UDINRLAW - BA International Relations and Law

International Relations and Law is a dynamic subject which combines international political theory, and international economic, political and cultural analysis, with the acquisition of legal knowledge and skills specific to the study of law. The course is designed to examine the nature of world politics from both the system and actor perspectives, including individuals, states, international and transnational organisations and actors, as well as allowing students to explore how law is shaped by, and impacts on, among other things, ethical, social, political, environmental, and economic norms at both the local and international level.

The Teaching and Learning strategy of the BA International Relations and Law degree is designed to: ensure that the subject content meets, and improves, on the benchmarks set out by the QAA; encourage the acquisition and understanding of knowledge by students, engendering an enthusiasm for the subject and life-skills learning, including the progression from surface learning to deep learning; facilitate students to develop independent skills and responsibilities for their own learning; incrementally strengthen the subject specific knowledge and skills gained by a students, in combination with the awareness and application of skills needed to successfully thrive in the workplace.

The teaching staff have a growing reputation for pedagogical innovation as well as utilising traditional teaching methods. The latter includes a mixture of lectures, seminars, and workshops. Within this a combination of whole group, small group, and student-led and tutor-led teaching occurs. The emphasis is on ensuring a combination of discussion-based, skills-based and knowledge-based teaching and learning.

In addition to face to face teaching and discussion, there is also an increasing importance placed on the use of blended learning opportunities. Many modules already are paper free, with learning materials and resources being placed on relevant module VLE, e.g. lecture notes, module handbooks, video links, recorded lectures, podcasts, primary documents, and blogs. Assessment feedback is provided face to face and electronically through TurnitIn. A growing number of materials are also available on-line through the University library, notably journals and e-books.

This is all designed to open up the learning space for students to enable them to access the degree 24/7, improving the student learning experience, whilst increasing cost-effectiveness and efficiency.

An additional and important part of the teaching and learning strategy is the academic research which is carried by Politics and International Relations (PIR) staff. This is used to support teaching through the transferring of staff research skills and knowledge to enhance the student learning experience, i.e. the research is effectively fed back to students through teaching.

Staff research specialisms are an essential component of the International Relations and Law curriculum, with students benefitting from being taught by specialists. Many of the Law modules are taught by law practitioners. Indeed, it is this that ensures that the degree reflects the contemporary nature of the subject, keeping pace with trends and developments, and meets the demands of employers.

In short, the degree aims to provide a combination of teaching methods and learning methods approaches designed to strengthen the employability of students in a range of occupations.

The degree is designed for students who are interested in law and its impact upon the increasingly interconnected world of international relations and would like to use their legal knowledge in an international, diplomatic or political context. As such, the degree is structured to enhance students’ abilities to understand the complex forces shaping modern global politics. In particular, the course aims to:

• place questions of international order and decision-making at the centre of analysis;
• ensure that students acquire knowledge and understanding in areas of International Relations theory and analysis;
• enable students to understand and use the concepts, approaches and research methods and methodologies of the discipline and develop an understanding of its contested nature and the problematic character of International Relations inquiry and Law;
• develop in students the capacity to think critically about events, ideas and institutions;
• encourage students to relate the academic study of International Relations and Law to questions of public concern;
• assist students to develop a range of cognitive and social skills relevant to their intellectual, vocational and personal development, with a particular emphasis on employability, e.g. students can apply the knowledge gained from the course in a work experience situation through Work-Based Learning modules;
• provide a curriculum supported by scholarship, staff development and a research culture that promotes breadth and depth of academic inquiry and debate.

Accordingly, the syllabus seeks to assist students’ understanding of the key issues of global politics whether matters of security and peacekeeping, conflict and competition between states, the key concerns of the foreign policy of major powers, the strength and success of international organisations, the international political economy and issues like trade and relations between the developed world and the 'Global South', terrorism, cyberspace, weapons of mass destruction, feminism, regional problems (such as the conflicts in the Middle East), or the salience of ethical issues such as environmentalism, democratisation and human rights.

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1. deploy accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within International Relations and Law;

2. devise and sustain arguments, and/or to solve problems, using ideas and techniques, some of which are at the forefront of International Relations and Law

3. describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or equivalent advanced scholarship, in International Relations and Law, recognising the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge;

4. manage their own learning, and to make use of scholarly reviews and primary sources (for example, refereed research articles and/or original materials appropriate to ) International Relations and Law;

5. apply the methods and techniques that they have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding, and to initiate and carry out projects;

6. critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and data (that may be incomplete), to make judgements, and to frame appropriate questions to achieve a solution - or identify a range of solutions - to a problem;

7. communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences;

8. exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including decision-making in complex and unpredictable contexts;

9. undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature

GI4005
GI4007
LL4001
LL4002
GI5005
LL5002
GI5W50
MN5W51
GI5006
GI5007
GI5008
GI5060
GI5063
GI5064
GI5065
GI5066
GI5067
LL5001
LL5004
LL5005
LL5050
LL5051
GI6005
LL6005
GI6P01
GI6P51
GI6W01
GI5W50
LL6P01
LL6P51
LL6W51
GI6002
GI6007
GI6009
GI6064
GI6065
GI6066
GI6067
LL6004
LL6006
LL6008
LL6010
LL6051
LL6052

Learning Outcomes cover LO1-9

Politics and International Relations, February 2015; Law, July, 2015.

The course combines both formative and summative assessment opportunities, embracing a variety of methods including: essays, briefing papers, exams, seminar performance, seminar presentations (both individual and group), portfolios, blogs, briefing papers, policy documents, and book reviews. The majority will be tutor assessed, but a number will be peer-reviewed in seminars.

At each Level of the degree, assessment and feedback practices are informed by reflection, consideration of professional practice, and subject-specific and educational scholarship. Staff and students are encouraged to engage in dialogue to promote a shared understanding of the basis on which academic judgements are made, and students are provided with opportunities to develop an understanding of, and the necessary skills to demonstrate, good academic practice.

The volume, timing and nature of assessment is designed to enable students to demonstrate the extent to which they have achieved the intended learning outcomes. Indeed, with an emphasis on progression, formative assessment is structured to support students in their summative assessment, with feedback being both constructive and developmental.

Throughout, the strategy is designed to maximise the development of subject specific skills and employability skills appropriate to each level of the degree.

Enhancing student’s future career prospects in a central aspect of the degree programme. In terms of more explicit work-related learning, there are two core pathways from which students can choose, either:

PATHWAY 1

TWO modules – one from Column A and one from Column B

COLUMN A

MN5W51 (Level 5)
Creating a Successful Social Enterprise 1
15 credits (autumn or spring)

MN6W51 (Level 6)
Creating a Successful Social Enterprise 2
15 credits (autumn or spring)

GI5W50 (Level 5 or 6)
Politics and International Relations: Work-Based Learning
15 credits (spring)
Or LL6W51 Law: Work-Based Learning 15 credits

COLUMN B

GI6P51 or LL6P51 (Level 6)
Dissertation 1 semester
15 credits (autumn)

GI6P01 or LL6P01 (Level 6)
Dissertation 1 year
30 credits (year)

OR:
PATHWAY 2

GI6W01 or GI6W01 (Level 6) Placement 1 year 30 credits (year)

All modules also have aspects of employability embedded within them.

In addition, a study-abroad semester (or, in exceptional circumstances two semesters) can be undertaken as part of the degree programme. The Course Leader (or a delegated representative) must approve the programme of study proposed at the overseas host institution. The Politics and International Relations section has a number of links with partner institutions throughout the world, including Europe, the USA, and Japan. These exchanges are arranged through the University’s International Office.

Every module on this course has embedded within it reflective learning components and personal development planning relevant to the year of study. It will be encouraged in lectures, seminars, and in assessment methods.

Students will be directed to reflect on knowledge specific learning, personal and employability skills development.

Students will be encouraged to engage positively with all feedback opportunities, be they with their Academic Tutor, course and module tutors, Academic Mentor, or in peer-review situations, and to reflect and learn, resulting in the developing of further learning strategies.

This is not a qualifying law degree for professional legal training. Please see our LLB Law or LLB (with International Relations) courses which are qualifying law degrees.

Graduates progress to: government departments, including the diplomatic services, as well as organisations like the European Union and the United Nations; NGOs specialising in the aid, human rights and the environmental; research and teaching; journalism; and international business. Many of our students go on to be successful in postgraduate study, e.g. King’s College, London, Oxford University, and SOAS

The course prepares you for careers in organisations ranging from the The Foreign Office, the United Nations and the European Union, to international companies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) specialising in international development, overseas aid, human rights and environmental fields, and the media.

Students have also gained employment in research and teaching, international business, the media and political campaigns. Additionally, we have students working in a variety of overseas positions throughout the world.

Many also go on to be successful in postgraduate study.

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:

• a minimum grade BBC in three A levels (or a minimum of 112 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification eg, Advanced Diploma)
• English Language GCSEs at grade C/grade 4 or above (or equivalent)

Applicants with relevant professional qualifications or extensive professional experience will also be considered on a case by case basis.

If you do not have traditional qualifications or cannot meet the entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, you may still be able to gain entry by completing the International Relations and Politics Extended degree.

Applications are welcome from mature students who have passed appropriate access or other preparatory courses or who have appropriate work experience.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.