UDINRPOL - BA International Relations and Politics

The Teaching and Learning strategy of the BA International Relations and Politics degree is designed to dovetail with and reflect that of both the School of Social Science and Professions and the University. It ensures that the subject content meets, and improves, on the benchmarks set out by the QAA; encourages 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; facilitates students to develop independent skills and responsibilities for their own learning; incrementally strengthens the subject specific knowledge and skills gained by students, in combination with the awareness and application of skills needed successfully to thrive in the workplace.

The degree has a long-standing reputation for pedagogical innovation as well as utilising traditional teaching methods. The latter include a mixture of lectures, seminars, and workshops. Within this a combination of whole group, small group, and student-led and tutor-led teaching occurs. This can include face to face teaching and discussion, but there is also an increasing emphasis on the use of blended learning opportunities. 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, podcasts, first hand documents, and blogs. Teaching staff often use electronic feedback, the electronic submission of formative and summative assessments, and on-line office hours. A growing number of materials are also available on-line through the University library, including access to journals and e-books. Students may take modern languages as subject related options. They may also opt for extension-of-knowledge modules from other disciplines.

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 ensuring cost-effectiveness and efficiency.

An additional and important part of the Teaching and Learning strategy, is the academic research that is carried out by Politics and International Relations staff. This is used to support teaching through transferring staff research skills and knowledge to enhance the student learning experience, as the research is effectively disseminated to students through teaching.

Staff research specialisms are an essential component of the BA International Relations and Politics curriculum, with students benefitting from being taught by subject specialists. Additionally, staff work closely with the various University support services and the Careers and Library Services to provide an holistic student experience.

The course marries a selection of key core modules with a wide range of optional modules to maximise student choice. The content of modules is regularly updated to reflect developments in the subject areas but also to reflect and be flexible in relation to the changing interests of students.

To accommodate research leave for academic staff and to ensure that modules are viable in terms of student numbers, the Politics and International Relations subject group may withdraw one or more optional modules for a year. To gauge the number of students on optional modules at levels 5 and 6 in the following academic year, module conferences will take place in the spring semester on the core modules GI4059 and GI5077, to ensure that students are informed about their options, are able to select their modules at the next level of study, and to enable the subject group to make adjustments for any modules which need to be temporarily withdrawn.

The BA in International Relations and Politics is a cornerstone degree offered by the School of Social Science and Professions that has been developed, improved and updated over several decades. The degree aims to provide students with a broad perspective on the disciplines of International Relations and Politics and their philosophical, theoretical, historical and practical aspects, and to enhance their ability to understand the complex forces shaping international relations and politics in the contemporary world.

In particular, the course aims to: examine the concept and nature of international relations and politics and the institutions and structures engaged in international and domestic political decision-making; ensure that students acquire knowledge and understanding in areas of International Relations and Political Science, theory and analysis; enable students to understand and use the concepts, approaches, key research methods and methodologies of the disciplines, and develop an understanding of their contested nature and the problematic character of international relations and political inquiry; develop in students the capacity to think critically about events, ideas and institutions; encourage students to relate the academic study of International Relations and Politics 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. For example, students can apply the knowledge gained from the course in a work experience situation through the work-based learning and placement modules.

The course provides a curriculum supported by scholarship, staff development and a research culture that promotes breadth and depth of rigorous academic inquiry and debate.

Accordingly, the syllabus seeks to assist students’ understanding of the key issues of international relations and politics whether matters of philosophy, ethics, power, rights, justice, democracy, obligation, representation, freedom, gender, culture, security and peacekeeping, conflict and competition within, between and beyond states, the key concerns of states, issues of government, public policy and management, the foreign policy of major and minor 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, the media, immigration, the rise of populism, regional problems like the conflicts in the Middle East, area studies such as Europe, the United States, Latin America, Africa, or South Asia, or the salience of ethical issues like environmentalism, democratisation and human rights.

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

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

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 Politics;

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

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

10. demonstrate confidence, resilience, ambition and creativity and will act as inclusive, collaborative and socially responsible practitioners/professionals in their discipline.

Politics and International Relations (2023)

The course combines both formative and summative assessment opportunities, embracing a variety of methods including: essays, reports, briefing papers, exams, seminar performance, seminar presentations (both individual and group), portfolios, blogs, briefing papers, policy documents, book reviews and dissertations. 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 scholarship, subject specific skills and employability skills appropriate to each level of the degree.

Enhancing students’ future career prospects is a central aspect of the degree programme. All modules, for example, have aspects of employability embedded within them.

In terms of more explicit work-related learning, students have the opportunity to take the 30 credit module GI6W01 ‘Placement 1 Year’. Work experience has frequently led to students gaining employment after graduation in the host or related organisations including political parties, interest groups, government departments and diplomatic services.

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 subject area has a number of links with partner institutions throughout the world, including continental Europe, the USA and Japan. These exchanges are arranged through the University’s International Office.

Part-time students are able to take modules at each level in a combination and order which is most convenient for them. At each level, there is no requirement for them to take the modules in a particular order.

Default optional and alternative core options are as follows:
Level 5: GI5064, GI5067, GI5070, GI5074
Level 6: GI6P01, GI6054, GI6055, GI6069, GI6070

Every module on this course has embedded within it reflective learning components and personal development planning (PDP) relevant to the level of study. PDP 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 tutors or in peer-review situations, and to reflect and learn, resulting in the development of further learning strategies.

By the end of the course you will be ready for careers in organisations ranging from central and local government departments, diplomatic services, the United Nations, to domestic and international businesses, non-governmental organisations, the media, political or policy analysis and research. Graduates have embarked on careers in the Civil Service: Diplomatic Services; as a local government officer; political analyst and researcher; or undertaken postgraduate study.

This course will prepare you for an exciting career where no two days are the same. Our work experience opportunities give you valuable experience in this field, so you’ll have a competitive advantage when it comes to looking for a graduate job.

Our politics and international relations graduates have gone on to a variety roles including an advocate of quality assitants, operations managers and HR leads, campaigns managers and major donor officers at institutions like the United Nations, national diplomatic services and leading non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Or you might want to consider further study or research in a specialist topic. Here at London Met, you could progress on to our International Relations MA.

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

• a minimum grade CCC in three A levels (or a minimum of 96 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification)
• GCSE English at grade C/grade 4 or above (or equivalent)
• Mathematics GCSE is not required

Applicants with international qualifications and mature applicants are also welcome.

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).