
International Relations BA (Hons)
Course Overview - International Relations BA (Hons)
This is a Connected Degree
Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after youve started your course.
Overview
Examine the major issues affecting the world. Discover why nation states rise and fall. Take a closer look at the factors behind international conflict, and ...
<strong>This is a Connected Degree</strong><br/><br/>Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after youve started your course.<br/><br/><strong>Overview</strong><br/><br/>Examine the major issues affecting the world. Discover why nation states rise and fall. Take a closer look at the factors behind international conflict, and learn the role state leaders, NGOs, civil society and activists play in solving these problems.<br/><br/>On this BA (Hons) International Relations degree, youll explore topics like global migration and the rise of populist politics. You’ll learn the skills required to play your part in improving equality and enacting positive change.<br/><br/>And after graduation, you’ll be ready for careers in local and national government, security, tech, intelligence, and with international charities and institutions like the UN.<br/><br/><strong>Course highlights</strong><br/><br/><br/>• Learn from staff at our Centre for European and International Studies Research (CEISR), whose research directly impacts government policy<br/><br/><br/><br/>• Create policy briefing papers offering recommendations to practitioners on major recent international issues, such as the Ukraine Crisis, the MeToo movement, the rise of terrorist organisations and the Arab Revolutions<br/><br/><br/><br/>• Attend events and talks led by people working in NGOs, local, national and international government, and journalism<br/><br/><br/><br/>• Go on field trips to locations such as the Houses of Parliament<br/><br/><br/><br/>• Take part in a simulated ‘academic conference’, where you’ll present a paper that will be discussed with your peers<br/><br/><br/><br/>• Have the chance to study abroad at one of our partner institutions – including Science Po Strasbourg (France), Maastricht University (Netherlands), Université libre de Bruxelles (Belgium) and University of Szeged (Hungary)<br/><br/><br/><br/><strong>Optional pathways</strong><br/><br/><br/>• On this course, you can study history or international development alongside your international relations degree<br/><br/><br/><br/><strong>Worried about your grades?</strong><br/>If youre not sure you meet the entry requirements, or need some help to get uni-ready, then we offer this course with a foundation year to bring you up to speed. When you successfully finish, youll get a guaranteed place on this course.<br/><br/><strong>Careers and opportunities</strong> <br/><br/>Graduates from this degree have gone on to careers in the following sectors:<br/><br/><br/>- local and central government <br/><br/><br/>- embassies<br/><br/><br/>- non-governmental organisations (NGOs)<br/><br/><br/>- security services <br/><br/><br/>- international organisations, like the United Nations (UN) <br/><br/><br/>- international charities like War Child, Amnesty International or the Red Cross <br/><br/><br/>- policy research and think tanks<br/><br/><br/>- media and international business consultancy <br/><br/><br/>- political risk analysis <br/><br/><br/>- public relations <br/><br/><br/>- voluntary organisations <br/><br/><br/>- management <br/><br/><br/>- banking and financial services<br/><br/><br/>- tourism <br/><br/><br/>What jobs can you do with an International Relations degree?<br/><br/>Recent graduates have gone on to roles including:<br/><br/><br/>- director of Language Studies for an international school<br/><br/><br/>- political researcher, Houses of Parliament<br/><br/><br/>- assistant to Member of Parliament<br/><br/><br/>- civil servant, the Cabinet Office<br/><br/><br/>- senior policy advisor, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government<br/><br/><br/>- communications officer, House of Commons<br/><br/><br/>- local government administrator, Government of Jersey<br/><br/><br/>- public affairs consultant <br/><br/><br/>- bilingual consultant <br/><br/><br/>- multilingual project coordinator <br/><br/><br/>- translator <br/><br/><br/>- social researcher <br/><br/><br/>- information officer <br/><br/><br/>- conference producer <br/><br/><br/>After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.
Course Information
2 options available
Some courses vary and have tailored teaching options, select a course option below.
Course Details
Information
Study Mode
Full-time
Duration
3 Years
Start Date
21/09/2026
Campus
Main Site
Application Details
Provider Details
Codes/info
Course Code
L253
Institution Code
P80
Points of Entry
Year 1, Year 2, Year 3
Entry Requirements
UCAS Tariff
Scottish Higher
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
Access to HE Diploma
106-112 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DMM
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
GCSE/National 4/National 5
2 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above to include English.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
Scottish Advanced Higher
104-112 Tariff points to include a minimum of 2 Advanced Highers.
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
Cambridge Pre-U score of 44-46.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
A level
T Level
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
104-112 points from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate including 1 A level, plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.
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