Global politics is increasingly interconnected. Our Politics and International Relations degree focuses on how local, national, and international politics interact. What is the role of foreign wars in driving political movements at home? In what ways do debates about identity shape foreign policy? How do populist leaders learn from each other? You’ll graduate with a wide range of transferable skills that are highly sought after by employers.
Politics and International Relations is about the dynamics of power, and how to navigate those dynamics for both domestic and transnational ends.
Our course will introduce you to cross-cutting questions of transnational political movements, war and change, and how national policy can be harnessed to address global challenges.
Along the way you’ll be able to address the social and political issues behind the biggest debates in contemporary politics and international affairs.
You’ll have the option to take one of our award-winning Professional Training placements that will prepare you for work in industry.
On our BSc (Hons) Politics and International Relations, you’ll receive a grounding in both these disciplines, and come to understand the relationship between them. You’ll examine questions of global significance, develop an understanding of the theories and concepts used to understand global politics, and explore the interplay of national and international dynamics.
Foundation year
If you don’t meet our entry requirements, you might still be able to apply for this degree with a Social Sciences Foundation Year. This is an extra year of study to develop your skills and make it easier for you to get started at university. On successful completion of your foundation year, you’ll be ready to progress to the first year of your degree.
To see what modules you’ll be studying, refer to the foundation tab in the 'Course structure' section.
The academic year is divided into two semesters of 15 weeks each. Each semester consists of a period of teaching, revision/directed learning and assessment.
Our BSc (Hons) Politics and International Relations offers a range of compulsory and optional modules to enable students to gain a comprehensive grounding in the discipline at the same time as tailoring their studies to their specific interests.
The structure of our programmes follow clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes.
Please note: Thefull module listing for the optional Professional Training placement part of your course is available in the relevant programme specification.
This programme is subject to validationPlease note: this course is subject to validation. The full validated list of modules will appear once the course has been validated.What does this mean?
Teaching and learning
In the National Student Survey 2024, 98.3 per cent of our Politics students scored our teaching positively.
We’re proud of our students, and committed to their success. Our teaching is innovative, interactive, and practical, with a focus on building critical faculties and transferrable skills. We get to know our students on an individual level, providing ongoing feedback inside and outside of the classroom to enable them to achieve their potential.
Seminars
Lectures
Workshops
Group work
Tutorials
Independent study
Research work
Assessment
In addition to assessing students by setting traditional academic essays and exams, we also use a wide range of authentic assessments. For example, students learn to write for decision-makers through strategy reviews and policy papers, provide precise and concise analysis in the form of diplomatic notes, and communicate ideas effectively in documentary film scripts.
General course information
Contact hours
Contact hours can vary across our modules. Full details of the contact hours for each module are available from the University of Surrey's module catalogue. See the modules section for more information.
Timetable
New students will receive their personalised timetable in Welcome Week. In later semesters, two weeks before the start of semester.
Scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday – Friday), with part-time classes normally scheduled on one or two days. Wednesday afternoons tend to be for sports and cultural activities.
This course is based at Stag Hill campus. Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught.
We offer careers information, advice and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University.
What can you do with a degree in politics and international relations?
The short answer is – almost anything!
The skills developed on our courses are highly transferable. This means that regardless of what career you choose to embark on, doorways will be opened with your excellent range of highly sought core skills including critical thinking, analytical writing, research methods and an excellent capacity for communication across platforms and audiences. Even if you are very unsure about what you want to do with your career, these foundational skills are an asset that will give you a platform for developing your professional profile across the private, public and third sectors.
Research from Prospects showed a much higher propensity of social sciences students agree that the work they carried out was meaningful. So, with a politics degree, you can do almost anything but there is a good chance that whatever it is, you’ll find yourself doing work that truly matters.
In the survey, Graduate Outcomes 2024, HESA, results show that 94 per cent of undergraduates from Politics and International Relations go on to employment or further study.
Recent graduates from Politics and International Relations have secured jobs such as:
Analyst
Assistant Director
Commissioning Editor
Development Program Assistant
First Secretary - Trade
Policy Analyst
Policy and Campaigns Officer
Policy Manager
Politics and Sociology
Senior Commercial Officer
Senior Executive Officer
Trainee.
They work for employers including:
BAE Systems
Bank of England
British American Business
British High Commission, India
Cabinet Office
Disability Rights UK
EU Delegation to UN
Frontier Economics
The Times
UK Home Office
USAID.
In addition, many of our graduates have gone on to postgraduate study across the world.
Learn more about the qualifications we typically accept to study this course at Surrey.
Typical offer
Overall:
BSc (Hons):
ABB-BBB
BSc (Hons) with foundation year:
CCC
Please note: A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking are not accepted. Applicants taking an A-level science subject with the Science Practical Endorsement are required to pass the practical element.
GCSE or equivalent: English Language at Grade 4 (C) and Mathematics at Grade 4 (C).
Overall
BSc (Hons):
DDD-DDM.
BSc (Hons) with foundation year:
MMM.
GCSE or equivalent: English Language at Grade 4 (C) and Mathematics at Grade 4 (C).
Overall
BSc (Hons):
33-32.
BSc (Hons) with foundation year:
29.
GCSE or equivalent: English A HL4/SL4 or English B HL5/SL6 and Mathematics (either course) HL4/SL4.
Overall
BSc (Hons):
78-75%.
BSc (Hons) with foundation year:
68%
GCSE or equivalent: Maths 6 and either English Language (1/2) 6 or English Language (3)7.
Overall
BSc (Hons):
QAA-recognised Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits overall including 30 at Distinction and 15 at Merit - 27 at Distinction and 18 credits at Merit.
BSc (Hons) with foundation year:
QAA-recognised Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits including 21 Level 3 Credits at Distinction, 3 Level 3 Credits at Merit, 21 Level 3 Credits at Pass.
GCSE or equivalent: English Language and Mathematics at Grade 4 (C).
Overall
BSc (Hons):
AABBB - ABBBB.
BSc (Hons) with foundation year:
BBBCC.
GCSE or equivalent: English Language - Scottish National 5 - C Maths - Scottish National 5 - C.
Overall
BSc (Hons):
Pass overall with ABB-BBB from a combination of the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate and two A levels.
BSc (Hons) with foundation year:
Pass overall with CCC from a combination of the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate and two A-levels.
Please note: A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking are not accepted. Applicants taking an A-level science subject with the Science Practical Endorsement are required to pass the practical element.
GCSE or equivalent: Please check the A-level drop down for the required GCSE levels.
BSc (Hons):
Distinction overall, with minimum C in the Core Component.
BSc (Hons) with foundation year:
Pass overall, with minimum D in the Core Component.
GCSE or equivalent: English Language at Grade 4 (C) and Mathematics at Grade 4 (C).
Applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) will receive our standard A-level offer for this programme, plus an alternate offer of one A-level grade lower, subject to achieving an A grade in the EPQ. The one grade reduction will not apply to any required subjects.
Applicants can only receive one grade reduction from the published grades, an EPQ grade reduction can’t be applied in addition to other grade reductions made through other schemes such as Contextual Admissions or In2Surrey.
If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
International Foundation Year
If you are an international student and you don’t meet the entry requirements for this degree, we offer the International Foundation Year at the Surrey International Study Centre. Upon successful completion, you can progress to this degree course.
If you are a suitable candidate you will be invited to an offer holder event. During your visit to the University you can find out more about the course and meet staff and students.
Recognition of prior learning
We recognise that many students enter their higher education course with valuable knowledge and skills developed through a range of professional, vocational and community contexts.
If this applies to you, the recognition of prior learning (RPL) process may allow you to join a course without the formal entry requirements or enter your course at a point appropriate to your previous learning and experience.
Explore UKCISA’s website for more information if you are unsure whether you are a UK or overseas student. View the list of fees for all undergraduate courses.
The annual tuition fees for courses starting in September 2025
We have thousands of placement providers to choose from, most of which offer pay. So, become one of our many students who have had their lives and career choices transformed.
Politics and International Relations placements
You’ll be taught how to apply theoretical understandings of politics and international relations to world events and issues.
Additionally, we’ll equip you with the practical skills necessary to find a placement. The aim of our Professional Training placement is to provide you with first-hand experience of how politics operates in practice. Our students have completed placements in the voluntary sector, government departments, MPs’ offices, international organisations and the private sector.
Recent placement providers for Politics and International Relations include:
ALDI
Amazon
Bank of England
Department for Environment and Rural Affairs
Glaxo Smith Klein
House of Commons
House of Lords
Panasonic
Unilever
YouLend.
Applying for placements
Students are generally not placed by the University. But we offer support and guidance throughout the process, with access to a vacancy site of placement opportunities.
Find out how students at Surrey developed their skills in industry by undertaking a placement year.
Student
"I feel the work that I did on my placement would have a real impact on the world and was so varied that I looked forward to coming to work every day."
Studying at Surrey opens a world of opportunity. Take advantage of our study and work abroad partnerships, explore the world, and expand your skills for the graduate job market.
The opportunities abroad vary depending on the course, but options include study exchanges, work/research placements, summer programmes, and recent graduate internships. Financial support is available through various grants and bursaries, as well as Student Finance.
Perhaps you would like to volunteer in India or learn about Brazilian business and culture in São Paulo during your summer holidays? With 140+ opportunities in 36+ different countries worldwide, there is something for everyone. Explore your options via our search tool and find out more about our current partner universities and organisations.
Apply for your chosen course online through UCAS, with the following course and institution codes.
We provide these terms and conditions in two stages:
First when we make an offer.
Second when students accept their offer and register to study with us (registration terms and conditions will vary depending on your course and academic year).
This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies.
Whilst we have done everything possible to ensure this information is accurate, some changes may happen between publishing and the start of the course.
It is important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read our full disclaimer.
Subject to validation
This programme is subject to approval. This means that it has received initial agreement from the University and is currently undergoing a detailed final approval exercise, through the University’s quality assurance processes.
These processes are a requirement for all Higher Education Institutions within the UK, to ensure that programmes are of the highest standard. Occasionally there may be instances where the University may delay or not approve the introduction of the programme.
