International Relations and Politics BA (Hons)
University of Portsmouth
Student rating
This is the overall rating calculated by averaging all live reviews for this uni on Whatuni.
( 4.2) View reviews

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Different course options
2 options available
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Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

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Study mode

Full Time

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Start date

SEP-25

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Duration

3 Years

Course info

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Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Location

Main Site

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

SEP-25

Duration

3 Years

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Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Location

Main Site

Study mode

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Start date

SEP-25

Duration

4 Years

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Politics
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Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
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Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)
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England
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Course info

**This is a Connected Degree**Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after youve started your course.**Overview**Make sense of the world and the forces shaping nations. Understand the factors behind war, conflict and collaboration ...Read more


This is a Connected Degree

Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.


Overview

Make sense of the world and the forces shaping nations. Understand the factors behind war, conflict and collaboration between states. Explore what democracy, freedom and equality mean to people at home and abroad. On this BA (Hons) International Relations and Politics degree, you’ll analyse the global and local issues influencing society, from global migration to the rise of populist politics – and learn the skills needed to help enact change, shape opinions, and tackle inequality.You’ll explore the latest developments in British and international politics, and set yourself up for careers in local and national government, international diplomacy, security, lobbying, academic research, the charity sector and the media.


Course highlights

- Learn from staff at our Centre for European and International Studies Research (CEISR), whose research impacts government policy- Create policy briefing papers offering recommendations to practitioners on major recent international issues, such as the Ukraine Crisis, the 'MeToo' movement, the rise of terrorist organisations and the Arab Revolutions- Attend events and talks led by people working in NGOs, local, national and international government, and journalism- Go on field trips to locations such as the Houses of Parliament- Take part in a simulated ‘academic conference’, where you’ll present a paper that will be discussed with your peers- Have the chance to study abroad at one of our partner institutions – including Science Po Strasbourg (France), Maastricht University (Netherlands), Université libre de Bruxelles (Belgium) and University of Szeged (Hungary)


Worried about your grades?

If you're not sure you meet the entry requirements, or need some help to get uni-ready, then we offer this course with a foundation year to bring you up to speed. When you successfully finish, you'll get a guaranteed place on this course.


Careers and opportunities

Graduates from this degree have gone on to careers in the following sectors:- local and central government - embassies- non-governmental organisations (NGOs)- security services - international organisations, like the United Nations (UN) - international charities like War Child, Amnesty International or the Red Cross - policy research and think tanks- media and international business consultancy - political risk analysis - public relations - voluntary organisations - management - banking and financial services- tourism What jobs can you do with an International Relations and Politics degree?Recent graduates have gone on to roles including:- political researcher, Houses of Parliament- assistant to Member of Parliament- civil servant, Department for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food- senior policy advisor, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government- communications officer, House of Commons- local government administrator, Government of Jersey- director of Language Studies for an international school- public affairs consultant - bilingual consultant - multilingual project coordinator - translator - social researcher - information officer - conference producer After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.

Key stats

WUSCA ranking:
WUSCA student ranking
These are the 2024 rankings, based on ratings given by past and current students.
48/101
CUG Subject Ranking
CUG Subject Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
52nd
CUG Ranking
CUG Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
49th
Politics
Drop-out rate
Drop-out rate
The percentage of students who didn't finish the course.
Calculated by 100% - (% of students continuing course + % of students completed course)
100 - 92 = 8% Drop-out rate Source: UNISTATS, 2019
8%
Employment rate
Employment rate
The percentage of students in full-time work 6 months after finishing their course.
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
90%
Average salary
Average salary
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
Politics graduate salary at this uni
£20,000
UK Politics graduate salary
£21,000
What students say
JY
Jun Yan
18 Jan 24

It has the sea !!! Library and sports facilities are one of the best. Improvements could be made in academic terms to add more module choices and courses...Read more

R
Ramandeep
05 Dec 23

While studying I am learning new things . Receiving staff support when I need. I have suggestion that University bus route should be..Read more

Modules

Modules (Year 1)
Modules (Year 2)
Modules (Year 3)
IDP Connect

Entry requirements

Exam type

A level

A level:

CCC - BBC Grades / Points required

Scottish Higher:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Scottish Advanced Higher:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

UCAS Tariff:

96 - 112 Grades / Points required

Access to HE Diploma:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme:

25 Grades / Points required

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017):

H3,H4,H4,H4,H4 - H3,H3,H3,H3,H4 Grades / Points required

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016):

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016):

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016):

DMM - MMM Grades / Points required

T Level:

M Grades / Points required

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015):

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

96-112 points, to include a minimum of 2 A levels.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

96-112 Tariff points to include a minimum of 2 Advanced Highers.

96-112 points, to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent.

96-112 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma.

Cambridge Pre-U score of 42-46.

25 points from the IB Diploma, to include 3 Higher Level subjects.

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

96-112 points from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate including 1 A level, plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.

Popular A-level subjects

Politics

Top 5 A-levels taken by students who study this subject at uni.

History
49%
Government & Politics
47%
English Literature
22%
Sociology
18%
Religious Studies & Theology
14%
HESA

Tuition fees

Students living in

England

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from England

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Scotland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Wales

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Northern Ireland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Channel Islands

This is the fee you pay if you live within Channel Islands. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Channel Islands. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from EU

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£17,200 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from International

This is the fee you pay if you are an International student. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£17200 Per year

UCAS/IDP Connect

Latest reviews

Latest International Relations reviews

International Relations
International Relations
International Politics
Politics
JY
Jun Yan
18 Jan 24
International Relations and Languages (Chinese, French, German, Spanish) BA (Hons)
It has the sea !!! Library and sports facilities are one of the best. Improvements could be made in academic terms to add more module choices and courses....
Read more
R
Ramandeep
05 Dec 23
International Relations MA
While studying I am learning new things . Receiving staff support when I need. I have suggestion that University bus route should be...
Read more
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How International Relations students rated:

Student rating
( 4.3) 57 reviews
5 star
44%
4 stars
44%
3 stars
7%
2 stars
5%
1 star
0%

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( 4.2) 2,508 reviews
5 star
40%
4 stars
47%
3 stars
12%
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Uni info

University of Portsmouth
University of Portsmouth , Portsmouth

The University of Portsmouth is located in the centre of the UK’s only island city....

Student rating
( 4.2) View reviews
CUG ranking
49th
University of Portsmouth
University House Winston Churchill Avenue Portsmouth PO1 2UP United Kingdom
Nearest train station: Portsmouth & Southsea  0.1 miles away

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