Politics and International Relations Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

How do relationships between nations shape our world? Who holds power in society and how is it exercised, challenged and transformed? 

Our BA Politics and International Relations degree invites you to tackle these fundamental questions and engage critically with the political forces that impact our daily lives. You’ll study the core areas of comparative politics, political theory and international relations, building a comprehensive understanding of how politics shapes domestic and global issues. 

With a large range of optional modules to choose from, and opportunities to study specialist topics such as social justice, global security and secret intelligence, you’ll have the freedom to tailor your degree to your interests and career ambitions.

Throughout the course, you’ll engage with different theories and explore how they inform policy decisions in areas such as global inequality, climate politics, conflict and governance. In doing so, you’ll develop advanced critical thinking, analytical and research skills that are highly valued in many professional fields.

You’ll be part of a vibrant student community. Join societies such as the Politics Society, Debate Society and United Nations Society (https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/articles/explore-more-articles/social-sciences/the-united-nations-society-at-the-university-of-nottingham.html) to make friends, attend trips and build impressive skills for your CV.

You will also have opportunities to hear directly from influential external speakers, giving you rare insights into global security, diplomacy and policy making. Previous guests have included Sir John Sawers, former Chief of MI6, and Major General Tim Cross.

Our graduates go on to work across the private, public and charitable sectors in a variety of roles – from parliamentary assistants and councillors to civil servants, researchers and data analysts.

Why Choose this Course?

Course Highlights:

* Our placements and internship opportunities provide valuable real-world experience that looks great on your CV (https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/politics/study/careers/placements/index.aspx)

* Join our student societies, such as the Politics Society, Debate Society and United Nations Society, which offer networking opportunities, talks from guest speakers and trips.

* Study abroad opportunities in locations such as China, Europe and the USA.

Proven Results:

* We're ranked in the top 20 in the UK for politics (Complete University Guide 2026).

* Politics and international relations graduates earned a median salary of £39,400 five years after graduation (LEO data from 2022/23 tax year, published in 2025).