International Relations and Politics
BA (Hons)
UCAS code: L290
Start dates: September 2025 / September 2026
Full time: 3 years
Part time: up to 6 years
Location: Headington
Department(s): School of Law and Social Sciences
Overview
Are you fascinated by how global affairs can shape society? Do you want to have informed opinions on pressing political issues and use them to make sense of our uncertain world?
When you study our International Relations and Politics degree, you’re joining a vibrant, exciting community that investigates current debates and challenges like:
- nationalism and populism
- world poverty and global trade justice
- security, terrorism and peacebuilding
- climate change, global development and migration
- gender equality and racial justice.
You’ll learn to apply structure and organisation to a planet that’s constantly in flux. And you’ll be in a place with others who’re socially, politically, and environmentally conscious and driven.
Why Oxford Brookes University?
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A political epicentre
Oxford is home to modern political discourse, with debates on everything from colonialism and racism to refugee action.
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Focus on you
You’ll be joining a close-knit community, and always get the attention and support you need.
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Familiar faces
Develop good working relationships with your tutors – many of whom are active researchers.
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Contemporary issues
The course covers present-day topics in current affairs, from rising nationalism to the climate emergency and tensions in Eastern Europe.
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Creative assessments
It’s not just coursework and essays – assessments take the form of NGO briefings, peace negotiation simulations and reflective diaries.
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Free language courses
Free language courses are available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.
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Study abroad
You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Oxford Brookes. Although we will help as much as we can with your plans, ultimately you are responsible for organising and funding this study abroad.
Course details
Study modules
Teaching for this course takes place face to face and you can expect around 7 hours of contact time per week. In addition to this, you should also anticipate a workload of 1,200 hours per year. Teaching usually takes place Monday to Friday, between 9.00am and 6.00pm.
Contact hours involve activities such as lectures, seminars, practicals, assessments, and academic advising sessions. These hours differ by year of study and typically increase significantly during placements or other types of work-based learning.
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Careers
By the end of the course, you’ll have developed a deep awareness of current events and an active social consciousness. This makes you a suitable candidate for a career in a field such as journalism and law, or in a role within government, trade unions and international organisations. Our graduates have gone on to work for:
- The Civil Service Fast Track Programme
- Oxford University Press
- Hestia (charity supporting those who experience domestic abuse)
- The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women.
You’ll also have the option to attend our Life After Uni events. Here, you can network and get involved in discussions with industry professionals. Past events have included talks from organisations like:
- Humanity and Inclusion
- Right to Play
- Humanitarian Academy for Development
- The Department for Education.
Alternatively, you might consider studying international relations and politics at postgraduate level with our MA courses in International Relations and International Security. You’ll be able to research an aspect of the discipline that fascinates you at an in-depth level.
Our Staff
Dr Lucy Ford
Lucy helped set up the Green think tank Green House and is on their advisory board. She is also a research fellow at Schumacher Institute, an interdisciplinary systems think tank on environmental, social and economic issues.
Read more about LucyProfessor Michael Lister
Michael's research and teaching interests focus around the intersections of terrorism/counterterrorism and public understandings of security and citizenship. Michael has spoken about his research with the Home Office, police officers and independent review bodies.
Read more about MichaelRelated courses
Entry requirements
Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. The combination of A-level grades listed here would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.
Standard offer
UCAS Tariff Points: 104
A Level: BCC
IB Points: 29
BTEC: DMM
Contextual offer
UCAS Tariff Points: 88
A Level: CCD
IB Points: 27
BTEC: MMM
Further offer details
For joint honours, normally the offer will lie between the offers quoted for each subject.
Applications are also welcomed for consideration from applicants with European qualifications, international qualifications or recognised foundation courses. For advice on eligibility please contact Admissions: admissions@brookes.ac.uk
Specific entry requirements
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
Please see the University's standard English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
If you do not meet the entry requirements for this degree, or if you would like more preparation before you start, you can take an international foundation course. Once you enrol, you will have a guaranteed pathway to this degree if you pass your foundation course with the required grades.
If you only need to meet the language requirements, you can take our pre-sessional English course. You will develop key language and study skills for academic success and you will not need to take an external language test to progress to your degree.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Credit transfer
Many of our courses consider applications for entry part-way through the course for students who have credit from previous learning or relevant professional experience.
Find out more about transferring to Brookes. If you'd like to talk through your options, please contact our Admissions team.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
International qualifications and equivalences
How to apply
Application process
Full time international applicants can also apply through UCAS
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.
Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page
Financial support and scholarships
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Information from Discover Uni
Full-time study
Part-time study
Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been
published on the website. For more information, please visit our
changes to programmes page.