BA (honores) en estudios internacionales

The qualification provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills, and other attributes in the following areas:

Knowledge and understanding

When you have completed this degree, you will be able to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the:

• Historical evolution and contemporary make-up of the international system, including the modern system of nation-states, global governance and other global power structures
• Conceptualisation and explanation of order and disorder and especially of conflict, competition and cooperation in the international system
• Range of political, economic, cultural and technological processes and interactions between different states and societies, and among a range of different actors across the international system
• Main debates, theories, current research, and scholarship in the discipline of International Relations and related disciplines.

Cognitive skills

When you have completed this degree, you will be able to:

• Define and use key concepts, abstract models and theories from International Relations and other related disciplines to study the international system
• Analyse complex situations and synthesise and critically evaluate different kinds of evidence from a variety of sources to develop detailed, reasoned arguments
• Critically compare and evaluate competing ideas, arguments and theories used in International Relations
• Carry out independent research using concepts, models, theories and evidence to address a question or problem.

Practical and professional skills

When you have completed this degree, you will be able to:

• Reflect on your work and work processes, to develop skills and improve over time
• Work independently and without constant direction, assessing and planning tasks to demonstrate effective time-management and organisational skills
• Work in collaboration with others, play an active role, pay attention to the views of others and demonstrate adaptability when required
• Make informed, reasoned choices and judgments applicable to a wide range of situations based on an understanding of the contested political, economic and cultural issues addressed by International Relations.

Key skills

When you have completed this degree, you will be able to:

• Confidently select, summarise and methodically synthesise complex information from a range of materials and sources and interpret, read and record/note take appropriately
• Express and present complex ideas succinctly and clearly in written form in a coherent and organised manner to develop a logical, substantiated and sustained argument, with sources referenced appropriately
• Perform basic numerical operations and interpret and present basic descriptive statistics in tables, graphs and diagrams, showing awareness of the range of interpretations they might be used to support
• Independently search for, access, critically evaluate and prepare information from a range of sources, including using a variety of ICT applications and tools
• Identify and use sources of support and feedback to reflect upon your learning and practice skills.

This degree has three stages, each comprising 120 credits.

• La etapa 1 comienza con la elección entre una introducción a las ciencias sociales y un módulo introductorio sobre el entorno. Completarás esta etapa con un módulo interdisciplinario de ciencias sociales.
• A continuación, en la Etapa 2 , comenzará con un módulo de Relaciones Internacionales y seleccionará entre las rutas de Desarrollo, Medio Ambiente, Historia o Política.
• En la Etapa 3 continuarás estudiando Relaciones Internacionales y el recorrido elegido en la Etapa 2.

Stage 1 (120 credits)

Comenzarás la Etapa 1 con:

• Introducing the social sciences (DD102)
• Environment: journeys through a changing world (U116)

You'll complete Stage 1 with:

• Global challenges: social science in action (D113)

Stage 2 (120 credits)

Ruta política

Comenzarás la Etapa 2 con:

• Explorando las relaciones internacionales: actores, cuestiones, perspectivas (D228) – previsto para octubre de 2025

Completarás la Etapa 2 con:

• Understanding politics: ideas and institutions in the modern world (DD211)

Ruta de desarrollo

Comenzarás la Etapa 2 con:

• Explorando las relaciones internacionales: actores, cuestiones, perspectivas (D228) – previsto para octubre de 2025

Completarás la Etapa 2 con:

• Presentando el desarrollo global: pobreza, desigualdad, sostenibilidad (D229)

Ruta histórica

Comenzarás la Etapa 2 con:

• Explorando las relaciones internacionales: actores, cuestiones, perspectivas (D228) – previsto para octubre de 2025

Completarás la Etapa 2 con:

• The British Isles and the Modern World, 1789–1914 (A225)

Ruta medioambiental

Comenzarás la Etapa 2 con:

• Explorando las relaciones internacionales: actores, cuestiones, perspectivas (D228) – previsto para octubre de 2025

You'll complete this stage with:

• Environment and Society (DD213)

Stage 3 (120 credits)

Ruta política

Comenzarás la Etapa 3 con:

• Relaciones internacionales (D322): previsto para octubre de 2026

Completarás la Etapa 3 con:

• Modern political ideas (DD316)

Ruta de desarrollo

Comenzarás la Etapa 3 con:

• Relaciones internacionales (D322): previsto para octubre de 2026

Completarás la Etapa 3 con:

• Desarrollo internacional (D329): previsto para octubre de 2026

Ruta histórica

Comenzarás la Etapa 3 con:

• Relaciones internacionales (D322): previsto para octubre de 2026

Completarás la Etapa 3 con:

• Imperios: poder, resistencia, legados (A328)

Ruta medioambiental

Comenzarás la Etapa 3 con:

• Relaciones internacionales (D322): previsto para octubre de 2026

Completarás la Etapa 3 con:

• Environmental policy in an international context (DD319)

Assessment

Our assessments are all designed to reinforce your learning and help you show your understanding of the topics. The mix of assessment methods will vary between modules.

Computer-Marked Assignments

• Usually, a series of online, multiple-choice questions.

Tutor-Marked Assignments

• You’ll have a number of these throughout each module, each with a submission deadline.
• They can be made up of essays, questions, experiments or something else to test your understanding of what you have learned.
• Your tutor will mark and return them to you with detailed feedback.

End-of-Module Assessments

• The final, marked piece of work on most modules.
• Modules with an end-of-module assessment won’t usually have an exam.

Exams

• Some modules end with an exam. You’ll be given time to revise and prepare.
• You’ll be given your exam date at least 5 months in advance.
• Most exams take place remotely, and you will complete them at home or an alternative location.
• If a module requires you to take a face-to-face exam, this will be made clear in the module description, and you will be required to take your exam in person at one of our exam centres.