International Politics and Law with Foundation Year BA (Hons)

The Foundation Year in Law and Social Sciences is offered as an entry route to a law, politics, criminology or sociology degree for students who don't yet meet the entry requirements for degree-level study. You enrol on a four-year course, which includes the one-year foundation course. If you complete this year successfully you progress directly onto one of our three-year degree courses in these subject areas. The number of students who progress to degree study are very high - in fact some of these students have gone on to become some of our most successful graduates.

Overview

Our course gives you the tools, insight and hands-on experience to succeed in the diverse and dynamic field of international politics.

International politics has never been so relevant to our daily lives, which means that our BA in International Politics and Law will open up opportunities in all areas of this diverse and dynamic field, from public service, and international relations to regional organisations, NGOs, diplomacy, the media, and everything in between.

Combining political theory and international relations with legal perspectives, you’ll develop your legal skills, enhance your critical and analytical thinking, and learn the political concepts and analytical tools that will help you advance your career in the increasingly complex field of global politics, international law and governance. You’ll study the key aspects of law and enhance your knowledge of European and Middle Eastern geopolitics, international political economy, migration and human rights.

You'll be taught by people who are actively engaged in NGOs, International and European Organisations, as well as think tanks. Your tutors work with Parliament on policy issues, the UN on sustainability, in the middle-east on conflict and post-conflict issues and a host of other important issues and policies.

How is the BA International Politics and Law taught?

You will further your knowledge through lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, as well as directed reading in your own time. You will develop your written and verbal presentation skills too. In your final year you will do a dissertation; an optional placement module also allows you to do a work placement in a political environment, which we will help you find and which will form part of your academic assessment. Careers advice is also part of the course.

Assessment

The course will provide you with opportunities to test your knowledge and understanding informally through ‘formative’ assessment. This will be completed before your formal ‘summative’ assessment which will count towards your final marks. Each module normally contains at least one piece of formative assessment from which you will receive feedback from your tutor. Formative assessments are developmental and any grade you receive from formative assessment does not count towards your final marks.

Careers

As a graduate of our BA International Politics and Law degree your career prospects are excellent and you will be well-placed to enter employment in fields related to governance, business, politics, diplomacy, law, risk and foreign policy analysis or the media. Our students have gone on to work for national and international NGOs in areas such as political and social research, public relations and policymaking and evaluation.