Curious about studying Politics & International Relationsat Canterbury Christ Church University? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Canterbury
Full Time
Sep 2026
3 Year
BSc Politics and International Relations reflects the needs of our time. The course reimagines the knowledge, skills and attributes that are critical to creating a sustainable future for humanity and nature.
We examine questions that are integral to making sense of politics today: How can we build a sustainable world where there is fairness between generations, class and gender equality, environmental restoration, and peace within and between countries?
Our excellent teaching team will guide and support you as you interrogate themes such as power, security, ethics, inequality, sustainability, leadership, development, governance and justice, developing professional skills as compassionate advocates of sustainability.
This truly interdisciplinary degree equips you to understand, respond to and lead your community in a challenging, changing world. You will enjoy stimulating learning environments where you can share your knowledge, deepen your understanding and polish your debating skills. You will also have networking opportunities with our graduates to find out how you can build a career in the civil service, international business, the NGO sector, or academia.
**Location**
This course is run at our Canterbury Campus in Kent. Canterbury is just 50 miles south-east of London and less than an hour by high-speed train from St Pancras. Located on a UNESCO World Heritage Site the campus offers state-of-the-art buildings, right in the centre of a vibrant and world-famous cathedral city. You’ll benefit from a campus with excellent learning and teaching resources, music venues, a superb sports centre, a well-stocked bookshop and plenty of coffee bars and places to eat. A short walk away is Augustine House our award-winning library and home to a vast range of learning resources and student support teams.
In addition to the modules students need to study optional modules.
These are bite size modules designed to help you settle in and obtain core skills such as critical thinking, digital literacy, and sustainability. You’ll engage with contemporary, thought-provoking topics and issues whilst maximising your chance of success right from the start of your studies.
In addition to the modules students need to study optional modules.
Our local and global landscape is marked by a deep diversity of cultures, beliefs, and moral values; and this poses a fundamental political challenge: how should we live together when we cannot agree on how people ought to lead their lives? That is the defining question of politics, and this module attempts to answer it. Along the way, the module will consider a host of related questions: what is a just distribution of resources? Should there be any limits to free speech? Should we rebel against injustice? The module is an introduction to political theory: it reflects on the application of theoretical perspectives on justice, freedom, and rebellion to social and political problems through the examination of live ethical debates in contemporary politics. The module is an invitation for students to subject their own political views to critical examination - to work out what they think and why they think it.
In addition to the modules students need to study optional modules.
This module will introduce you to concepts and theories that can help us understand contemporary inequalities. By examining global issues from diverse perspectives, you will explore how inequalities manifest in various forms, their underlying causes, as well as social and political efforts to address them. You will also gain insights into the complex dynamics of inequality by examining how they impact and are impacted by environmental and social challenges. You will be given the opportunity to discuss and debate the approaches needed to create a more equitable and sustainable world.
In addition to the modules students need to study optional modules.
There is an unprecedented outcry for change on key political and social issues such as environmental sustainability, racism, decolonisation, criminal justice and law enforcement, economic inequality, migration and gender politics. However, the gap between the hope for change and the reality of achieving it through our existing political systems remains vast. This module tackles the pressing question: how can we change the world when our political, economic, and social systems seem resistant to the issues that matter to us? The module explores various practices for effecting change, including activism, lobbying, negotiating, nudging, and both civil and uncivil disobedience. You will critically assess the efficacy and ethics of these approaches, both in theory and in practice, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to drive meaningful change in a complex, ever-changing world.
In addition to the modules students need to study optional modules.
This module offers an in-depth examination of the nature of power within political institutions. Utilising a range of theories and conceptual frameworks, we will explore how the power structures of gender, class, and race shape our world and the consequences of this for different communities. For example, we consider whose voices are amplified in our media and public institutions, whose priorities are centred by policy makers, whose security matters most and why? Through this exploration, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of different dynamics of power and their implications for the modern state. You and your classmates will have opportunities to reimagine how political systems can be restructured to build a more sustainable and just world.
In addition to the modules students need to study optional modules.
This module will provide you with the opportunity to explore the importance of evidence based practice within your profession and the wider criminal justice system. You will learn about what evidence is, its strengths, as well as limitations, enabling you to gain a clear understanding of the different methodologies and methods used within the context of social and applied sciences, utilising case studies and examples from real contemporary research ongoing within the School. You will be supported in gaining applied transferrable digital and communication skills through navigating data analysis software and developing an ethical research proposal. The module will deepen your knowledge through focusing on specific research methods and methodologies throughout the module as relevant to your course or wider areas of interest.
In addition to the modules students need to study optional modules.
Is our world on the brink of catastrophe? If so, why, and what can we do about it? This module takes a critical perspective on contemporary debates about injustice, and exclusion, both in theory and in practice. We explore how these important issues are manifested in contemporary politics and society, and the responses of states and non-state actors – governments, big business, activists, and the public. You will engage with high profile case studies and practical solutions to develop a nuanced understanding of the possibilities for a fair future.
In addition to the modules students need to study optional modules.
With the world facing unprecedented environmental challenges and rising geopolitical tensions, understanding the connections between sustainability, security, and territory has never been more crucial. Our research-led teaching will equip you with the skills to critically investigate a wide range of themes including resource disputes, forced migration, environmental change and damage, and global terrorism. You will analyse existing policies and strategies to make our world safer ranging from international agreements to grassroots solutions. We will explore the importance of integrating environmental justice into security policies to ensure sustainable outcomes.
In addition to the modules students need to study optional modules.
The major project will be a core focus of your final year - a significant piece of independent research, where you may select a topic of special interest within the discipline area. By investing time in your work, you will be rewarded by a huge sense of personal satisfaction as you produce academic research which is entirely your own. The major project also acts as a step on the path to a graduate career as it allows you to demonstrate effective time and workload management in the production of an independent piece of work.
In addition to the modules students need to study optional modules.
You will learn about miscarriages of justice from two different perspectives. The first perspective focuses on academic study of the existing literature on the topic. The theoretical underpinning literature will also be discussed, in addition to police investigative processes and sources and causes of miscarriages of justice. Additionally, you will learn about the effects of miscarriages of justice on victims, as well as the regime for compensation. Aspects of modern miscarriages of justice, such as the contentious ‘Joint Enterprise’ doctrine will also be considered. The second perspective relates to investigations of real-life cases where convicted prisoners claim they are victims of a miscarriages of justice. These kinds of cases are sometimes reported to Inside Justice, a national charity who investigate potential miscarriages of justice for free. CCCU and Inside Justice have an agreement where Inside Justice will provide real cases to CCCU for students to investigate. As part of this module, you are therefore offered a unique opportunity to investigate, and critically reflect upon, a real case and make recommendations to Inside Justice regarding its merits or otherwise. As such, the module is designed to build the skills and understanding to prepare you for your future career
In addition to the modules students need to study optional modules.
Mental Health and Trauma in Criminal Justice equips you with a nuanced understanding of the critical issues at the intersection of crime, criminal justice, mental health and trauma, preparing you for informed, compassionate and effective engagement with the criminal justice system. You’ll explore the intricate intersections between these concepts to critically examine how mental health issues and traumatic experiences impact individuals involved in criminal behaviour, as well as the implications for justice systems, policy-making and societal responses. Drawing on contemporary theories, research findings and case studies, you’ll learn to understand the complexities of these interactions and their impact on crime and criminal justice practices. Finally, you’ll consider how trauma affects criminal justice practitioners and gain awareness of strategies to support them and build resilience.
In addition to the modules students need to study optional modules.
Demystifying ‘True’ Crime explores representations of crime and criminal justice in media and popular culture. You’ll examine the historical roots and cultural impact of the ‘true’ crime genre, learning to challenge misinformation that reinforces problematic public perceptions. You’ll also investigate ethical considerations, exploring the balance between storytelling and responsible journalism and the role of ‘true’ crime narratives in highlighting injustices. Content explores ‘true’ crime in various forms, including literature, television, film and podcasts, enabling you to apply your criminal justice knowledge to ‘demystify’ appeals to ‘truth’ within public narratives and providing a comprehensive understanding of how these shape public perceptions of crime and justice.
In addition to the modules students need to study optional modules.
This module gives you the opportunity to apply the knowledge that you have acquired to practice by combining academic study with a relevant work experience. As part of this module you will be required to secure a work-based learning position aligned to your subject area and professional practice, or a volunteering opportunity in a community setting, with the support of staff and the CCCU employability service. Teaching sessions are provided to support you in developing reflective practice & reflective writing skills, by reflecting on your experience in industry using subject knowledge
In addition to the modules students need to study optional modules.
We live in a digital age, where online platforms, algorithms and apps, and AI interfaces influence what we know about the world, how we interact with each other, and how we participate in civic life. Our experience of the world, in this way, has come to be dominated by digital technologies. This module looks at the societal and political implications of these changes, from everyday practices like social media and the presentation of self, to larger questions of governance, power, digital surveillance, and the emerging AI revolution.
BCC Grades/points required
Not currently available, please Contact University for up to date information.
Accommodation - Initial GBP 115 pre-payment online.
4.2Established in 1962, Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) is renowned for its industry-responsive courses, trainin...
