International Relations BSc(Hons)

Interested in Kingston's International Relations BSc(Hons) for 2014 entry? Read more now.

Facts about International Relations

Year of entry	2013
Qualification	BSc(Hons) (joint honours only)
Application route	3 years full time: apply through UCAS 6 years part time: apply direct to the University View course combinations page for joint honours UCAS codes
See the Unistats data for this course

About this course

Why choose this course?

International relations explores power at a global level and examines the ways in which states and societies co-operate and come into conflict in the international system. International politics affects almost every aspect of our lives. This course enables you to learn more about our place in a fast-globalising world and consider how we might begin to improve things.

See the course combinations section for more information about the different joint honours options.

What will you study?

Studying International Relations at Kingston University offers a comprehensive and critical questioning of the global order today. You will analyse war, terrorism, imperialism, human rights, global inequality, conflict resolution, environmental degradation and the role of nation states and international organisations in contemporary global politics. You will also learn about the key concepts and theories that shape our understanding of global politics and affect the decisions that foreign policymakers take. In addition, you will gain insight into the ways in which international institutions and international development programmes function and the role armed conflict has played in shaping the international system.

Throughout your studies you will be supported by an integrated programme of study skills development, employability training and one-to-one academic support from a personal tutor.

Year 1 focuses on the foundation concepts of international relations and global politics – the state, global governance, international ethics, security and international law. This is accompanied by an introduction to some of the key contemporary issues of international relations – war, the environment, global trade, development and migration. The first-year curriculum is also accompanied by a strong focus on academic skills development, helping you to hone your abilities and approach to learning to support you in your studies.

Year 2 allows increasing flexibility in your choice of study topics. Our well-developed area studies programme enables you to explore regional case studies from the Middle East, Europe, Africa, the Balkans and Latin America. During this year you will also focus more directly on international relations theory, development, international organisations and international law. Many students also take the opportunity to study abroad in mainland Europe, North America or Australia during their second year.

Year 3 centres on your final-year research project, which explores a topic of interest in depth. This may take the form of a traditional dissertation, a collaborative policy report or a study based on a work placement. You will be supported by a supervisor, receive training in research skills and participate in discussion forums to explore your developing ideas with course colleagues. The project culminates with the presentation of your project at our end-of-year Student Conference.

Taught modules in the final year also provide the opportunity for further exploration of area politics, examination of developments in US foreign policy, human rights, and the continuing role played by political violence in global politics.

You will also have the opportunity to study a foreign language for free during your time at the University as part of the Kingston Language Scheme. Options currently include: Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin and Spanish.

Module listing

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list. Those listed here may also be a mixture of core and optional modules.