Overview and entry requirements
The joint BA programme in Politics and 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 core modules in Political Analysis and International Relations in their 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 BA 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.
See Department of Politics and International Studies
Why Study Politics and International Relations at SOAS?
- ranked 5th in the UK for Politics (QS World University Rankings 2022)
- as well as 3rd globally for academic reputation (QS World University Rankings 2022)
- combined training in two disciplinary streams
- the opportunity to learn a language in years 2 and 3
- a non-Western, global perspective on the key issues of domestic and international politics
Explore
Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings
Start of programme: September
Mode of Attendance: Full-time
Entry requirements
- duration:
- 3 years
Fees 2022/23
Fees for 2022/23 entrants per academic year
- UK fees:
- £9,250
- Overseas fees:
- £20,350
Please note that fees go up each year. Further details see 'Fees and funding' (tab on this page) or the Registry's undergraduate tuition fees page.
Structure
The BA Politics and International Relations is a three-year degree programme. In each year, students need to take modules to the total value of 120 credits following the structure below. Students have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of disciplinary and regional modules offered within the Politics Department, as well as modules offered in other Departments at SOAS as part of their 'open options'.
Year 1
Compulsory Modules
Students will take the following compulsory modules (60 credits total):
Guided Options
Students will take TWO (60 credits total) from the following list of optional modules:
Year 2
Credits must be taken in the following combination;
- Introduction to Research Methods (153400156) (15 credits)
- At least 15 credits from Politics Disciplinary Options AND
- At least 15 credits from International Relations Disciplinary Options AND
- At least 15 credits from Politics Regional Options AND
- At least 15 credits from International Relations Regional Options
Politics Disciplinary Options
International Relations Disciplinary Options
Politics Regional Options
International Relations Regional Options
Year 3
Credits must be taken in the following combination;
- 30-60 credits from List A
- 30-60 credits from List B
- Up to 30 credits from aproved Open Options list Language Open Options | Non-language Open Options).
List A
List B
Programme Specification
Important notice
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. If you are a current student you can find structure information on the previous year link at the top of the page or through your Department. Please read the important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.
Teaching & Learning
The BA Politics and International Relations programme provides methodological and skills training throughout and allows final year students to undertake an independent research project, such as a dissertation, supervised by an academic member of staff.
Contact hours
Most of our modules are taught through a combination of lectures and tutorials. Lectures (50 minutes) provide broad overviews of the topic. They are accompanied by tutorials (50 minutes) that give students the opportunity to discuss readings and key issues in small groups. In the final year, modules may also take the form of two-hour seminars allowing for deeper engagement with more specialised topics.
By the end of the programme students will have acquired a range of transferable skills. This includes the ability to collect and synthesise information, read and evaluate complex materials, assess the evidence for a range of different positions, construct arguments, exercise independence of judgement and communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Learning resources
Students also benefit from the vibrant learning environment SOAS provides more broadly. The 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. Moreover, every year there is a lively events programme that attracts renowned speakers from around the world, allowing students to engage with cutting edge debates on contemporary politics.
Tuition fees
Fees for 2022/23 entrants per academic year
| Programme |
Full-Time |
UK
Students |
Overseas
Students |
|
BA, BSc, LLB
|
£9,250
|
£20,350 |
| BA/BSc Language year abroad |
£1,385 |
£10,175 |
Please note that fees go up each year.
For full details of undergraduate tuition fees, see our Registry's undergraduate tuition fees page.
Scholarships
For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section
Employment
SOAS Politics and International Relations students leave SOAS not only with a knowledge and understanding of the complex political and cultural issues of our time, but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers.
Recent graduates from the Department of Politics and International Studies have been hired by:
- BBC World Service
- Bloomberg
- British Red Cross
- British Council
- Center for International Peace Operations
- Channel 4
- Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA)
- Department for International Development (DfID)
- Eversheds LLP
- Financial Times
- Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO)
- Global Policy Institute
- Go East Consulting
- Grassroot Diplomat
- Palestine Red Crescent Association
- Save the Children
- UNICEF Ethiopia
- United Nations
Find out about our Careers Service.
A Student's Perspective
SOAS has undoubtedly proven to be a myriad of unique and brilliant experiences - all thanks to its exceptionally diverse student body and world-class faculty. Neither leave any stone unturned to make SOAS the vibrant, spirited and accepting space that it is.
Rishika Singh
