UDDIINRL - BA Diplomacy and International Relations

The teaching and learning strategy of the BA Diplomacy and International Relations 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 successfully thrive in the workplace. To reflect the importance of learning languages, students may take up to 30 credits of a language at level 5 as extension-of-knowledge modules, as well as 15 credits of a language at levels 4 and 6.

The BA Diplomacy and International Relations deploys many pedagogical innovations, such as novels forms of assessment and active learning and practical exercises in the classroom, as well as utilising more traditional teaching methods. The programme is practically oriented, with opportunities for students to learn from and engage with practitioners and to experience the nature of international negotiation through simulations and role-play exercises.

The more traditional approaches include a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops, within which a combination of whole group, small group, and student-led and tutor-led teaching occurs. This can included face-to-face teaching and discussion, but there is also widespread use of blended learning. Most modules are paper free, with considerable learning materials and resources being placed on relevant module WebLearn sites, e.g., lecture notes, module handbooks, video links, recorded lectures and blogs. A large and growing number of materials are also available online through the university library, including access to journals and ebooks. This is all designed to open up the learning space for students to enable them to have continuous access to degree materials, 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 conducted by staff in the Politics and International Relations subject group. This is used to support teaching through the transferring of staff research skills and knowledge to enhance the student learning experience, as the students gain the benefits of staff expertise and the staff gain a better appreciation of their research projects through exploring them with students.

The BA in Diplomacy and International Relations is an innovative programme. The degree aims to provide students with a broad perspective on the theoretical, historical, political and economic aspects of diplomacy and international relations to enhance their ability to understand the complex forces shaping the contemporary world. In particular, the course aims to:

• place questions of diplomacy, international negotiation, decision-making and order at the centre of analysis;
• ensure that students acquire knowledge and understanding in areas of diplomatic and International Relations theory and analysis;
• enable students to understand and use the concepts, approaches, key research methods and methodologies of the discipline and develop an understanding of its contested nature and the problematic character of both diplomatic studies and International Relations inquiry;
• develop in students the capacity to think critically about events, ideas and institutions;
• encourage students to relate the academic study of diplomacy and International Relations 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 place situation through the level 6 work placement module;
• 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 diplomatic practice and global politics whether matters of international negotiation, the strength and success of international organisations, security and peacekeeping, conflict and competition between states, the key concerns of the foreign policy of major powers, the international political economy and issues like trade and relations between the developed world and the 'Global South', terrorism, regional problems like the conflicts

The following learning outcomes incorporate and depend on systematic understanding of the key aspects of the knowledge base of Diplomacy and International Relations, including a coherent and detailed knowledge of some specialist areas in depth.

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

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

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

3. describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or equivalent advanced scholarship, in Diplomacy and International Relations, 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 Diplomacy and International Relations);

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.

Politics and International Relations (2015)

The strategy is designed to maximise the development of subject specific skills and employability skills appropriate to each level of the degree. Assessment and feedback practices are informed by reflection, consideration of professional practice, and subject-specific and educational scholarship. In particular, the course includes many forms of ‘authentic assessment’ and embraces a variety of methods of assessment, including blogs, portfolios, briefing papers, reports, seminar performance, seminar presentations (both individual and group), policy documents and book reviews, as well as more traditional forms of assessment, such as essays and exams. And the volume, timing and nature of assessments enable students to demonstrate the extent to which they have achieved the intended learning outcomes.

The course combines both formative and summative assessment opportunities. Summative assessments are marked by the tutors, but a number of first drafts or formative assessments will be peer-reviewed in class or online. The extensive use of formative assessment supports students in developing and preparing for summative assessment.

Students are provided with opportunities to develop an understanding of, and the necessary skills to demonstrate, good academic practice. Drawing on the subject group’s experience as a partner in the Higher Education Academy project ‘It’s Good to Talk: Feedback, Dialogue and Learning’ (2009-12), staff and students engage in dialogue to promote a shared understanding of the basis on which academic judgements are made.

Processes for marking assessments and for moderating marks are clearly articulated and consistently operated by those involved in the assessment process. Feedback on assessment is timely, constructive and developmental.

Enhancing students’ future career prospects and the development of their practical skills are central to the degree programme and are embedded in many modules. In terms of more explicit work-related learning, there are two core pathways from which students must choose:

• Pathway 1 – career-related learning module and a dissertation: (i) either the 15 credit career-related learning module at level 5 or level 6 (GI5W50) or the Creating a Successful Social Enterprise module at level 5 (MN5W51) or level 6 (MN6W51); and (ii) either the 15 credit (GI6P51) or 30 credit (GI6P01) dissertation module at level 6;
• Pathway 2 – work placement: the 30 credit work placement module at level 6 (GI6W01).

A study-abroad semester (or, in exceptional circumstances, year) 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 subject group has Erasmus exchange links with a number of European universities and it is also possible for students to study in the United States 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 workshops and through 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 tutors or in peer-review situations, and to reflect and learn, resulting in the developing of further learning strategies.

A number of practitioners will be invited in from governmental organisations, including national diplomatic services, and international governmental organisations and non-governmental organisations, to speak on a variety of modules, concentrating on subject specific skills and employability. Visits will also be arranged to external institutions with diplomatic and broader international relations functions.

Careers guidance, information and education forms part of the course through module content and involvement with university provided skills and employment specialists. The Politics and IR subject group also contributes to a series of Enhancement Weeks offered by the School of Social Sciences, which include sessions focused on employability and skills enhancement.

Graduates enter non-governmental organisations, national diplomatic services, as well as international organisations like the European Union and the United Nations, the media, research and teaching, and international business. Many of our students go on to be successful in postgraduate study.

Graduates have found positions with organisations involved in international negotiation and global governance including the UK Department for International Development, the United Nations, national diplomatic services, regional organisations, aid and development agencies, international business and national diplomatic services.

The programme is also excellent preparation for further study or research. High numbers of our graduates have embarked on postgraduate courses in diplomacy, conflict resolution and peacebuilding, international relations, international human rights law, and international public policy at prestigious higher education institutions both in the UK and around the world.

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

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

If you don't have traditional qualifications or can't meet the entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, you may still be able to gain entry by completing our International Relations (including foundation year) BA (Hons) degree.

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

To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Tier 4 student visa you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.