Politics and International Relations BA (Hons)

On our new BA Politics and International Relations degree, you’ll study the workings of society and governments around the globe, including questions of power, justice, democracy, empire, security, revolution, activism, and identity.  <br/><br/>Our curriculum stretches from Africa to America to Britain and Europe. You’ll gain insights into change and continuity in national and global governance, how leaders and politicians have influenced such processes, and how the directions and decisions of political parties and institutions have affected the lives of ordinary people. You’ll explore the impact of individual leaders like Tony Blair and Vladimir Putin alongside the role of international organisations and alliances, as well as wider issues of international conflict and world peace, consumption and trade, crime and terrorism, and media and communication. At every level history and historical theories of change will be integrated into your understanding.<br/><br/>In addition to the focus on politics and international relations, you’ll also gain a range of transferable skills to equip you for your graduate future. Your use of data analysis and different sources from government documents to focus groups plus innovative assessments that include, but go far beyond, the traditional essay, will give you an impressive narrative to tell in future job applications.  <br/><br/>As such, you’ll emerge with a degree that will equip you for a career working for a political party, in diplomacy and other parts of the civil service for international organisations, or in other jobs as varied as hedge fund trader or teacher.  <br/><br/>Lectures, seminars and classroom time are a vital part of our BA Politics and International Relations degree, but you will have the opportunity to broaden your wings. In your time at ARU, you could access the original documents of figures such as Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill (held in the city of Cambridge where you’ll be taught) and see how they handled the big international and political crises of their day.<br/><br/>You could hear leading politicians speak at the Cambridge Union or at the various political clubs across the city, or access the latest journal articles and books in libraries across town to give you up to date insights into today’s politics. And youll have the option to study a language or undertake a work placement as part of your course, to further equip you with skills, knowledge and experience to prepare you for your graduate future.<br/><br/>**Careers**<br/><br/>As a BA (Hons) Politics and International Relations graduate, you could go on to work in a variety of fields, including local government, charities, NGOs, and European and international organisations and agencies. You might also explore career paths in public service, the criminal justice system, future energy policy and planning, security, negotiation and peacekeeping, or communication and media.<br/><br/>As part of your degree you have the option to learn a language, through our Anglia Language Programme. This can boost your employability in international areas such as UN conflict resolution and diplomacy.<br/><br/>You could also learn more, develop a specialism or start an exciting career in research with our MA International Relations, MA Sociology or MA Criminology. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.<br/><br/>Employability and personal career development<br/><br/>Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.<br/><br/>You will need to dedicate time outside of your course to develop your employability, through placements, internships or volunteering or through our partner scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). You can ad this experience to your CV and talk about it in interviews to give you that all important edge.

The team at Anglia Ruskin understand that Clearing can seem scary. But don't worry, they make it simple and will guide you every step of the way. <br/><br/>ARU students are supported at every stage of their journey, from counselling and wellbeing sessions to a money advice service.<br/><br/>Whatever your career ambitions, ARU’s innovative curriculum is developed to provide you with the transferable skills and practical experience that employers are looking for. <br/><br/>ARU has been awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework in recognition of their high teaching standards. ARU is also incredibly proud to have been named Times Higher Education’s University of the Year 2023, reflecting the difference they’ve made in the local community.<br/><br/>You’ll have access to their careers service throughout your time at ARU, and after you graduate. They even have an in-house recruitment agency, ARU Temps, who will help you start building your CV, while earning some extra money! <br/><br/>ARU's £95m investment in the last five years means you’ll get top-notch facilities: award-winning SuperLabs, financial trading rooms, TV studios, engineering labs, gaming suites, mock law courts, nursing and paramedic skills labs, and much more!