Course overview
This degree will give you a global perspective on the ideas, actors and structures that shape our world, and train you to reach well-informed conclusions on complex issues – an ability prized by employers around the world.
You will be taught by acknowledged experts in the politics of Africa, China, Europe, the Middle East, Russia, and the Americas. You can choose to enrich your experience by studying at one of our partner universities in Australia, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong and the USA, among others.
Choosing from a range of specialist modules, you can tailor your degree to cover particular nations, international organisations, security and foreign policy, and international political economy. You’ll become a keen analyst of international relations, able to identify, assess, analyse, and evaluate global issues with critical insight and methodological sophistication.
Your course and study experience – disclaimers and terms and conditions
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
Quality and ranking
- Global Top 130 University – QS World University Rankings 2025
- Top 150 for Politics and International Studies – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024
- Top 125 for Social Sciences – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025
- Global Top 170 University – Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
- We have a long tradition of excellence in teaching, recognised in many external surveys and assessments, but also by our own students. Our commitment to teaching quality and an excellent student experience is reflected through our results in national and international student satisfaction surveys.
Modules and learning
Modules
The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you’ll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
You will gradually develop the critical thinking, research, and communication skills required to study international relations and become an informed and engaged global citizen. You’ll gain an understanding of power and inequality, the development of the contemporary international system, and different ways of understanding global political dynamics. You can also start to relate your studies to historical, national, and ideological contexts, with optional modules in areas like comparative politics and political theory.
By the end of Stage 1, you will be able to identify important political dynamics that shape contemporary events in international relations and contribute to the (in)security of the world.
While the theme of security features prominently in your programme, a suite of optional modules will allow you to further focus on different political national political contexts in more depth as well as explore important political and ethical positions in political theory. By the end of Stage 2, you will have the knowledge and skills to connect ways of defining problems in international relations and potential solutions offered to them with political dynamics, theoretical perspectives, and methods of analysis.
Modules
Modules
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
You will benefit from our strong focus on teaching quality. This translates into engaging modules, delivered through a stimulating variety of lectures, seminars, teamwork activities, research projects and simulation exercises.
Skills and experience
Practical skills
You’ll learn to conduct interviews, and evaluate surveys and statistics. You’ll get training in R, a world-leading free statistical software that helps you to understand data, analyse trends, and make informed recommendations.
Business skills
You’ll enjoy many opportunities to boost your employability, starting with an induction week careers session dedicated to politics. You will also be able to put your learning into practice further by conducting real-world political research for a local organisation (including Newcastle City Council) in Stage 3.
Research skills
In Stage 3, you will have the chance to produce a dissertation or report based on a piece of your own independent research. You will be given hands-on training in advance on the design, methodology and implementation of your research, including both qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques.
Opportunities
Work placement
Get career ready with a work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, and receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.
You’ll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.
If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year, and your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year. A work placement is not available if you’re spending a year studying abroad. Placements are subject to availability.
Find out more about work placements
Study abroad
Experience life in another country by choosing to study abroad as part of your degree. You’ll be encouraged to embrace fun and challenging experiences, make connections with new communities and graduate as a globally aware professional, ready for your future.
You may choose to spend semester 1 or the full academic year of Stage 3 on an international exchange at a partner institution.
Support
You will have one-to-one academic and pastoral support from a personal tutor and from a student.
A tutor in the department has twice won a student-nominated award for pastoral care in recent years.
Your future
Upon graduation you’ll be able to think critically, assess complex material and data, carry out research, and construct well-informed arguments.
Our graduates have used these skills to progress into careers in politics, economics, and international relations, for employers such as:
- the Houses of Parliament
- HM Treasury
- local government
- the Civil Service
- inter-governmental organisations
- public affairs consultancies
Others have applied their skills with equal success in industries such as:
- media
- law
- business and finance
- management consultancy
- education and academia
- human resources
- marketing
Careers support
You’ll benefit from targeted careers support throughout your degree. In your induction week, you’ll explore potential career paths.
In Stage 2, you can apply for a work placement with a local political party or charity. In Stage 3 you can boost your prospects by conducting policy research on behalf of a local community organisation.
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Visit our Careers Service website
Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Check the government’s website for more information.
Entry requirements
All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements and offers below apply to 2025 entry.
| A-Level | |
|---|---|
| AAB. At least one A Level from a social science is preferred but not required. General Studies is accepted. | |
| International Baccalaureate | |
|---|---|
| 34 points with three subjects at Higher level grade 5 or above. | |
