BA (Hons) International Relations with Foundation · WestminsterBachelor's degree · 4 years
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The University of Westminster · Undergraduate

BA (Hons) International Relations with Foundation Bachelor's degree at Westminster

BA (Hons) International Relations with Foundation at Westminster. You will engage with core theory and applied practice, develop research and analytical methods, and pursue specialist options tailored to your interests.

BA (Hons)
Award
4
Years
Full-time
Study mode
85%
in work/study (15m)

About this course

BA (Hons) International Relations with Foundation is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Westminster, based in Regent Campus. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.

For Politics graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 20% 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.

8.4
/ 10
Excellent
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Exceptional91

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)

Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Excellent85

Moderate evidence Published sample: 30; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 85% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Strong75

Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 75% (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.

Foundation Year 6 modules
  • Critical Thinking in a Changing WorldCore
    Module details

    Critical thinking is fundamental to our ability to progress in an increasingly complex and changing world. It is an essential skill across a range of academic and practice-based disciplines. This module helps you understand the importance and function of critical thinking both at university and beyond. By working in partnership with academic staff and peers, you will explore how critical thinking aligns with disciplinary practices, shapes scholarly knowledge, and addresses inequalities. Through

  • History, Memory and BelongingCore
    Module details

    This module introduces you to the concepts of history and memory. Using topical case studies, the module invites you to consider how the past is related to the present and how history and memory are constituted, challenged and constantly evolving. Through the module, history is made relevant to you by asking to whom history and historical objects belong and what they mean to individuals and society.

  • Imagining Global Society and PoliticsCore
    Module details

    This module introduces contemporary political questions in the global context. Current political issues such as statelessness, politics of underdevelopment, power and inequality, and climate change will be discussed and analysed. The idea of nations and nationhood features prominently in the module, as do the issues related to faith, religion and ideological belief. The module is designed to introduce concepts and themes such as democracy, power and politics, inequality, global society, human ri

  • Intercultural CommunicationCore
    Module details

    This module provides a foundation in the theory and practice of intercultural communication, to help you better understand the complexities of communicating with people from other cultures. You'll explore what is meant by culture and the relationship between cultures and identities and examine how culture influences you and others. You will reflect on how the language and non-verbal communication you use can impact understandings and what strategies you can develop to manage misunderstandings bo

  • Introduction to Academic PracticeCore
    Module details

    This module introduces you to the key academic, professional, and personal skills essential for success at university. It encourages good practices in writing, presentation, and time management, while also fostering reflection to help you build confidence as you transition to higher education. Open to all students enrolled in courses delivered through Westminster Foundation Pathways, the module provides a creative and supportive environment where you can reflect on and develop your academic and

  • Law, Power and AuthorityCore
    Module details

    This module explores law as a question of power – asking what law, power and authority are, where you are located, how you operate, and how you change. The questions are raised through a particular focus on law and politics, the sociology of law and the history of legal ideas. The module's assessments serve to build the research and writing skills needed to succeed in higher education and beyond, and encourage you to develop and express your own diverse viewpoints on key issues relating to socia

Year 1 3 modules
  • Doing Politics: Participation, Campaigning, and ChangeCore
    Module details

    This module gives students the opportunity to understand the dilemmas and challenges of 'doing politics' in contemporary political life, encouraging active learning to enable and enact political change. The module foregrounds a series of political challenges facing contemporary political systems across the world – such as inequality, right-wing populism, authoritarianism, militarism, anti-migrant politics, political alienation, democratic crisis, the future of work, and the climate crisis. It fo

  • Introduction to Development: Understanding Global InequalitiesCore
    Module details

    This module provides an in-depth introduction to the multi-disciplinary field of development studies. It introduces you to key debates in development theory and to the history of development policy and practice. The course encourages you to think critically about what development is, about how it is carried out and what it can achieve. You'll explore the 'grand' development theories and approaches such as modernisation, dependency, neo-liberalism and alternatives. The module gives you the opport

  • Introduction to International RelationsCore
    Module details

    This module introduces you to both the issues and phenomena covered by International Relations and the concepts, tools and skills needed to study contemporary global politics. The module examines core concepts of international relations (International Society, Sovereignty, Anarchy, Power, the State, and Legitimacy) as well as addressing enduring problems in global politics (war, co-operation, capitalism, hierarchies of power and privilege, justice and human rights). The module also considers the

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

You'll study how political systems, international relations and global governance work in practice. A course like this typically moves from foundations in political science and IR theory, covering institutions, ideologies and approaches from realism to constructivism, through to specialist options in areas such as international security, comparative politics, political theory, global governance, public policy and human rights. You'll usually develop research skills alongside this, learning to analyse evidence critically and conduct both quantitative and qualitative inquiry. In your later years, you'll progress to more focused study and a supervised independent project on a political question of your choice.

Who it's for

You are drawn to global affairs, political systems and how international actors negotiate power and cooperation. You think analytically about complex problems, enjoy evidence-based argument, and want to understand how policy decisions shape international outcomes. This course suits you if you're ready for sustained engagement with theory alongside real-world case studies, and if you're prepared to undertake independent research. A foundation year means you can enter even if your prior qualifications don't fit the typical profile, provided you're genuinely committed to the discipline.

Careers & job market

Across Politics and International Relations courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of completing their degree. Of those in work, 60% are in highly skilled roles or continuing their studies. Graduate earnings nationally for this field range from £24,000 to £32,000 at the 15-month point. The University of Westminster holds a Silver award for teaching quality from the Office for Students' TEF 2023, reflecting consistent support for student learning outcomes.

University & format

The University of Westminster is a public university founded in 1838, located at its Regent Campus. This is a full-time, 4-year course taught in English, leading to a BA (Hons) award. The university is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and holds a Silver rating in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023).

Student satisfaction

How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.

The teaching on my course
85%
Learning opportunities
92%
Assessment and feedback
91%
Academic Support
87%
Organisation and management
100%
Learning resources
96%
Student voice
89%

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.

Application timelineWhat happens next
  1. 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted

    Your application needs a reference before you can send it.

  2. 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  3. 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

  4. 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline

    18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.

Show 5 later dates
  1. 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens

    Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.

  2. 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers

    Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.

  3. 2027 entryClearing opens

    Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.

  4. 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  5. 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

Entry & how to get in

Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent90% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 96 - 111 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check Westminster's official course page for the current offer.

Who gets in

What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.

UCAS tariff of entrants

Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.

Qualifications held on entry

QualificationShare
A-levels or equivalent90%
a Baccalaureate10%
another higher-education qualification5%
a foundation course5%

Entry & your chances

An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.

Accessible entry

Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.

Will you get in? Plot your grades

Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.

Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.

Add your grades to see where you land

Your points will drop onto the distribution above, with an honest above / within / below read.

Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.

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.

Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesBCCA-level equivalent admitted students held
UCAS codeL251quote this on your application
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course (code L251). One application covers up to five choices.

  2. 2
    Write 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.

  3. 3
    Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time

    UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.

  4. 4
    Reply to your offers

    When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.

  5. 5
    Results 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.

💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask Westminster whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.

Fees & funding

What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.

Tuition per year

Homeup to £9,790 / yr
International£17,600 / yr

Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).

Check fees at Westminster →

For students who normally live in England

illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
£9,790tuition used per year, illustrative full-time England fee-cap scenario
illustrative borrowing over 4 years

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.

Funding matched to this course

Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for

All Westminster funding →
No verified named award is shown for this provider yet.

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.

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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.

Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check

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

WhenMedianTypical rangeGraduates
15 months after£26,000£23,000 – £30,00030
3 years after£25,500£19,000 – £29,000125
5 years after£31,000£24,000 – £38,000130

Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 30; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23.

Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course

85%
in work or further study 15 months on
20%
in highly skilled work or study
75%
continue past their first year
75%
find their work meaningful
60%
say work fits their future plans
  1. 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in politics & international relations · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
  4. 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs

How pay grows: this course vs Politics & International Relations nationally

Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£26,000
£24,000 – £32,000
After 3 years LEO
£25,500
£21,675 – £30,600
After 5 years LEO
£31,000
£27,200 – £38,400
national rangethis course’s medianaxis £20,500 – £40,000

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.

85 of 100

were in work or further study

15 months after graduation

65% working15% working and studying5% in further study20% in highly skilled work or study

Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 30; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23. 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.

This course £31,000Peer median £32,000Middle 50% £29,000–£36,000
38th percentile

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.

  • Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
  • Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
  • Secretarial and related occupationsDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
  • Science, engineering and technology associate professionalsSOC 2020 31 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £34,828
  • Customer service occupationsDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
  • Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087

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: 30; response rate: 50%. 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.

85%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Politics & International Relations courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes
60%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled
90%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuation

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.

Where they work

  • Government & civil service (FCDO)
  • Think tanks
  • NGOs
  • Public-affairs agencies

Is 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

85% 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.

🎯

Your entry chances

Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.

Official-data snapshot

Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.4 out of 10: NSS 91.4% · in work or study 85% · continued 75%.

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

The University of Westminster

All students20,940
International30.3%
Aged 25+14.1%

Social sciences across the UK

Students275,900
Aged 25+37%

HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.

Local crime-data context

A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.

Around Regent Campus

14,027 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.

Theft From The Person 3022Other Theft 2813Shoplifting 1962Violent Crime 1808Anti Social Behaviour 1731

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 Westminster from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.

Tuition fees

International tuition is £17,600 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). 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 Westminster’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 Westminster and gov.uk before you apply.

Common questions

Entry is historically accessible, accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 96 - 111 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
Set by Westminster. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
For Politics graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 20% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £26,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
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. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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