International Relations BA (Hons)
Coventry University
About this program
International Relations BA (Hons)
This exciting course examines the events and issues shaping contemporary world politics, providing a deeper understanding of the rationale and value of peaceful and cooperative relationships between nations, as well as the challenges of foreign policies.
As citizens of a global society, we’re becoming increasingly connected by communication technology and rapid transportation, international relations between different countries and states now play a vital role in our personal and professional life – affecting all aspects of work undertaken by governments, charities, educational establishments, multinational companies, the police and so on.
Admission requirements
UK students
A-Levels
A-Level applicants are required to have three A2 Levels. Coventry University may include AS grades within an offer for certain courses, but we are not able to accept two AS Levels in place of one A2 Level. In some courses it may be necessary for entrants to have passed specific A2 Levels in nominated subjects. Please see the course pages for more information.
Access Diplomas
The Access to HE Diploma to include 30 Level 3 credits at Merit, plus GCSE English Language at grade A*-C.
Coventry University welcomes applicants who have completed, or who are studying, the Access to HE Diploma developed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). Successful completion of the course will require you to gain 60 credits with at least 45 to be achieved at Level 3 (with the remainder at Level 2). In some cases we will require you to have gained Merit or Distinction grades in a number of units or in nominated subjects. For more information on the entry requirements for your chosen course please see the relevant course pages.
BTEC Level 3 Diplomas
The University will accept the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma for entry to most courses. In some cases we will require applicants to have studied either certain named modules or a specific named Diploma. The appropriate course page will have full information on the entry requirements. The University also accepts the BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma and BTEC Level 3 Diploma for entry to degree programmes, provided that they are studied in combination with other qualifications that provide a total volume of study that is equivalent to three A2 Levels. For example, you could be studying a BTEC Level 3 Diploma plus an A2 Level, or a BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma plus two A2 Levels. Where a specific A2 or BTEC subject is required for entry then you must be offering this as part of your combination of qualifications.
International & EU students
This course requires IELTS 6.5. Pre-sessional English is available if required.
For more information about admission requirements, please contact the provider.
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Learn moreProgram content
Year one
- History of the Atlantic World and Globalisation
- Applied Politics - Politics in Action
- Introduction to International Relations Theories
- Themes and Concepts in International Relations
- World Politics since 1945
Year two
- Humanitarian Intervention and Peacekeeping
- Power and Political Violence in the Age of Globalisation
- Foreign Policy Analysis
- Contemporary Global Security
- A Graduate Career
- Optional modules:
Choose 1 of the following:
- International Political Economy
- The Contemporary Far Right in Western Europe
- A History of International Crime.
Placement year
- Study abroad
- Professional placement
Final year
- Ethics and International Relations
- Dissertation
- Optional modules
Choose 3 of the following:
- An Inconvenient History: The Green Movement
- Politics of the Contemporary Middle East
- Study Trip
- Global Organised Crime
- Chinese Politics, Foreign Relations and Security
- United States' Foreign Policy since 1945
Program delivery
- 3 years full-time
- 4 years sandwich
- Flexible part-time
Tuition
- UK & EU students : £9,250 per year.
- International students : £13,900 per year.
Qualification
On successful completion, you will have knowledge of:
- The origins and character of the contemporary international system.
- The key issues, institutions and processes that determine international relations.
- The methods and approaches employed in the study of international relations.
On successful completion, you will be able to:
- Identify accurately the issue(s) which need researching and retrieve up-to-date disciplined based information using paper and electronic sources.
- Locate a range of information sources, to gather and marshal relevant evidence successfully.
- Review critically, synthesise and debate evidence collected by research.
- Construct fair, coherent and convincing arguments utilising the relevant key concepts and approaches in the discipline.
- Analyse problems, take decisions, be creative and show initiative.
- Work independently with increasing self-confidence and to reflect upon the process of learning.
- Work within a group, to negotiate, to learn from others and to lead an activity.
- Manage time effectively, to set objectives and to evaluate the performance of oneself and others.
- Develop and debate ideas and to sustain arguments effectively both orally and in written form.
The course aims to:
- Provide students with a knowledge of international relations across a range of historical periods, focusing on the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, and geographic regions, extending beyond Europe.
- Provide students with a knowledge of the range of principal International Relations theories.
- Provide students with a knowledge of a range of subfields, including foreign policy, security studies, and area studies.
- Enable students to apply critical and theoretical approaches to a range of sources, developing imaginative and independent interpretations.
- Enable students to communicate clearly, accurately and effectively, including articulating their own and other people’s ideas and critical arguments concisely, accurately and persuasively, both orally and in writing.
- Enable students to become independent and versatile researchers, confident in the use of a range of methods and technologies.
- Enable students to develop constructive working relationships with others.
Career paths
Recent graduates are now employed in the private sector, ranging from marketing, human resources, banking, and finance to media, and across the public sector in education, the civil service, police forces, local authorities, charities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and international organisations.
About this institute
Coventry University
Coventry University is a forward-looking, modern university with a proud tradition as a high-quality education provider and a focus on applied research. The students of Coventry University's students benefit from state-of-the-art equipment and facilities in all academic disciplines including health,...
