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

Learn how to practically use key Microsoft applications and demonstrate this knowledge in their studies and future careers. You will also learn of the potential and risks of AI software and how to use it responsibly in the classroom, as well as in assessments.

It also means you understand the value of scholarships, allowing you to move on to postgraduate programs at the University of Portsmouth.

You'll develop academic writing skills and critically analyse texts and images. Present your analysis to deepen self-awareness and understand diverse perspectives in a global context.

You'll explore theories of international relations, the nature of the international system, and factors like conflict, globalisation, and international organisations. You'll also dive into key global issues such as climate change, gender, and human rights.

You'll appreciate how these fields intersect and impact each other, gaining insights into the connections between people, their environment, and societal practices. Additionally, you'll be introduced to technological innovations and examine how they are applied in society from a sociological perspective.

You'll develop an awareness of how people, politics and place are intertwined and get introduced to criminology with a sociological analysis of urban crime, its cause and effects on society.

You'll gain an overview of the history of legal scholarship. By the end of the module, you'll have a solid understanding and the ability to apply essential legal knowledge and skills. This will prepare you to progress onto degree level study at the University of Portsmouth.

You'll learn how to use academic databases and journals through a series of tasks which will have direct relevance to topics you studied in other modules. You'll develop your abilities in academic writing by writing a short essay, case study analysis or similar written artefact in each lecture session.

Strengthen your understanding of argumentation, rationalisation of evidence, and assessing the credibility of sources.

Through lectures and group discussions you'll reflect on why politics takes its current formyou'll consider its core principles, historical roots, and contemporary challenges. Learning about the british political system through a comparative lens, you'll develop the skills to establish the key differences between how politics works in different statesyou'll also find out how to trace those differences to their historical and social roots. Along the way, you'll develop vital academic skills. this will include building your confidence and capabilities in presenting clear and complex arguments in oral and written form.

Using real-world examples, you'll explore why reducing global poverty, inequality and conflict remains so challenging today. Debating key ideas in development thinking, and exploring how development fits within the global economy, you'll gain the skills to assess real policy choices and their impacts. By examining the changing roles of governments, international organisations and ngos, you'll learn how aid works in practice.

On this module you'll gain a good understanding of the variety of actors - from states to international organisations - that comprise contemporary international relations. You'll take part in informed discussions about some of the big issues in the world today. you will also delve into some of main ir (international relations) theories which are used to try to make sense of it all, whilst also developing the essential academic skills you'll need to be successful on all your first year modules.

On this module, you'll explore the ideas of political thinkers, from around the world, ancient and modern, from confucius and socrates, through machiavelli and mill, to gandhi and malcolm x. Questions about human nature, individual rights and our duties to others; civil disobedience and violent protest; and whether there is a place for morality in politics comprise just some of this module's concerns. You'll be introduced to different arguments, asked to apply them to contemporary political events and issues, and encouraged to question your own ideas and assumptions.

You'll explore both mainstream and critical perspectives, such as Feminism, Post-Structuralism, and Post-Colonialism, and compare how they interpret and analyse global politics. The module encourages you to think critically about the role of theory and how different approaches can be used to engage with real-world international issues and strengthen your own academic work.

You’ll explore real-world questions, like is there a link between fake news and the outcome of elections? Or how far does aid help in establishing 'safe' and 'secure' societies and liberal democratic norms? This will help you develop the tools to critically assess evidence, and then carry out your own independent research.

You'll look at diverse political figures as case studies, exploring their approaches to power, policy, communication, and political popularity. By delving into leadership theory and interpreting political sources insightfully, you'll learn how to ask thoughtful questions about British politics and meaningfully interpret British political history.

You'll learn to apply political theories like intergovernmentalism and supranationalism to real-world issues such as EU enlargement and global influence. Through case studies and analysis of primary sources, you'll gain the tools to critically assess the EU's evolving role in both European and global politics.

The learning objectives of this module are to be confirmed.

You’ll analyse the powers of key institutions like the Presidency, Congress and Supreme Court, and examine federal-state relations and the influence of lobbies and civil society groups. You’ll also explore hot-button issues like gun control, abortion and capital punishment to see political divides up close.

You'll learn diverse perspectives on formulating and presenting policy, taking into account key variables like leadership, security, and global dynamics. You'll deploy theories to critically analyse major decisions and their outcomes, strengthening your understanding through case studies of milestone events. You'll also debate and discuss how policy intersects with national interests and global security, and build skills to explain and evaluate policies coherently.

You’ll explore ideas around modernisation, colonialism and nationalism and how they shape education, gender roles, ethnicity, class, sexuality and everyday life in this part of the world. By comparing the experiences of different countries when it comes to industrialisation, democratisation and conflict, you’ll learn how to appreciate complex regional dynamics.

You'll move from understanding ‘crisis’ as a catastrophic event requiring transformative action, to the notion of ‘polycrisis’ as a deeper systemic state of instability and insecurity. In doing so, you'll explore a range of interconnected crises related to climate change, geopolitical conflict, global health, economic issues and human rights concerns.

You’ll explore the rise of the US across the twentieth century from a regional power to a global superpower and the domestic and international pressures upon the USA that caused it to go through alternating periods of isolationism and global engagement. You’ll also delve into the two global wars and why the US entered them later than most other nations, the isolationist interwar years, the start of the Cold War, the Vietnam Conflict and the War on Terror.

You'll engage with key theories and tackle major issues like global inequality, climate change, and shifting power dynamics between regions. By examining who governs the global economy and in whose interests, you’ll gain the critical tools to understand and analyse today’s most pressing economic and political challenges.

You'll think about what core concepts like freedom truly mean and why they ignite such passion and conflict. You'll also examine your own assumptions on contested issues like gender, class, race and social justice. By evaluating ties between visionary ideas and real-world movements, policies and power dynamics, you'll develop nuanced understanding the forces behind political change.

You'll assess the strategic control of space and resources alongside economic competition, and examine Africa's rich potential alongside its enduring struggles, from human security to gender equity and beyond. You'll develop a nuanced understanding of the continent as a crucial nexus of cooperation and conflict between foreign interests.

You’ll analyse diverse transitional justice approaches balancing community healing and judicial accountability after mass atrocities. Comparing mechanisms like war crimes tribunals, truth commissions and reparations programmes, you’ll evaluate effectiveness in restoring dignity and preventing recurrence. With case studies from Europe to Africa, from Latin America to Asia, you'll examine tensions between western models and local cultural perspectives, assessing what ‘justice’ means to vulnerable peoples. Throughout, you'll trace incremental human rights legislation advances, assessing global institutions’ roles protecting civilians from authoritarian regimes and wartime abuses.

Through interactive lectures with academics, speakers and professionals, you'll discuss, debate and complete practical exercises exploring wildlife crime alongside your classmates. You'll spend time examining wildlife crimes and the factors behind them, as well as environmental justice and sustainability.

You'll tackle questions such as, what is capitalism and in whose interests does it work? Do some models of capitalism work better than others? Can we reconcile capitalist modes of production and consumption with protecting our environment? Examine relevant political economy theory and open up debates about power, multinational capital, gender, identity and climate crisis.

You'll develop a research project which can take many forms, depending on the aims and focus of the dissertation. As an extended project requiring significant levels of critical engagement with subject knowledge, independent research and initiative, ethical research practice, and project management, this module enhances many key areas of knowledge and critical skills.

This real-world, project-based module lets you address an identified need or gap by designing an innovative product, service or resource. With support from university staff and external partners, you'll demonstrate critical thinking, ethical awareness and project management abilities. Your final project and presentation will showcase your employability and capacity for high-impact solutions.

You'll investigate grassroots campaigners alongside major international NGOs - evaluating their tactics, contributions and accountability. By probing the relationships between volunteer networks, businesses and government, you'll develop new ideas on what can and cannot be achieved by public advocacy. Do civil society organisations challenge or reinforce the prevailing world order?

You'll examine three pivotal themes: the lead-up to and aftermath of the UK's EU referendum, the evolving dynamics of post-Brexit politics, and the shifting global role of the UK, Europe and the EU. Throughout the module, you'll explore visual aspects of Brexit politics, key policy shifts and the roles of major political players in areas like immigration, foreign and security strategies, and party politics.

You'll critically examine the concepts of ethnicity, race and culture historically and theoretically, using regional case studies from Latin America, Africa and those of indigenous peoples. You'll consider these regional case studies alongside recent developments at the international level regarding cultural and indigenous rights and struggles around racial inequality and violence. You'll complete the module with a major project on a region of the world of your choice.

You'll get to grips with some of the most pressing security challenges currently facing policy makers, reflecting on new debates in security studies while critically examining the enduring relevance of strategic thought in the face of contemporary challenges. You'll consider a range of contemporary events and issues, analysing the various modes and causes of contemporary global threats and the options and responses of those security actors tasked to deal with them.