Overview and entry requirements

BA International Relations taught by our expert research-active academics is an excellent grounding in the complex cultural issues of global politics. 

Exploring the political issues of Africa, Asia and the Middle East on a level no other university can, students learn about mainstream approaches to the study of world politics, as well as critiques.

You will develop a historicised appreciation for how, where and why Western-centric lenses of international relations were formed, how relevant they are to the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and what alternative approaches have emerged from these regions.

The programme is genuinely interdisciplinary in nature. It draws on approaches from political science, global history, political economy and sociology to give students an in-depth understanding of international relations and foreign policy across a variety of thematic areas and to develop expertise in regional politics

Our graduates work in a wide variety of fields, including politics, the civil service, the charity sector, media, business, consulting, law and activism. Many also go on to successfully pursue a postgraduate degree in the UK and around the world.

See Department of Politics and International Studies

Why study BA International Relations at SOAS

• we’re ranked 5th in the UK for Politics (QS World University Rankings 2021)
• study key issues in world politics today, including questions of war, empire, environmental politics, gender, international institutions, and the global political economy.
• learn the discipline of International Relations and how to question its boundaries and assumptions.
• study International Relations from the perspectives beyond the Anglo-American canon, through a focus on the Middle East, Asia and Africa. 
• students can choose to study a language in second and third years

Explore

• Is the recent Race report a missed opportunity to address systemic racism?
• SOAS Politics Soundcloud

Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Start of programme: September

Mode of Attendance: Full-time

Structure

The BA 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 below structure. 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

Core Modules 

Students will take the following three core modules (90 credits total):

Optional Modules

Students can take ONE of the following 30 credit guided options OR modules to the value of 30 credits from the Language Open Options list.

Year 2

Credits must be taken in the following combination;

• Introduction to Research Methods (153400156) (15 credits) 
• 30-45 credits from Year 2 Disciplinary AND
• 30-45 credits from Year 2 Regional modules AND
• Maximum of 30 credits to be taken from Second Year Options OR Languages Open Option lists

Disciplinary Modules

Regional Modules

Second Year Options

Year 3

Credits must be taken in the following combination;

• 45 credits from List A AND
• A minimum of 45 credits from List B AND
• Remaining credits can be taken from Open Options Language Open Options | Non-language Open Options.

List A

List B

Programme Specification

• BA International Relations Programme Specification 2021/22 (pdf; 779kb)

Important notice

Teaching & Learning

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.

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. The 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

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

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. 

• How to Apply
• UCAS website
• Request a prospectus
• Got a question - use our enquiry form (opens a new window)
• Funding options
• English language requirements
• Tuition Fees
• Admissions Contacts