Curious about studying Politics with International Relations - BA (Hons)at Leeds Beckett 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 Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
City CampusC
Full Time
Sep 2026
3 Year
Politics shapes every aspect of our lives, from climate action and migration to human rights, global conflict, the crisis of capitalism, and the future of democracy. On this course, you’ll explore the ideas, power struggles, and political movements influencing societies around the world while developing the critical thinking and practical skills employers value. You’ll question assumptions, challenge dominant narratives, and debate some of the most pressing and divisive issues facing society today. Through interactive learning, live projects, and industry exposure, you’ll examine topics including inequality, populism, global justice, environmental change, and the rise of political extremism. As part of this course, you'll: * Discover how states, institutions, and global actors interact on the world stage * Explore diplomacy, security, conflict, environmental politics, and active citizenship * Gain insight into how international decisions affect people’s lives across the globe.
Find out moreImmersive learning
Bring politics to life through guest speakers, live debates, volunteering, and opportunities to study abroad. You’ll engage with contemporary political issues beyond the classroom while building the confidence, experience, and global outlook needed for your future career. You’ll also have opportunities to attend events such as our annual Politics and International Relations festival, hearing from academics, campaigners, policymakers, and industry professionals.
Building your future potentialFrom your first year, you’ll begin developing the professional skills and experience needed for a wide range of careers. You’ll have opportunities to take part in live employer-set projects, placement opportunities, and practical learning activities designed to boost your employability. As part of the Active Citizenship module, you’ll complete a volunteering placement linked to causes that matter to you. Previous students have supported refugees learning English, worked with food banks, and contributed to international teaching projects.
Politics in practiceApply your knowledge to real political and social challenges through practical projects and simulations. You could design a campaign or proposal for a non-government organisation, pitch ideas through mock interviews and lobbying exercises, or develop solutions to issues linked to globalisation, development, and social justice.
Research expertiseYou’ll learn from a team of research-active academics whose work influences policy and social change across the world. Many members of the course team contribute to government-funded research and advise international organisations and policymakers, ensuring your learning reflects current political debates and real-world developments.
Why study the BA (Hons) Politics course (with pathways) at Leeds Beckett University?* 94% of students on BA (Hons) Politics (with pathways) were positive about the way teaching staff explain things\* * Flexible pathways available, with the option to change direction after your first year to specialise in global development, international relations, or human rights * Gain real-world experience with fantastic placement, volunteering, live project, and study abroad opportunities * Hear from and connect with experts during guest lectures and the annual Politics and International Relations festival * Gain global insights with research-led teaching informed by substantial political expertise \*National Student Survey 2025
Explore a series of real world concerns as a starting point from which to look at issues in contemporary political theory. By looking at issues such as freedom, equality, violence and rights, you will attempt to provoke critical engagement and reflection on the contested nature of contemporary political theory. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Political ideologies may be understood as frameworks of political understanding and commitment that are at the heart of political debate and have helped to shape the world we live in. You will explore the core ideas and beliefs of these major ideologies, to examine debates within and between ideologies, and to develop your own critical thinking in this area. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Understand the the nature and structure of the international system, and how modern states evolve and develop. Consider the evolution of the 20th Century States System, beginning with the decline of pax-Britannica, the inter-war crisis, the emergence of pax-Americana, the establishment and design of key international institutions, the Cold War, the end of the Cold War, rise of non-state actors, globalisation, the decline of the west and the rise of China, the ongoing economic crisis and democratisation. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Gain a critical introduction to the history and contemporary evolution of political economy. You will engage with a variety of key historical thinkers and theoretical approaches in order to develop a qualitative understanding of the rich tapestry of political economy. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Politics is fundamentally concerned with governance, which involves making and implementing collective decisions and rules. You will see how this involves a range of actors and institutions and is not just a matter for government or the state. UK governance will be the main focus but the United States will also be referred to in a comparative approach. You will also see how governance operates at multiple levels, not just within a national framework. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Investigate the concept of citizenship and actively engage with it by undertaking a voluntary placement. This placement will be related to the scope of your course and reflect on their experiences to enhance your employability. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Inequality is everywhere. People are treated differently or affected disproportionately because of their gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, age, disability, and immigration status. In this module you will conduct research on how inequalities are present at local, national and global levels. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
This module will provide an advanced introduction to current debates about the persisting relevance of colonialism to thinking about politics today. It will introduce you to the critical theoretical literature around ‘coloniality’ and race from post-colonial and decolonial perspectives and applies these ideas to contemporary political issues. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Review the recent history of British foreign policy starting in 1945. You'll explore contemporary debates regarding Britain's place in the world following Brexit. This module will cover topics such as the British empire and its legacy, the development of the Commonwealth, the UK's key strategic relationships with the United States and the European Union, and Britain's role in systems of global governance. During your study, you'll investigate key decision-points in post-war British foreign policy including the Suez crisis, entry into the European Community, the Falklands War, negotiations over the status of Hong Kong, the Iraq War and Brexit. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Gain an overview of contemporary environmental debates, with a particular focus on climate change and its consequences. You'll critically assess the evidence for global environmental crisis, and efforts at global cooperation to address the issues. This module will consider issues such as responsibility, and the role of environmental movements and alternative models of development. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
You'll study either Policy Making or Making Sense of British Politics.
Focus on a subject of your choosing related to politics and your own future aspirations. You will be required to select a politics-based dissertation topic and to engage with theoretical, methods and empirical material that is appropriate to study in this field. You will identify, plan and deliver a sustained and in-depth piece of work, linking it to theory, and critically reflect on your subject matter and research findings. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
You'll study either Policy Making or Making Sense of British Politics.
Get an introduction to the ideas of global governance and globalisation and the intersection between them. You will begin to think critically about future patterns of world order and their institutionalisation. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
You'll study either Policy Making or Making Sense of British Politics.
Explore the operation, practice and context of contemporary policy making at the national level. Examine the actors, mechanisms and practice of policy making, and the drivers of policy change, via a focus on specific case studies. You will engage with key decision making theories and models of the policy process, exploring how institutional analyses and other theoretical approaches help to understand the complexity of the policy process. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
You'll study either Policy Making or Making Sense of British Politics.
Recent years have seen British politics navigating multiple seismic and systemic events, from the 2008 financial crisis and the following period of austerity, to Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. This module will help you to make sense of British politics in these era-defining moments by charting its most significant developments over the last century. You'll examine the current condition of Britain and consider the key issues and challenges faced in British politics today, as well as how British politics might develop in the future. In covering the past, present, and future of British politics, you'll gain a detailed understanding of its key actors, institutions, processes and ideologies. You'll also build techniques for critical analysis and develop your own evidence-based arguments about the subject. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
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