BA (Hons) Politics and International Relations Bachelor's degree at the University of Nottingham

Dive into the world of political thought with this module. Explore the ideas of famous political thinkers and see how their concepts shape today's politics. You'll discuss key political ideas and historical events, making connections between past and present.

Engage with key political concepts like democracy, legitimacy and freedom. This module challenges you to think critically about these ideas and their implications for real-world politics. You'll develop analytical skills and learn to build strong, justified arguments.

Uncover the major issues in global politics, from security threats to inaction on climate change. This module uses real-world examples to help you understand the complexities of international relations and the roles of states and non-state actors in addressing global problems, while taking a close look at the nature of 'global politics' itself.

Get to grips with the big questions in international politics and the theories that explain them. You'll explore both traditional and modern approaches to understanding global issues, providing a solid foundation for further study in international relations.

Examine the structure and significance of the British constitution in the face of recent crises. Topics include parliamentary sovereignty, devolution and the UK's evolving relationship with Europe. You'll explore these issues from both theoretical and practical perspectives.

Discover the differences and similarities between modern democratic states. This module covers everything from political systems and constitutions to voting behaviour and the challenges facing democracies today. You'll learn to compare political systems and understand the dynamics of democratic and authoritarian regimes.

Learn the basics of data, statistics and quantitative methods in political science. This module covers everything from summarising and visualising data to using statistical software for analysis. You'll gain valuable skills for interpreting and presenting data in political research.

Build on your quantitative skills with a focus on regression analysis. This module teaches you how to manage and manipulate data, estimate models using statistical software and interpret statistical analysis, preparing you for advanced political science research.

Understand the central role of political parties in the British political system. This module examines the structures, ideologies and fortunes of British political parties, helping you grasp their importance in shaping government policy and public opinion.

Investigate the principles of democracy and the arguments of its critics. This module uses primary sources to explore historical and contemporary debates in democratic theory, helping you develop analytical skills to assess its merits and limitations.

Explore how national identities are expressed and contested in everyday life. This module examines the role of identity in local and international contexts, teaching you key approaches in qualitative research and data analysis.

Explore global security issues from the Cold War to the present day. This module covers everything from state use of force and cyber security to human security and nuclear weapons, building on first-year modules to deepen your theoretical and empirical knowledge of international security.

Discover the factors that influence voting behaviour in elections. This module explores whether voters base their choices on party policies, past successes or other factors like media coverage and party leaders. You'll gain skills to evaluate arguments about electoral behaviour.

The module examines major events and themes in 20th-century international politics. The module is taught from the disciplinary standpoint of International Relations rather than that of International History. Various theoretical perspectives and debates are, therefore, brought to bear on explaining and understanding the events of the last century.

Examine key themes in political theory, such as justice and equality. This module looks at contemporary issues like wealth distribution, civil disobedience and environmental concerns, encouraging you to think critically about the role of justice in global politics.

Delve into the current debates in European politics, from party systems and elections to populism and immigration. This module covers both long-established and newer democracies, providing a comprehensive understanding of the political and social changes in Europe.

Enhance your quantitative skills with advanced training. This module will provide you with the tools to analyse and interpret complex data in social science research.

Explore China's role as a rising superpower. This module examines China's foreign policy, political and economic relations with major powers and its global influence, helping you understand the dynamics of China's interactions with the world.

Examine the role of political ideas and ideologies in contemporary Britain. This module looks at how mainstream and non-mainstream parties and social movements influence policies and practices, helping you understand the significance of political ideologies.

Study the problem of corruption and how to combat it. This module examines the causes and consequences of corruption at various levels, using case studies and theoretical approaches to understand and address corruption in politics and the public sector.

Examine the relationship between natural hazards and human society. This module explores how disasters happen, their impact on different communities and the role of policy responses in mitigating disaster effects, using case studies from around the world.

Undertake a sustained piece of research in politics and international relations. This module allows you to choose a topic, conduct research and write a dissertation, developing skills in self-organisation, data retrieval and intellectual writing.

Continue your dissertation research and analysis. This module builds on Dissertation A, helping you complete your dissertation and further develop your research and writing skills.

Examine contemporary theories about the environment. This module explores a range of environmental ideologies, helping you understand the role of ideas in environmental politics and policymaking.

Learn about open-source intelligence (OSINT) and its role in contemporary security. This module covers the history and development of OSINT, practical techniques for investigations and its applications in areas like human rights law, journalism and policing.

Analyse political challenges and crises in the global economy. This module covers issues like sovereign default, free trade and climate change, using theories from international relations and political economy to understand global politics.

Study the development and functioning of political parties and party systems in democratic states worldwide. This module focuses on post-transitional democracies, using analytical concepts and empirical indicators to understand party organisation and system stability.

This module involves a part-time placement (one day a week) in an external organisation, and is aimed at developing hands-on work experience and employability skills in a workplace relevant to students of politics. Pre-placement training will be provided.