BA (Hons) International Relations Bachelor's degree at London Metropolitan University
BA (Hons) International Relations at LMU. You'll engage with core theory alongside research methods and applied practice, developing the analytical tools to understand global systems and structures.
About this course
Examine key issues relating to politics, power, race and gender on our International Relations BA degree at London Met. Discover the course and apply now. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) International Relations is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at LMU, based in North. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For Social sciences graduates from this provider, 65% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 35% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £26,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Politics & International Relations, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 65% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 80% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 8 modules
- After Empire: Regions and Powers in World PoliticsCore15 credits
Module details
In historical perspective, the period since the end of World War II is very distinctive. Following the process of decolonisation, nearly every person in the world today resides in a sovereign state, in contrast to previous eras when different forms of political community coexisted. However, despite the uniformity of contemporary world politics, there are great variations across different regions, especially regarding the nature and dynamics of peace and conflict. On this module you will explore
- Conflict and Diplomacy Since 1945Core15 credits
Module details
On this module you will explore the historical development of the international system since the end of the Second World War, focusing on the relations between the major powers in the international system, the conflicts they became embroiled in and their diplomatic efforts to contain or resolve them. You will learn about the origins of the Cold War, how it developed and evolved and how it was brought to a peaceful conclusion, before moving on to examine the nature of the post-Cold War internatio
- Global Wealth and Inequality: An Introduction to International Political EconomyCore15 credits
Module details
This module introduces general debates in International Political Economy (IPE) about the relationship between politics and economics that shape our understanding of global issues and challenges. If focuses on how these global issues and challenges are addressed by relevant international actors and bodies and its consequences in terms of the distribution of global wealth and the persistence of inequality. Students will learn different theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of Int
- Perspectives from the Global SouthCore15 credits
Module details
This module on Perspectives from the Global South introduces debates on global issues with a focus on inputs emerging from non-Western context. Are global issues understood similarly by the Global North and the Global South? The module will consist of an introductory part on understanding the notion of Global South with a critical discussion of the subfield of Area Studies. Then, the main content of module draws from empirical case studies to address global issues such as gender, migration, and
- Political Science Concepts and InstitutionsCore15 credits
Module details
The principal aim of the module is to introduce students to the discipline of Political Science. It aims to examine some of its key concepts and a series of institutions that students may already be reasonably familiar with as citizens. You will explore the basic theories and methods associated with the study of politics and introduces students to key concepts such as the political system, political culture and participation. You will then examine some of the key institutions of politics includi
- Understanding the International SystemCore15 credits
Module details
The aim of this module is to introduce you to the study of International Relations as an academic discipline, enabling you to understand the development of the international system. You will consider some of the most important theories used in the study of international relations, and examine the development of the Westphalian system, the international political economy, and the role of transnational actors and international institutions. The module will enable you to identify the key actors in
- Violence, Peace and Progress: Issues in World PoliticsCore15 credits
Module details
The broad aims of this module are to introduce you to some of the most important issues the international community faces and to enable you to think as problem-solvers and practitioners. You will examine topics such as terrorism, race, gender, poverty, the environment, nuclear proliferation, migration, genocide, human rights and humanitarian develop. You will consider the impact of these issues at the local, national and international level. You will explore how the forces of globalisation have
- What is Politics For? Political Aims and IdeasCore15 credits
Module details
On this module you will be introduced to the main ideas underlying the study of politics focussing on discovering what are the dominant ideologies that have shaped politics and what are their principal contentions. You will investigate the relationship between citizens and the state; the nature of the state; the principles of the main approaches to politics including conservatism, socialism, liberalism, anarchism, feminism, nationalism, and environmentalism; and the definitions and applications
Modules 3 modules
- Language Module
- Theories of International Relations: Discipline and Diversity
- British Politics
Year 2 1 modules
- Paradigms and Politics: Research Methods and ModelsCore15 credits
Module details
How is knowledge produced in the discipline of Politics and International Relations? What are the main research methods, models and tools which are employed to investigate political actors, issues and phenomena? And what are the consequences from the choices which are made in these regards? These are the key questions which you will explore on this module. The module sits at a key point in the degree journey for students of Politics and International Relations. It enables you to deepen your unde
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This degree examines key issues relating to politics, power, race and gender. You'll usually begin with foundations in political systems, ideologies and international relations theory, from realism to constructivism. Early study covers how power is organised, contested and applied to war, trade and cooperation, alongside critical reading and analytical writing skills. In the second year, you'll typically move to comparative analysis of democracies and autocracies, international security challenges including conflict and cyber threats, and research methods in practice. The final year combines specialist options, such as global governance, human rights, political theory and public policy, with a supervised dissertation on a political question of your choice, allowing you to develop independent research expertise.
Who it's for
You're drawn to global politics and social dynamics, how power operates across borders, how inequality persists, and what drives international conflict and cooperation. You think critically about the world and want to understand it rigorously rather than accept surface explanations. You're comfortable with reading, discussion and independent research. Part-time study suits you if you're balancing work, caring responsibilities or other commitments; this structure lets you study without pausing your other life entirely.
Careers & job market
Across Politics & International Relations nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months. Among those employed, 60% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing postgraduate qualifications. Graduate starting salaries (15 months post-graduation) typically fall between £24,000 and £32,000 nationally; after five years this range rises to £27,200–£38,400. Paths include diplomacy, policy analysis, NGO work, journalism, civil service and academia, fields where you understand international systems and can write and argue effectively.
University & format
London Metropolitan University is a public university located in North London. This BA (Hons) in International Relations is studied part-time and taught in English. The university is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; its degrees are nationally recognised. London Metropolitan received a Silver rating for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 and is.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 65% |
| another higher-education qualification | 15% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 10% |
| a previous degree | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code L250). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at LMU →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Politics & International Relations graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £26,000 | £25,000 – £32,000 | 15 |
| 3 years after | £22,500 | £15,500 – £30,500 | 110 |
| 5 years after | £29,500 | £22,000 – £37,500 | 105 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in politics & international relations · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Politics & International Relations nationally
National figures for Politics & International Relations graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Politics & International Relations courses at the same study level.
Compared with 690 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Caring personal servicesSOC 2020 613 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £23,668
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 50; response rate: 60%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Politics & International Relations graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Politics & International Relations graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Government & civil service (FCDO)
- Think tanks
- NGOs
- Public-affairs agencies
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Politics & International Relations graduates.
Head of History & PoliticsProspero TeachingExaminer - GCE A Level Politics (2017 specification).PearsonA Level PoliticsBURNLEY COLLEGESocial & Audience Engagement Producer (Politics & World News)SkyHead of the School of Area Studies Sociology History Politics and LiteratureUniversity of PortsmouthHead of History and politicsCV-LibraryIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
65% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £26,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 7.6 out of 10: NSS 82.7% · in work or study 65% · continued 80%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
London Metropolitan University
Social sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around North
5,613 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Politics & International Relations right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to LMU from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by LMU; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check LMU’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with LMU and gov.uk before you apply.
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What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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