The joint BA programme in Politics & International Relations offers students the ability to combine our two disciplinary streams throughout their training, giving them a broad base of knowledge from which to analyse politics within and amongst countries. Students will choose from the options available to both joint degree programmes, and will take a compulsory course in Political Analysis in the first year.

At the end of the course, students will have developed a uniquely insightful and rounded approach to understanding political questions and current affairs across the world. The degree structure offers deep engagement with regional and international politics in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, as well as problem-driven engagements with war, development, international organisations, state power, social movements, the global economy and other aspects of political life.

Teaching on the degree programme is tailored towards improving students’ understanding of the subjects, writing and presentation abilities and developing their skills as independent and critical thinkers. Whilst more introductory courses often consist of larger lectures followed up by smaller group seminars, more advanced and specialised courses encourage more student responsibility and leadership over the material.

Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Start of programme: September

Mode of Attendance: Full-time

Learn a language as part of this programme

Degree programmes at SOAS - including this one - can include language courses in more than forty African and Asian languages. It is SOAS students’ command of an African or Asian language which sets SOAS apart from other universities.

Year 1

Core Module: Year 1

Students will take the following core module

Compulsory Modules: Year 1

Students will take the following two compulsory modules:

Guided Options: Year 1

Students will take ONE of these two guided option modules:

Year 2

Compulsory Modules: Year 2

Students will take ONE of the following compulsory modules:

AND

Students will also take ONE of the following compulsory modules:

AND

Students will take compulsory modules to the value of 30 credits from list A below

AND

Students will take compulsory modules to the value of 30 credits from list B below

Year 3

Optional Modules: Year 3

Students will take guided modules to the value of 30 credits from the Year 3 List C below

AND

Students will take guided modules to the value of 30 credits from EITHER the Year 3 List C OR from List D below

AND

Students will take modules to the value of 30 credits from EITHER the Year 3 List D OR the Open Option (Languages | Non-languages) Lists 

AND

Students will take guided modules to the value of 30 credits from List D below

List of modules (subject to availability)

List A (Year 2)

List B (Year 2)

List C (Year 3)

List D (Year 3)

Please note: 

• Prerequisite for Independent Study Project (ISP)(153400053): Overall mark of 2:1 or above in Year 2.
• Students may only take one ISP.
• Students CANNOT take both an ISP and 2 Extended Essays

Programme Specification

• BA Politics and International Relations Programme Specification 2018/19 (pdf; 149kb)

Important notice

Teaching & Learning

Classes are taught through lectures, tutorials and seminars. Assessment is by a combination of written examination and essays.

SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.

Tuition Fees

Full details of undergraduate tuition fees can be found on the Registry's Undergraduate Tuition Fees page.

Fees for 2019/20 entrants. The fees below are per academic year. Please note that fees go up each year. 

Scholarships

For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section

• How to Apply
• UCAS website
• Request a prospectus
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• Funding options
• English language requirements
• Tuition Fees
• Admissions Contacts