Thank you for considering an application
To apply you’ll need to:
- Make note of the Queen Mary institution code: Q50
- Make note of your chosen course UCAS code:
Politics and International Relations
- L240 — BA (Hons)
- L24Y — BA (Hons) with Year Abroad
- Click on the link below:
Have further questions? How to apply | Entry requirements
Politics and International Relations
2 study options
Politics and International Relations BA (Hons)
Key information
- Degree
- BA (Hons)
- Duration
- 3 years
- Start
- September 2025
- UCAS code
- L240
- Institution code
- Q50
- Typical A-Level offer
- Grades ABB at A-Level. Excludes General Studies and Critical Thinking.
Full entry requirements (including contextual admissions)
Entry requirements during Clearing may differ and are subject to change. If you already have your results, you can check the courses you qualify for and apply online through the Clearing portal - Home fees
- £9,535
- Overseas fees
- £25,000
Funding information
Paying your fees
Politics and International Relations with Year Abroad BA (Hons)
Key information
- Degree
- BA (Hons)
- Duration
- 4 years
- Start
- September 2025
- UCAS code
- L24Y
- Institution code
- Q50
- Typical A-Level offer
- Grades AAB at A-Level. Excludes General Studies and Critical Thinking.
Full entry requirements (including contextual admissions)
Entry requirements during Clearing may differ and are subject to change. If you already have your results, you can check the courses you qualify for and apply online through the Clearing portal - Home fees
- £9,535
- Overseas fees
- £25,000
Funding information
Paying your fees
Overview
Explore theory and modern political thought to analyse the issues that dominate the news and your social media feeds.
It feels as if we’re at a crucial point in time, facing big issues like terrorism, immigration and economic inequality. Rising discontent with democracy also sets to challenge the foundations of politics in states around the world. There’s never been a more important time to study these subjects.
You'll explore government, political thought, and empirical and theoretical approaches to international relations. You can even immerse yourself in the world of politics by studying abroad, completing work placements and taking part in simulation activities.
Our regional expertise encompasses North and South America, Europe, Africa, Russia, South Asia and Southeast Asia. You’ll be taught by academics specialising in everything from feminist, postcolonial and sociological theoretical approaches to applied topics like foreign policy.
Pick from optional modules
Enjoy the freedom to shape your study. Perhaps you want to take a closer look at race and racism in world politics. Or maybe you want to examine the intricacies of the European Union, You can also pick modules from other schools, covering subjects such as English, history, geography and languages.
The world desperately needs not only answers but new ways of analysing the most important global questions. And this applies not only to the government but also to employers in the private and non-profit sectors.
Structure
You can complete your Politics and International Relations degree in three or four years. If you choose to do a year abroad this will take place in Year 3 and Year 3 modules will instead be studied in Year 4.
Year 1
Compulsory:
- Thinking Politically: Introduction to concepts, theories and ideologies
- Introduction to International Relations
- Political Analysis
- Politics in Action
Choose from:
- Background to British Politics
- Global Histories
- 15 credits from another school
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
In each year you may also choose some modules from outside the School of Politics and International Relations.
Study options
Apply for this degree with any of the following options. Take care to use the correct UCAS code - it may not be possible to change your selection later.
Year abroad
Go global and study abroad as part of your degree – apply for our Politics and International Relations BA with a Year Abroad. Queen Mary has links with universities in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia (partnerships vary for each degree programme).
Find out more about study abroad opportunities at Queen Mary
I believe studying Politics and International Relations is important because the field embodies the state of society, the nation, and the globe. I feel proud to study at such a diverse university, and the diversity at Queen Mary translates directly into the Politics and International Relations course - everyone feels both seen and heard by the course. The School of Politics and International Relations has created a truly international course, with modules that transcend the scope of political theories and take on a multitude of contemporary concepts and the politics of countries worldwide. This is a field which is constantly developing and the course shifts with the times.
Teaching
Teaching and learning
You’ll receive approximately eight to 12 hours of weekly contact time, in the form of formal lectures and small group seminars. The seminars are designed to generate informed discussion around set topics and may involve student presentations, group exercises and role-play as well as open discussion.
You’ll complete a further 20 hours of independent study a week.
Assessment
Students are assessed by a combination of coursework and exams. A few modules are assessed by coursework only.
Resources and facilities
The School offers excellent on-campus resources to aid your studies, including:
- events throughout the year such as public debates, film nights and book launches which attract diverse audiences and offer networking opportunities
- the Centre for European Research, which is a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, welcomes students and academics interested in learning and researching all matters relating to Europe
- the Mile End Institute, a major discussion forum that specialises in contemporary British politics, featuring regular high-profile speakers.
Entry requirements
| A-Level | Grades ABB at A-Level. Excludes General Studies and Critical Thinking. |
| IB | International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum of 32 points overall, including 6,5,5 from three Higher Level subjects. |
| BTEC | See our detailed subject and grade requirements |
| Access HE | We consider applications from students with the Access to Higher Education Diploma. The minimum academic requirement is to achieve 60 credits overall, with 45 credits at Level 3, of which 15 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. Applications are considered on a case by case basis. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not make offers of study purely on the basis of meeting grade requirements. |
| GCSE | Minimum five GCSE passes including English and Maths at grade C or 4. |
| EPQ | Alternative offers may be made to applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification. For further information please visit: qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry/epq |
| Contextualised admissions | Our standard contextual offer: BBC at A-Level. Our enhanced contextual offer: BCC at A-Level. More information on our contextual offer criteria can be found on our contextualised admissions page. Please note that General Studies and Critical Thinking are excluded from any A-Level offer and cannot be considered. |
| A-Level | Grades AAB at A-Level. Excludes General Studies and Critical Thinking. |
| IB | International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum of 34 points overall, including 6,6,5 from three Higher Level subjects. |
| BTEC | See our detailed subject and grade requirements |
| Access HE | We consider applications from students with the Access to Higher Education Diploma. The minimum academic requirement is to achieve 60 credits overall, with 45 credits at Level 3, of which 15 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. Applications are considered on a case by case basis. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not make offers of study purely on the basis of meeting grade requirements. |
| GCSE | Minimum five GCSE passes including English and Maths at grade C or 4. |
| EPQ | Alternative offers may be made to applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification. For further information please visit: qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry/epq |
| Contextualised admissions | Our standard contextual offer: BBB at A-Level. Our enhanced contextual offer: BBC at A-Level. More information on our contextual offer criteria can be found on our contextualised admissions page. Please note that General Studies and Critical Thinking are excluded from any A-Level offer and cannot be considered. |
Non-UK students
We accept a wide range of European and international qualifications in addition to A-levels, the International Baccalaureate and BTEC qualifications. Please visit International Admissions for full details.
If your qualifications are not accepted for direct entry onto this degree, consider applying for a foundation programme.
English language
Find out more about our English language entry requirements, including the types of test we accept and the scores needed for entry to the programme.
You may also be able to meet the English language requirement for your programme by joining a summer pre-sessional programme before starting your degree.
Further information
Funding
Loans and grants
UK students accepted onto this course are eligible to apply for tuition fee and maintenance loans from Student Finance England or other government bodies.
Scholarships and bursaries
Queen Mary offers a generous package of scholarships and bursaries, which currently benefits around 50 per cent of our undergraduates.
Scholarships are available for home, EU and international students. Specific funding is also available for students from the local area. International students may be eligible for a fee reduction. We offer means-tested funding, as well as subject-specific funding for many degrees.
Find out what scholarships and bursaries are available to you.
Support from Queen Mary
We offer specialist support on all financial and welfare issues through our Advice and Counselling Service, which you can access as soon as you have applied for a place at Queen Mary.
Take a look at our Student Advice Guides which cover ways to finance your degree, including:
- additional sources of funding
- planning your budget and cutting costs
- part-time and vacation work
- money for lone parents.
Careers
School of Politics and International Relations graduates are highly employable, with invaluable political knowledge and research, analytical and communication skills that open doors to a huge variety of roles. They move into domestic and international careers both inside and outside the political sphere – predominantly in government, policy research, education, media and business.
Recent graduates from the School of Politics and International Relations have been hired by:
- AMAR
- House of Commons
- Labour Party
- PwC
- Scodie Deyong
- UK Home Office.
Career support
You'll have access to bespoke career support at every step of your degree, including one-to-one guidance, tailored workshops and career webinars. Our careers team can also offer:
- specialist advice on choosing a career path
- support with finding work experience, internships and graduate jobs
- feedback on CVs, cover letters and application forms
- interview coaching.
Learn more about career support and development at Queen Mary.
Data for these courses
Politics and International Relations - BA (Hons)
Politics and International Relations with Year Abroad - BA (Hons)
The Discover Uni dataset (formerly Unistats)
About the School
The School of Politics and International Relations at Queen Mary is invested in high-quality teaching, and we pride ourselves on our friendly and informal approach. Our staff are active researchers with diverse interests, from British politics to the Middle East, which is reflected in our teaching and the breadth of our programmes.
Our location in one of the world’s greatest capital cities is hard to beat. Home to the nation’s Parliament, political think tanks and economic powerhouses, London is where all the action takes place. We host a range of high-profile speakers on campus, and offer students regular contact with Westminster, Whitehall and the third sector through our events.
Students can also take advantage of the Mile End Institute, a major policy centre based at Queen Mary which brings together policymakers, academics and local communities to address national political challenges.
