International Relations BA (Hons)
- Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
- UCAS Code(s): L258; L259
- Start Date(s): September 2023
- Duration: Three years full-time / Four years placement
- Study Mode(s): Full-time
- Campus: City Campus
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Entry Requirements:
More information
Introduction:
The world of the future is globalised. Our planet is shared, our economy is interconnected, and the challenges we face demand co-operation — but international politics remains divided. This is the fundamental problem that students of International Relations (IR) must unravel, by confronting the critical issues we face as global citizens: from war and conflict, to climate change, global poverty, gender violence, and racial injustice.
Whatever your interests, IR@NTU is all about personalisation. After establishing the essentials in Year One, you’ll be designing your degree to reflect the things you want to explore. Maybe that’s political violence and terrorism, or the global politics of pop culture, or perhaps a regional focus on Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. You might want to consider a career in diplomacy or the media, or maybe you`re passionate about feminism or postcolonialism — IR@NTU has it all. The whole course culminates in a dissertation project where you’ll choose your topic, study it in real depth with the support of a specialist supervisor, and then become an IR expert yourself.
This course does IR differently by disrupting the discipline, developing innovative approaches to teaching, and encouraging more creative ways of learning. You’ll build the key transferable skills for a career in project management, diplomacy, the media, NGOs, logistics, multinational corporations, national security, and so much more. The jobs of the future are globalised, and nothing will prepare you better to succeed in that environment than our IR degree.
IR@NTU – The World is Yours.
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Work on real-world collaborations, projects and simulations on topics which matter to you and develop core skills such as digital literacies and data visualization throughout. -
Study in the heart of the vibrant and multicultural city of Nottingham, with a proud political history steeped in community activism. -
You will have the opportunity to undertake an optional year-long placement and/or study abroad in your second year, with one of our international partners across the world. -
Learn a language as part of your degree with optional modules in your second and final year. Choosing between Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin or Spanish, a new world of opportunities will open for you with beginner to advanced classes
Why international relations — and why NTU?
- Our students love us. 93% of BA (Hons) International Relations grads would recommend studying at NTU.
- Study local, think global. You’ll develop your international perspectives, and you’ll do it by getting hands-on with local activist groups, our very own Student Parliament, and NTU’s Politics and International Relations Society. Your skills start here — and you can then take them wherever you wish!
- You won’t just learn international relations — you’ll live it. Our study-abroad opportunities, work placements, roleplaying and simulation exercises bring your subject off the page, and into the real world. We don’t just theorise about international relations — we practise it.
- It’s an incredibly versatile and transferable degree. Think international relations is just about politics? Think again. Around the world, there are graduates working in fields like healthcare, heritage conservation, the security industries, business, NGOs, environmentalism, and the science and technology sector.
- Our fantastic teaching team includes some of the biggest names in the game. In an environment where Monday’s brand-new research paper can be the basis of Friday’s lecture, their world-renowned work will guide and refine your studies.
What you’ll study
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
Hear our student stories
Careers and employability
We're building successful graduates
The job titles below give an indication of the careers our recent International Relations graduates are following:*
- Civil Servant
- Junior Political Officer
- Tax Consultant
- Credit Controller
- Recruitment Consultant
Excellent work experience opportunities
Throughout this course you will be developing skills for employability. You will undertake a work placement, and you will be actively encouraged to participate in voluntary work.
Your career development
Career development is seen as a major part of this course. Key transferable skills including communication, time management, problem-solving and team working are emphasised. There are opportunities to develop links with relevant organisations and potential employers.
When you graduate, you will be well placed to embark on a successful career in a wide range of fields in the public and private sectors. You may be keen to pursue a career in relevant government departments, international aid agencies, and development agencies. In the private sector, organisations are increasingly looking for graduates with an understanding of international and global events and processes.
Our Employability team
We have a dedicated Employability team located on the City Campus. The team are well placed to give you specialist guidance and practical help that will really make a difference to your prospects once you do graduate.
Campus and facilities
How to apply
Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.
Writing your application and personal statement
Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember that we can only make a decision based on what you tell us, so include all of your qualifications and grades, including resits or predicted grades.
Your personal statement is a really important part of your application – it’s your chance to convince us why we should offer you a place. You’ve got 4,000 characters to impress us. Make sure you use them to show how your skills and qualities are relevant to the course(s) you’re applying for. For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement.
Keeping up to date
After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page. Good luck with your application!
You can apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU applicant portal.
Application advice
Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example. After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Writing your personal statement
Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.