Delve deep into our changing political landscape
Year of entry: 2026/27
Show year of entry: 2025
L250
Y50
3 years full-time (plus optional placement year)
AAB (full entry requirements)
September 2026 (semester dates)
Book your place for our Open Days on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 September 2025.
Step up to the boundaries of justice and human rights. Investigate the effects that terrorism, war and shifts in global power have on our day-to-day lives.
Engage with the latest political thinking on current events. Understand the role of emerging nations and how world events can affect the delicate balance of global power. You'll explore the political significance of global issues, and just how close to home they resonate.
Be supported by internationally-renowned experts from around the world. You'll engage with their regional expertise in the European Union, the United States, Latin America and Africa. Their research informs their teaching. With their support, you'll develop your ability to think critically about regional, national and international politics, ideas and institutions.
Study what you're passionate about. With a wide range of option modules available, this course is highly customisable. Covering the full breadth of the subject area, you'll be able to tailor your degree to focus on the areas of international relations that interest you most.
Secure your future with career-building opportunities and employability support. Our in-house careers support will be available to you throughout your study. Weekly-drop ins and skills sessions give you the opportunity to develop your employability. You also have the option of adding a placement year or year abroad to your degree. This allows you to gain invaluable experience working or studying in another country before you graduate.
for Politics, according to The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.
for Graduate Prospects (Times Good University Guide, 2025)
You'll learn how to think politically about some of today's most pressing issues, including:
If you're interested in the statistical analysis of politics and international relations, you can transfer to an Applied Quantitative Analysis (AQA) route. You'll choose from a subset of option modules throughout your course, marked AQA in the module lists here. If you do, you'll graduate with a degree title that recognises this specialism: BA International Relations (Applied Quantitative Analysis).
There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:
The placement year provides you with an opportunity to gain experience in a wide range of fields while putting your academic learning into practice. You could apply to roles that are related to your degree, such as the House of Commons Placement Scheme or a placement with YouGov, or to a business-related placement in a wide variety of organisations and industries.
These modules will give you an understanding of the key concepts, theories and approaches in each major area of politics.
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
Core modules
You will also study four option modules - two in Semester One and two in Semester Two. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
The above list of options is indicative and subject to change. The exact options available to you will be confirmed in your first year. For further information please get in touch.
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.
In your final year you'll build on the knowledge you've gained over your degree. The year culminates in a dissertation: an extended essay based on your own research.
The dissertation is a chance for you to study a topic of your choice in depth. With the support of a supervisor, you'll identify a question and conduct independent research to find an answer. You will have the opportunity to learn and use quantitative and qualitative analytical techniques which are essential for modern social science research.
You will also study four option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
The options available to you will be confirmed later in the year. For further information please get in touch.
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
The thing that sold me on studying International Relations at York was the options available to me here. There are chances to study abroad, work a year in industry, volunteer, and so much more. It can sound overwhelming in the beginning, but the Politics staff are incredibly supportive. They’ll help you to explore your options.Malaikah, BA International Relations
Read about Maria's experience.
These fees are for students starting in the 2025/26 academic year. Undergraduate fees for 2026/27 will be confirmed later in the year.
The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
Although students may decide to purchase some textbooks or other resources, we have an extensive physical and electronic library, so that there is no requirement to do so.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2026/27 throughout the year.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
Just four UK universities are rated Gold for teaching and top ten for research* in the latest national assessment exercises.
* Awarded joint 10th in the Times Higher Education ranking of the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
You'll learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and one-to-ones. We offer a personal approach to learning with much of our teaching conducted in small groups (typically fewer than 15 students in a seminar group). Your personal supervisor provides support and guidance throughout your studies, offering weekly feedback and guidance hours.
You'll be taught by academics at the forefront of research across a number of political areas such as conflict, security and development, political economy, international politics, political theory and public policy. As international experts in their field, our staff advise governments and organisations and regularly contribute to news and current affairs programmes. Our expertise and experience feed directly into our teaching.
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 7-8 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 7-8 hours per week |
These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.
Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
You will be based in the Department of Politics and International Relations on Campus West. Most teaching will take place nearby.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.
Assessment varies from module to module and includes a combination of exams, written essays and project work.
Your tutors will give you feedback in a variety of forms depending on the specific needs of the module. This may consist of written feedback, in-class discussion, model answers, one-to-one discussions or online responses.
Politics at York is ranked 9th in the UK for Graduate Prospects according to the Times Good University Guide, 2025. A York Politics degree is recognised by employers worldwide. You'll improve your employability with opportunities to gain work experience, undertake internships or study abroad.
Many of our students organise work placements out of term time in an area that interests them. We encourage you to do this so you can gain workplace experience and get a deeper insight into issues that interest you. Previous students have spent the summer months interning at Ernst and Young, the Houses of Parliament and even the Mayor's Office in New York.
Our recent graduates have gone on to work with:
In my whole heart I was like, ‘It’s York or nowhere guys!'Summaya Mughal, Politics & International Relations Alumni
BBC Broadcaster
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAB |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | 36 credits at Distinction and 9 credits at Merit or higher |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDD |
| European Baccalaureate | An overall average of 80% |
| International Baccalaureate | 35 points overall |
| T levels | We will consider a range of T Level qualifications for entry. Please visit our dedicated T Levels page for a full list of accepted T Levels. |
| Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers | Scottish Highers - AABBB Advanced Highers - not required for entry We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications. |
| International foundation programme | Foundation Certificate from our International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.
| Criteria | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Widening participation | If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities. More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offer | BBB |
| EPQ | If you achieve C or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
| Core Maths | If you achieve B or higher in Core Maths, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
| MOOCs | If you successfully complete our online course Power in crisis: Politics in the 21st Century do let us know, as you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about MOOCs. |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| IB English | A score of 4 in English A or 5 in English B (Higher Level or Standard Level) |
| Cambridge CEFR | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, with a minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, with a minimum of 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | Integrated subscores: 120 overall, with a minimum of 105 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C / Grade 4 |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478 Main Flight score with 444 in each component |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
| Other English language qualifications | We also accept other English Language qualifications, including various school-leaving certificates. |
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Get in touch if you have any questions
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