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Politics and International Relations BA (Hons)

This dynamic and multifaceted course is designed to ignite your passion for global politics and equip you with the skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

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Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments - rather than lots of exams at the end of the year - and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging.

Read more about block teaching

Overview

Listen to Amina and Simon discuss the Decolonising module in the Politics and International Relations BA (Hons) course at DMU.

This course uses a range of innovative strategies to immerse you in the most pressing contemporary issues in politics and international relations. You'll engage in interactive sessions and complete a range of assignments aimed at boosting your employability, ensuring you graduate with the confidence and capabilities needed to succeed in diverse career paths.

You'll join a diverse community of students, from both traditional and non-traditional backgrounds, across the East Midlands and beyond. You'll benefit from guest lectures and events, including the highly anticipated Congress to Campus event, offering direct insights from leading experts in the field. Our staff are committed to delivering cutting-edge, research-led teaching, with exciting modules on international politics and the critically relevant topic of decolonising politics.

Key features

  • Collaborate with the DMU UN Hub and engage with global initiatives through participation in COP summits and other high-profile international activities, offering real-world experience on critical global issues.
  • Specialise in either Politics or International Relations during your second year, leading to an extended research project in your final year that challenges your skills in research, critical thinking, and communication.
  • Learn from faculty experts and study cutting-edge topics such as decolonising politics, American politics, and security studies, guided by faculty members who are leading researchers in these areas.
  • Develop invaluable skills for your future career through every module, with opportunities for personal growth and practical experience integrated throughout the program.
  • Gain a wide range of critical analysis, communication, and presentation skills through course and assessment design focused on real-world applications, preparing you for success after graduation.
  • Benefit from faculty who are not only experts in their fields but actively engaged in producing groundbreaking research, ensuring that you learn the latest developments in Politics and International Relations.
  • Learn from academics who frequently contribute to local, national, and international news outlets, such as BBC Radio, giving you insights from those shaping public discourse.
  • Benefit from block teaching, where most students study one subject at a time. A simple timetable will allow you to really engage with your learning, receive regular feedback and assessments, get to know your course mates and enjoy a better study-life balance.

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Scholarships

DMU offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships and bursaries to help you realise your academic ambitions.

International student scholarships

Find out about available international scholarships or visit our fees and funding page for more information.


 

 

  • UK
  • EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course codes: N820

Start date: September

Duration: Three years full-time, four years full-time with a placement. Six years part-time.

Fees and funding: 

2025/26 tuition fees for UK students: £9,535

Find out more about tuition fees and available funding.

Find out more about course fees and available funding.

Find out more about additional costs and optional extras associated with this course.

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Book an Open Day

Submit a study-related enquiry

Institution code: D26

UCAS course codes: N820

Start date: September

Duration: Three years full-time

Fees and funding: 

2025/26 tuition fees for international students: £16,250

Find out more about available funding for international students.

Find out more about additional costs and optional extras associated with this course.

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

  • A typical offer is 112 UCAS points. You need to study at least two subjects at A-level or equivalent (eg BTEC)

Plus, five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English Language and Maths

Alternative qualifications include:

  • Pass Access with 30 Level 3 credits at Merit (or equivalent) with English (Language or Literature) and Maths GCSE required as separate qualifications at grade 4

We will normally require students to have had a break from full time education before undertaking the Access course

  • International Baccalaureate: 26+ points or
  • T Levels Merit

Mature students

We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard qualifications and recognise all other equivalent and international qualifications.

English language

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential. English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

UCAS tariff information

Students applying for courses starting in September will be made offers based on the latest UCAS Tariff.

Contextual offer 

To make sure you get fair and equal access to higher education, when looking at your application, we consider more than just your grades. So if you are eligible, you may receive a contextual offer. Find our more about contextual offers.

 

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessment

Contact hours

 

Year 1

Block 1: Ideas and Change in Politics and International Relations

Block 2: Journeys and Places

Block 3: Global Challenges: Politics and Policy

Block 4: Comparative Politics and Democracy

Year 2

Block 1: Political Theory

  • Politics pathway: Political Theory – Why Big Ideas Matter
  • International Relations pathway: Contemporary International Relations Theory

Block 2: Exploring Work and Society

Block 3:

  • Politics pathway: Global Political Economy: Gender, Race, Class
  • International Relations pathway: Not Westminster

Block 4: Political Research in Action

Year 3

Politics pathway

Block 1: Politics of the Americas

Block 2: Decolonising Politics

Block 3: Sustainable Futures

Block 4: Politics and IR Project (year-long)

International Relations pathway

Block 1: Global Inequalities

Block 2: Security, Peace and Conflict

Block 3: Tackling Global Crises

Block 4: Politics and IR Project (year-long)

See detailed module information


Once you have selected a specialism pathway, you cannot switch to an alternative pathway for the remainder of the course.

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.


 

Overview

In first year, the students will take a college-wide interdisciplinary module, the first iteration of which is called Journeys and Places.

In year two students will move into their chosen pathway: politics or international relations. There, experts in the disciplines will teach them more advanced theoretical perspectives.

Students will conclude year 2 by merging back into a large group to study research methods, where they will learn about and develop new skills.

Year three concludes with the submission of the long project or dissertation.

Contact hours

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, studios, group work and self-directed study. You will normally attend around 14 hours of timetabled taught sessions (lectures and tutorials) each week, and we expect you to undertake at least 25 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research.

Facilities and features

 
Placements
Placements
Placements
 

More flexible ways to learn

 We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. 

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including the Virtual Learning Environment, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

Campus centre

The home of  De Montfort Students' Union, (DSU) our Campus Centre offers a welcoming and lively hub for student life. Conveniently located at the heart of campus, it includes a convenience store, a Subway and a Starbucks. Here you can find the DSU-owned charitable accommodation service Sulets and DSU’s shop, SUpplies, selling art supplies, stationery and clothing, and printing and binding services. The building is also home to the DSU officer team. 

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

DMU's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities DMU Careers Team

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Placements

As part of this course, you will have the option to complete a paid placement year which offers invaluable professional experience.

Our award-winning Careers Team, can help you secure a placement through activities such as mock interviews and practice aptitude tests, and you will be assigned a personal tutor to support you throughout your placement.

During this course you will have the option to complete a paid placement year, an invaluable opportunity to put the skills developed during your degree into practice. This insight into the professional world will build on your knowledge in a real-world setting, preparing you to progress onto your chosen career.

Our Careers Team can help to hone your professional skills with mock interviews and practice aptitude tests, and an assigned personal tutor will support you throughout your placement.

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DMU Global

Our innovative international experience programme DMU Global aims to enrich studies, broaden cultural horizons and develop key skills valued by employers. 

Through DMU Global, we offer an exciting mix of overseas, on-campus and online international experiences, including the opportunity to study or work abroad for up to a year.

Students on this course will have multiple opportunities to study abroad, either as part of a year-long exchange or as part of a short-term DMU global trip. Recently students have spent a year in locations such as Bilbao, and Strasbourg, where they worked closely with the EU Institutions, and opportunities for studying away such as a “Health Policy in post-conflict Northern Ireland” have been offered to students in recent months.

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Graduate careers

Employability skills are embedded in the curriculum to prepare you for a range of careers both related to Politics and International Relations and in wider industries. Our graduates have gone on to forge successful careers in various professions, and work in positions such as parliamentary assistants, aerospace project management, and in industries such as construction, hospitality, pharmaceuticals, and in local and national government.

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