Politics (International Politics)

study international politics and graduate with a university degree

www.historyandpolitics.stir.ac.uk

International political NATO meeting, showing several delegates with military uniforms

How do major international institutions, issues and ideas shape our societies? International Politics concerns issues of power, alliances, conflict and peace, trade, the role of NGOs and the notion of an international society.

Through your study, you’ll gain insight into international decision-making in the United Nations, the European Union, NATO and the World Trade Organisation and others.

More widely, we’ll equip you with the kinds of intellectual and analytical skills that are attractive to many employers. Politics graduates are to be found in commerce and industry, as well as the civil service, journalism, law and teaching.

The quality of teaching in our School has received the highest rating and we offer the chance of a semester at the University of Gothenburg.

BA (Hons) Politics (International Politics)

UCAS Code L240

Entrance Requirements

Year 1
Highers BBBC.

A-levels BCC or a combination of A2 and AS levels, VCE and VDA.

IB Diploma with a total of 28 points.
HNC or HND with Bs in Graded Units.

Access courses and other UK/EU and international qualifications are also welcomed.

Examinations taken over two sittings are acceptable but if there are repeats/upgrades asking grades may be raised by one grade.

Year 2
A-levels or Advanced Highers BBB to include Politics/ Government and Politics or Modern Studies.

Scottish HND in Social Sciences, to include four Politics units and Bs in Graded Units in Year 2 units.

General Entrance Requirements apply.

International students can study our Undergraduate Certificate if they do not possess the necessary entrance requirements to be admitted directly to the first year of an undergraduate degree programme.

Required Subjects

English Standard Grade (2), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent.

Applicants with English Standard Grade (3) will also be considered, although alternative entry conditions may be made in this case.

Modes of Study

Full-time (3 modules per semester).
Part-time (1 or 2 modules per semester).
February entry also available.

Rating

Teaching provision in Politics has been assessed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and achieved the highest possible rating of ‘commendable’ in all aspects.

	contact us > > >
	Dr Dejan Jovic Department of History and Politics University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA Scotland UK
	Tel: + 44 (0) 1786 467567
	Email: dejan.jovic@stir.ac.uk
	Web: www.historyandpolitics.stir.ac.uk

Degree Programme

You will take International Politics plus two other subjects in the first year.

Semesters 1 - 4

In Semesters 1 - 4 you will take core modules in:

The Politics of the British Isles: This module explores major institutions and processes in British politics
Political Concepts and Ideas: This module offers an introduction to political theory by exploring ideas and concepts central to the political debate in liberal democracies
Introduction to International Politics: This module covers mainstream theories of international relations, analyses key international organisations (e.g. the UN and NATO) and explores contemporary issues and debates in world politics after the Cold War and 9/11

In Semester 4 you take the following modules:

Great Political Thinkers
Comparative Politics: Power and Representation in Western Europe

Semesters 5 - 8

Of the 11 level 10 modules in Semesters 5 – 8 you will study at least five International Politics modules. In addition, you are expected to complete the Semester 6 module, Research Methods, and the final-year International Politics dissertation.

Semester 5 - 8 International Politics options include:

Authoritarianism and After
Stability and Disintegration of States
US Foreign Policy after the Cold War
Contemporary Debates in European Security
The European Union and the United States
Politics of the Middle East
European Union and European Security
Issues in International Politics
Party Systems in Comparative Perspective
Problems in International Politics

Teaching and Assessment

Teaching in most Politics modules – at all levels – is by lecture and tutorial. In most modules, you will attend two lectures and one tutorial per week. Assessment is based equally on your performance in tutorials, on one or two essays and an examination at the end of semester.

For the Honours degree, the grades for all advanced modules taken in Semesters 5 – 8 are combined to give your final degree classification.

Study Abroad Opportunities

Besides participating in University-wide exchange programmes, the School of History & Politics has developed an exchange programme with the Department of Politics at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Students who have met the grade requirements and passed the interview can spend their sixth semester in Gothenburg.

Career Opportunities

A degree in Politics is not directly linked to a particular career, but it does have vocational relevance. Degree programmes in Politics instil intellectual and analytical skills that are attractive to many employers. Politics graduates are to be found in commerce and industry, as well as the civil service, journalism, law and teaching.

Combined Honours Degrees

**International Politics can be studied with:**
Programme	UCAS Code
Modern Languages (French or Spanish)	RL92

(For a Combined Honours degree the higher entrance requirements of the subjects usually apply.)