Programme Specification for the 2025/6 academic year
BSc (Hons) Politics and International Relations with Employment Experience Abroad
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | BSc (Hons) Politics and International Relations with Employment Experience Abroad | Programme code | UFS4HPSHPS09 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Full Time |
Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Campus(es) | Streatham (Exeter) |
NQF Level of the Final Award | 6 (Honours) |
2. Description of the Programme
This exciting and distinctive programme combines the study of Politics and International Relations with rigorous training in research design and statistical data analysis. BSc Politics and International Relations offers the opportunity to examine key questions in the field of politics and international relations, while also gaining data analysis skills that are increasingly in demand from employers in the UK and abroad. You will study how government is constituted and how politics takes place on a global scale. You will explore the foundations of the study of politics in terms of its objects of analysis, the nature of political knowledge and the design of political research. You will examine the various forms of politics through history and in thought. You will interrogate the questions of the political including the various forms of government, the nature of public policy and administration, of war and peace, and of resource scarcity and distribution. You will address these questions via traditional lectures and tutorials as well as innovative group work, simulations and technical training.
In your third year you will undertake a work-placement, and gain skills that equip you to work in the global employment market and to improve your knowledge of foreign cultures. You are encouraged to think about the intercultural competence and the employability skills that you acquire during their year abroad.
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
1. To provide an excellent education across the range of political studies, from core to specialist, in a supportive and responsive learning environment that is enriched by research.
2. To provide you with experience of working in a foreign employment market and the cultural experience of living abroad.
3. To enable you to understand and use the main concepts, approaches and theories of the discipline; to analyse, interpret and evaluate political events, ideas and institutions; and to relate the academic study of politics to questions of public concern.
4. To develop your competence in subject-specific, core academic and personal and key skills.
5. To offer you a wide range of choice, insofar as this choice is consistent with the coherence and intellectual rigour of the degree.
6. To equip you to be questioning and productive members of society.
4. Programme Structure
5. Programme Modules
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.
Politics and International Relations modules https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/studyinformation/modules/?prog=politics
Stage 1
75 credits of compulsory modules, 45 credits of optional modules.
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSI1005 | Introduction to Social Data | 15 | Yes |
| SSI1006 | Data Analysis in Social Science 1 | 15 | Yes |
| POL1000 | Critical Skills for Politics and International Relations | 15 | No |
| POL1017 | Globalisation of World Politics | 15 | No |
| POL1019 | Power and Democracy | 15 | No |
| HAS1905 | Employment Experience HASS | 0 | No |
Optional Modules
In addition, students take 45 credits from Level 1 of the Politics and International Relations programme.
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSc Politics and International Relations Stage 1 Option Modules 2025-6 | |||
| POL1018 | The Challenges of World Politics in the Twenty-First Century | 15 | No |
| POL1020 | Politics in Europe | 15 | No |
| POL1025 | Classical Political Thought | 15 | No |
| POL1026 | Early Modern Political Thought | 15 | No |
| POL1029 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 15 | No |
| POL1045 | International Politics of the Global South | 15 | No |
| POL1046 | The State of the UK: Identifying Marginalised Identities and Addressing Inequalities | 15 | No |
| POL1047 | Global Sustainability Governance and Policy | 15 | No |
| POL1048 | The Politics of Development | 15 | No |
| ARA1010 | Politics and Economy of the Contemporary Middle East | 15 | No |
| SPA1002 | Population and Society | 15 | No |
| SPA1001 | Animal Politics | 15 | No |
| SPA1004 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 15 | No |
| ARA1041 | Religious Communities of the Middle East: Culture, Endangerment and Survival | 15 | No |
Stage 2
30 credits of compulsory modules, 90 credits of optional modules.
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSI2004 | Research Design in the Social Sciences | 15 | Yes |
| SSI2005 | Data Analysis in Social Science 2 | 15 | Yes |
| HAS2905 | Employment Experience HASS | 0 | No |
Optional Modules
Students must also take 90 credits from modules at Level 2 of the Politics and International Relations programme.
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSc Politics and International Relations Stage 2 Option Modules 2025-6 | |||
| POL2020 | Contemporary Theories of World Politics | 15 | No |
| POL2026 | Political Analysis: Behaviour, Institutions, Ideas | 15 | No |
| POL2027 | The Politics of the World Economy | 15 | No |
| POL2046 | The Economics of Politics | 15 | No |
| POL2047 | American Politics | 15 | No |
| POL2050 | Political Philosophy | 15 | No |
| POL2057 | Security Studies | 15 | No |
| POL2059 | Political Thought of Modernity | 15 | No |
| POL2076 | Rising Powers, Peace and Conflict | 15 | No |
| POL2079 | Contemporary Public Debate in an Age of 'Anti-Politics' | 15 | No |
| POL2081 | Thinking about Race: Perspectives from the Biological and Social Sciences | 15 | No |
| POL2082 | Changing Character of Warfare | 15 | No |
| POL2098 | What is Law? Jurisprudence from Stone Tablet to Brain Imaging | 15 | No |
| POL2102 | Explaining Public Policies | 15 | No |
| POL2107 | Gender and Comparative Public Policy | 15 | No |
| POL2115 | British Foreign Policy | 15 | No |
| POL2122 | The Politics and Policies of Youth Engagement | 15 | No |
| POL2128 | Introduction to Research Design in Politics and International Relations | 15 | No |
| POL2130 | Comparative Electoral Systems | 15 | No |
| POL2131 | Environmental Governance | 15 | No |
| POL2132 | Decolonising Global Justice | 15 | No |
| POL2164 | The Politics of Humanitarian Emergencies | 15 | No |
| POL2165 | Foreign Policy Analysis | 15 | No |
| POL2166 | Gendering World Politics | 15 | No |
| HAS2010 | Work Experience: Building Skills and Unlocking Opportunities | 15 | No |
Stage 3
Students will spend the third year of their studies on a work placement abroad. The year abroad comprises 120 credits and assessment is based on a number of assignments completed during the year.
Compulsory Modules
120 credit compulsory placement module
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSI3018 | Employment Experience Abroad | 120 | Yes |
Stage 4
30 credits of compulsory modules, 90 credits of optional modules
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSI3019 | Quantitative Dissertation | 30 | Yes |
Optional Modules
Students must select 90 credits from Stage 3 of the Politics and International Relations programme.
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Relations and Politics Final Stage Option Modules 2025-6 | |||
| POL3054 | Nuclear Weapons in International Relations | 15 | No |
| POL3069 | Globalisation and the Politics of Resistance | 30 | No |
| POL3090 | Politics and Conflict in Deeply Divided Societies | 15 | No |
| POL3136 | Political Psychology | 30 | No |
| POL3168 | War and its Aftermath: Interventions and Contemporary Conflict | 30 | No |
| POL3180 | Latin American Parties, Politics and Elections | 30 | No |
| POL3196 | Democracy in the European Union | 30 | No |
| POL3234 | Religion, Politics and Policy in Europe | 30 | No |
| POL3240 | Women in the Criminal Justice System: Law, Policy and Institutions | 15 | No |
| POL3247 | Politics of Biology | 15 | No |
| POL3248 | Marxism(s) and International Relations | 15 | No |
| POL3250 | Environmental Policy in Times of Crisis | 15 | No |
| POL3256 | Trumping the Mainstream: The Populist Radical Right and Democratic politics | 30 | No |
| POL3259 | Climate Justice | 30 | No |
| POL3260 | Russian Foreign Policy | 15 | No |
| POL3263 | Political Economy of Development | 15 | No |
| POL3274 | Money, Lobbying, and Policymaking | 15 | No |
| POL3284 | Realism and Its Critics: Debating and Applying International Relations Theory | 15 | No |
| POL3291 | Disrupting Western and Neo-Liberal Policing of the Global and the Local | 30 | No |
| POL3292 | LGBTQ+ Policies and Politics in the UK | 15 | No |
| POL3293 | The Political Economy of Chinese Development | 15 | No |
| POL3294 | Land, Power and Politics: a critical problem-based approach | 15 | No |
| POL3296 | Political Economy of Populism | 15 | No |
| POL3297 | Comparative Political Economy: Varieties of Capitalism | 15 | No |
| POL3302 | Elections, Public Opinion and Parties in Britain | 15 | No |
| POL3303 | Protest, Activism and the Environment | 30 | No |
| POL3304 | Political Philosophies of Power | 15 | No |
| POL3306 | Contemporary Chinese Diplomacy and Foreign Policy | 15 | No |
| POL3307 | International Politics of the Body | 15 | No |
| POL3310 | War in the 21st Century | 30 | No |
| POL3311 | Brexit: Causes, Interpretation and Implications | 15 | No |
| POL3312 | The Transformation of Politics in the Global Age | 15 | No |
| POL3316 | Empire and Hierarchy in Russia and Eurasia | 15 | No |
| POL3317 | Authoritarian Resilience in the Global South | 15 | No |
| POL3318 | Transformation of Social and Political Realities through Smartphones | 15 | No |
| POL3319 | The Politics of Place | 15 | No |
| POL3320 | Politics Online | 15 | No |
| POL3321 | The Politics of Economic Policymaking | 30 | No |
| POL3322 | Artificial Intelligence and Democracy | 30 | No |
| POL3323 | International Relations in Global History | 30 | No |
| POL3324 | War, Culture and Society | 30 | No |
| POL3325 | Understanding Public and Nonprofit Management | 15 | No |
| POL3326 | International Politics of the Body | 30 | No |
| POL3327 | Strategy and Psychology in Foreign Policy | 15 | No |
| POL3328 | Surveys and Experiments: Design Implementation and Analysis | 15 | No |
| HAS3010 | Work Experience: Building Skills and Unlocking Opportunities | 15 | No |
| POL3213 | Feminist Political Theory | 15 | No |
6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
1. Employ quantitative analysis of political data. | 1 and 4 are developed across all programme stages moving from broad areas of politics in stage 1 to progressively core specialised aspects at stages 3 and 4. 2 and 3 are present in some form in all Politics modules. Development of 2 is ensured through the requirement of the students to take two theory modules in stage 1 and at least one theory module in stages 1 and 2. 3 is also ensured through directed module choice embedded in programme pathways at stages 1 and 2. | These skills are summatively assessed through a combination of term-time essays, presentations and examinations. The combination of and length of essays, presentations and exams will vary from one module to the next according to credit value in conformity with College Assessment Norms. |
Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
5. Gather, organise and deploy evidence and information from a variety of primary and secondary sources. | These skills are developed throughout the degree programme with progression in stages 1 and 2 as students move from stage to stage. 7 is developed through self-assessment of assignments, staff feedback on formative assignments and student self-appraisal. | 5 and 6 are assessed through term-time essays, oral presentations and examinations. |
Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
8. Communicate effectively and fluently in speech and writing. | 8 is developed through presentations, class discussions and written assignments. 9 and 10 are developed through presentations and written assignments. | 8 and 10 are assessed through presentations, written assignments, and examinations. 9 is assessed through written assignments that require ICT for the retrieval and presentation of information. |
7. Programme Regulations
Classification
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning
9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning
Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.
10. Admissions Criteria
Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.
11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards
Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.
The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.
14. Awarding Institution
University of Exeter
15. Lead College / Teaching Institution
Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS)
16. Partner College / Institution
Partner College(s)
Not applicable to this programme
Partner Institution
Not applicable to this programme.
17. Programme Accredited / Validated by
0
18. Final Award
BSc (Hons) Politics and International Relations with Employment Experience Abroad
19. UCAS Code
L292
20. NQF Level of Final Award
6 (Honours)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | 480 |
ECTS credits | 240 |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
[Honours] Politics and international relations
23. Dates
| Origin Date | 30/08/2018 |
Date of last revision | 02/11/2018 |
|---|
