abroad will be constructed to meet the learning outcomes for the programme for the semester in question, dependent on suitable modules from the partner and will be recorded for an individual student on the learning agreement signed by the host University, the student, and the home University (Northumbria). The module will be assessed by conversion of graded marks from the host University.

Learning outcomes on the year-long modules on which the student is unable to attend the home institution must be met at the host institution, and marks from the host are incorporated into the modules as part of the overall assessment.

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IR5001 -

Applied Research Methods (Core,20 Credits)

In this module I will learn how to design and carry out a political research project. My learning will build on year one to further examine how political scientists undertake research. I will be introduced to a number of research methods used within the discipline of International Relations and Politics and have the opportunity to apply key research skills. I will have the opportunity to practice the various stages of a research project and learn how to relate the findings to key issues and debates within international relations and political science.

This module adds practical depth to the theoretical frameworks developed in my first year of study and is the foundation for undertaking the systematic investigation required for the Dissertation module in my final year. However, I recognise that in many ways everything about the study of international relations and politics is ‘research’ and this module will bring together the theory and practice of political research which underpins everything I am studying. I realise that learning about the process of undertaking a piece of political research has the potential to transform my understanding of and engagement with everything I learn here at university.

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IR5003 -

Theories and Practice of Democracy (Core,20 Credits)

What is a democracy? Are elections enough? How can Western European democracy be improved in contemporary society? In this module you will be invited to challenge the traditional view that elections are sufficient for democracy. In doing so, you will explore democracy beyond the ballot box; examining theoretical and contemporary debates and practices surrounding direct and indirect democracy, political representation and participation. Case studies will be used to explore themes such as: citizen participation (e.g. participatory budgeting, consultation, citizen juries, deliberative polls), non-electoral representation, partnership working and governance, in context of the so called shift from government to governance.

There is a key focus on building your employability in the module. As part of the assessment, you will be asked to take part in a participatory budgeting/competitive funding bidding process. Where feasible, this will be based on a real life project remit linked with the goals and objectives of an external organisation. You will learn knowledge and practice skills used in policy-making, public governance, community engagement and developing and assessing successful funding applications. This is relevant to many roles in the public, private and voluntary and community sectors e.g. community and volunteer engagement officers, elected members, fund-raising officers, researchers etc. Employment related skills gained from this include: team-work, presentation skills, creating and justifying arguments, developing and assessing the merits of funding bids, finding and using evidence, using online IT tools and systems, budgeting public funds and developing projects to meet specific criteria.

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IR5005 -

Global Governance (Core,20 Credits)

You will learn about global governance and international organisations in theoretical-conceptual terms as mechanisms to steer and solve problems of international/global scope. You will explore one or more international organisation to understand whether and how these organisations are able to meet the demands required for that purpose, studying in depth both their normative and institutional framework. This will include studying the main actors and bodies of an organisation, the organisation’s aspirations set out in the respective charter as well as key policy development over time.

Historic case studies or policy analysis will be used to supplement your understanding of the successes or failures of the international organisation to meet its own aspirations and/or facilitate international cooperation.

Subject to staff availability, the international organisations analysed may include the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, etc.

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IR5006 -

Politics Work Experience (Optional,20 Credits)

In this module I will learn about the practice of politics. This module complements my learning of political concepts and academic theory by introducing me to the real world of politics. The module provides me with the opportunity to utilise my academic knowledge and develop my understanding by reflecting on how politics operates in the working environment. I will be required to reflect on the connections between academic theory and my experience of practice. It also provides me with the opportunity to develop my research skills which will be applied to a real piece of research. The module will also introduce me to possible careers in politics and enable me to have a more practical understanding of how politics works and, also, the skills required for a career in this area.

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IR5008 -

Theories of International Relations (Core,20 Credits)

In this module I will learn how different scholars have thought about and conceptualised international relations. I will study the range of theories of International Relations, including the three main schools of Liberalism, Realism, Marxism and their variants, and post-structural and critical theories. Learning about the different ways in which we can see, understand and explain international relations will provide me with a better range of tools to form my own understanding and explanation of what I observe, study and read, and thus enhance my skills of critical analysis when engaging with academic literature but also when engaging with political events around the world.

Theories covered in this module will include:
• Neorealism, Neoliberal institutionalism, English School, Constructivism, neo-Marxism
• Critical theory, Postmodernism/Poststructuralism, Feminism, Postcolonialism, International Political Theory

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IR5009 -

UK Politics Beyond Westminster (Core,20 Credits)

On this module I will investigate the changing nature of the British political system. This module will develop my understanding of how politics in the UK operates beyond the traditional Westminster Model by focusing on debates about the relationship between identities and politics in the UK. In this module I will gain a clear understanding of the conceptual and theoretical basis of identity through a focus on class and nation. The module enhances my empirical knowledge with a strong historical focus on the changing nature of the British political system. The module will test a number of my assumptions about the nature of the British political system and give me a clearer understanding of the forces of identity and how this shapes political action in the UK.

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IR5010 -

Foreign Policy Analysis (Optional,20 Credits)

You will learn about the most significant issues and challenges of our times in the domain of foreign policy. While grounded in IR theory, you will be introduced to foreign policy analysis (FPA)-specific frameworks and levels of analysis such as to systems of governance, decision making structures and models, leadership analysis, the role of the media, public opinion and special interest groups. Empirically, you will learn about the foreign policy of key actors in the international system towards a region or set of issues such as, for example, US and China foreign policy.

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IR5011 -

From Bastille to Strasbourg- A Journey through Human Rights (Optional,20 Credits)

On this module you will explore human rights through three main themes: the philosophy of human rights, the implementation of human rights, human rights and globalisation.

In the ‘philosophy of human rights’ section, you will analyse the history of the concept of human rights and its critiques, starting with the first universal declaration in 1789.

In the ‘implementation of Human Rights’ section, you will critically analyse its gradual codification and legal implementation, at an international, European and national levels, and how real protection mechanisms were implemented after the Second World War, and critically evaluate its limitations. You will focus on three areas: the European Convention on Human Rights and the new rights acquired by European citizens to defend themselves against their own State; the rise of constitutional courts, focusing on the development of constitutional democracies as opposed to majority democracies and the frictions such a change has entailed, using France and Britain as case studies; the role the EU has played for the protection of human rights, starting from the So Lange case in Germany that forced the EU to become more attentive to Human Rights to an exploration of the four freedoms and finishing with an analysis of the European Charter of fundamental Rights.

In the ‘Human Rights and globalisation’ section you will examine the challenges human rights face in a globalised world by focusing on the universalist versus relativist debate on the one hand, humanitarian intervention and right to protect on the other.

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IR5012 -

Representing Political Violence (Optional,20 Credits)

This module looks at the ways in which political violence is represented in the media, specifically the ways political violence is racialised and gendered. You will look at race and gender as analytical categories in international relations, along with the methodologies that scholars use to research these, and you will apply these understandings to the study of political violence via case studies such as the FARC, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the War in Iraq, Daesh and Black Lives Matter.

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YC5001 -

Academic Language Skills for Humanities and Social Sciences (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.

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AD5017 -

Social Sciences Work Placement Year (Optional,120 Credits)

The Work Placement Year module is a 120 credit year-long module available on degree courses which include a work placement year, taken as an additional year of study at level 5 and before level 6 (the length of the placement(s) will be determined by your programme but it can be no less than 30 weeks. You will undertake a guided work placement at a host organisation. This is a Pass/Fail module and so does not contribute to classification. When taken and passed, however, the Placement Year is recognised in your transcript as a 120 credit Work Placement Module and on your degree certificate in the format – “Degree title (with Work Placement Year)”. The learning and teaching on your placement will be recorded in the work placement agreement signed by the placement provider, the student, and the University.

Note: Subject to placement clearance; this is a competitive process and a place on the module cannot be guaranteed.

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AD5018 -

Social Sciences Study Abroad Year (Optional,120 Credits)

The Study Abroad Year module is a full year 120 credit module which is available on degree courses which include a study abroad year which is taken as an additional year of study at level 5 and before level 6. You will undertake a year abroad at a partner university equivalent to 120 UK credits. This gives you access to modules from your discipline taught in a different learning culture and so broadens your overall experience of learning. The course of study abroad will be dependent on the partner and will be recorded for an individual student on the learning agreement signed by the host University, the student, and the home University (Northumbria). Your study abroad year will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. It will not count towards your final degree classification but, if you pass, it is recognised in your transcript as a 120 credit Study Abroad Module and on your degree certificate in the format – “Degree title (with Study Abroad Year)”.

Note: Subject to placement clearance; this is a competitive process and a place on the module cannot be guaranteed.

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IR6001 -

Active Citizens (Core,20 Credits)

Questions about the concept of crisis and the nature of crisis provide the starting point for this module. It encourages you to build upon the critical understanding of democracy and governance that you gained in Theories and Practices of Democracy at level 5 and Democrats and Dictators at level 4, but approaches the topic from a different perspective. Against this background, you will explore the range of different ways that citizens, particularly as part of organisations and global social movements seek to influence and, in some cases, challenge the state and/or market. In this respect, the concept of civil society and the dynamics of state, market and civil society relationship are central to this module. Using case studies, the module will consider themes such as anti-globalisation and anti-capitalist movements; the politics of pressure, lobbying and campaigning; think tanks; wealth, power and philanthropy; and the politics of “everyday activism” and volunteering.

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IR6002 -

Critical Security (Core,20 Credits)

In this module I will critically engage with the concept of security. I will especially be introduced to traditional and non-traditional concepts of security. This includes an engagement with traditional notions of security (i.e. state security) and the emergence and increasing political importance of non-traditional security (including, but not limited to, human security, comprehensive security, environmental security, food security, energy security, water security). I will critically evaluate the utility of traditional and non-traditional notions of security. Within the non-traditional security complex, I will examine the different types of security, including their differences and similarities, their usefulness, and through case studies and I will engage with their real-life application and global political relevance.

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IR6003 -

Dissertation (Core,40 Credits)

In this module you will have the opportunity to pursue independently a self-selected research project on a topic related to the field of International Relations and Politics. Through your research, you will analyze about a specific topic in the subject of International Relations and Politics, gaining in-depth understanding. You will learn to put into effect the skills that you have learned on other modules, in particular those relating to research methods and the management of research projects.



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IR6004 -

Genocide (Optional,20 Credits)

In this module I will analyse how ideas of genocide have evolved throughout the twentieth century. I will be encouraged to consider the political and legal consequences of genocides, and to engage with the socio/cultural/ethno/economic/religious explanations that some key thinkers have forwarded as being causal factors of genocide. I will also examine how policymakers have grappled with the problem of preventing and stopping genocides once they have begun.

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IR6005 -

Media Power and Propaganda (Optional,20 Credits)

Most people find out about politics, and what is going on in the wider world, through the media. It is therefore critical to understand how the media functions in contemporary society. This module focuses upon the debate about the role of the media in liberal democracies: is it an independent check on the exercise of power or an instrument by which the powerful manipulate the masses? What is the impact of the media upon individuals: does it inform us or brainwash us? How are the Internet and other new technologies affecting individual’s ability to access alternative sources of information to the established media? What implications do these new media have for states that seek to direct, if not control, the public’s access to information? What role, if any, should propaganda play in a liberal democracy? Using concepts, such as power, and theories of media effects, media performance and interpersonal communication, students will be encouraged to engage with these fundamental questions.

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IR6007 -

Politics of Oil and Global Warming (Optional,20 Credits)

Two of the most important problems facing humanity are climate change and energy security. In terms of solutions, a number of very different approaches have been suggested that range from the technological to the radical; how we address and solve these problems is therefore political. This module highlights how energy and resource intensive the average Western way of life is and what this means for climate change and energy security; explores the debate about peak oil (i.e. the point at which cheap and easily accessible oil starts to run out) and considers its political implications; investigates how Western foreign policy has been influenced by the desire to access, if not control, energy sources (e.g. Middle Eastern oil); evaluates the debate about climate change and how politicians have, and could, respond; and assesses the debate about energy policy and how politicians have, and could, respond to the twin demands of tackling global warming while ‘keeping the lights on’.

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IR6008 -

Terrorism (Optional,20 Credits)

In this module I will analyse how ideas of terrorism have evolved throughout the twentieth century. This module offers me an opportunity to study in some depth the modern terrorism phenomenon and the methods currently being undertaken to counter it. I will focus essentially on two questions: what, exactly, is terrorism and what can be done about it?

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IR6010 -

War Games- Negotiating Security through Simulations (Optional,20 Credits)

‘War Games’ is a module aimed at training students in negotiation techniques through the usage of simulation games. The module has general and specific objectives. At the general level, it aims to provide students with key skills in international negotiations, applied to international organisations’ decision making (including the European Union and the United Nations). It also aims at providing students with a greater knowledge of international organisations’ policies and politics. The last general objective is to allow students to experience negotiation processes through real feel simulations, which will underline the challenges associated with international diplomacy and decision-making. Where the specific objectives are concerned, this module is very much focused on employability and on developing students’ skills for the challenges to the job market. War Games is directly linked to the students’ learning journey through the International Relations and Politics degree and rests on the shoulders of the ‘Global Governance’ and ‘International Conflict and Cooperation’ modules.

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IR6011 -

Decolonial Politics (Optional,20 Credits)

This module will give students a theoretical and empirical understanding of decolonial politics. The first part of the module will cover key schools of thought in decolonial theory and the historical context of the five hundred years of European colonialism on which they draw. The second part of the module will apply decolonial theories and concepts to a number of contemporary issues and topics, including humans’ relationship to nature and the climate emergency, indigenous sovereignty, decolonial research methodologies, the case for reparations, and debates around decolonising higher education itself. Students will be encouraged to think and learn through objects and museum exhibits alongside standard, text-based resources, and this aspect of the module is fully integrated into the form of assessment.

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YC5001 -

Academic Language Skills for Humanities and Social Sciences (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.

More information

To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.

International Relations and Politics BA (Hons)

Home or EU applicants please apply through UCAS

International applicants please apply using the links below

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