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    International Relations BA (Hons), sandwich with foundation year and work placement
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    University of Portsmouth

    International Relations BA (Hons), sandwich with foundation year and work placement

    University of Portsmouth

    University of Portsmouth

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    United Kingdom, Portsmouth

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    Home/United Kingdom//University of Portsmouth/International Relations BA (Hons), sandwich with foundation year and work placement
    University of Portsmouth

    University of Portsmouth

    United KingdomUnited Kingdom , Portsmouth

    Key Facts

    Program Level

    Bachelor

    Study Type

    Full Time

    Delivery

    Mix

    Course Code

    L253

    Campuses

    London

    Program Language

    English

    Start & Deadlines

    Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026
    Apply to this program

    Go to the official application for the university

    Duration 5 year(s)
    Tuition Fee
    GBP 17,900  / year(s)
    Next Intake September-2026

    International Relations BA (Hons), sandwich with foundation year and work placement

    About

    Examine the major issues affecting the world. Discover why nation states rise and fall. Take a closer look at the factors behind international conflict, and learn the role state leaders, NGOs, civil society and activists play in solving these problems.

    On this BA (Hons) International Relations degree, you'll explore topics like global migration and the rise of populist politics around the world. You’ll learn the skills required to play your part in improving equality and enacting positive change.

    And after graduation, you’ll be ready for careers in local and national government, security, tech, intelligence, and with international charities and institutions like the UN.

    Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    Entry requirements​

    Entry requirements (September 2026 start)

    Typical offers for BA (Hons) International Relations

    • A levels - BBC-BCC
    • UCAS points - 104-112 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent (calculate your UCAS points)
    • T-levels - Merit
    • BTECs (Extended Diplomas) - DMM
    • International Baccalaureate - 24

    You may need to have studied specific subjects or GCSEs - see full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.

    English language requirements

    • English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.

    See alternative English language qualifications.

    If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

    Worried about your grades?

    If you're not sure you meet the entry requirements, or need some help to get uni-ready, then we offer BA (Hons) International Relations with a Foundation Year through our partners at ICP to bring you up to speed. When you successfully finish, you'll get a guaranteed place on BA (Hons) International Relations.

    Find out more about our foundation years with ICP

    Typical offers for BA (Hons) International Relations with Foundation Year

    You may need to have studied specific subjects – find full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.

    English language requirements

    • English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 5.5 with no component score below 5.5.

    See alternative English language qualifications.

    We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.

    If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

    Please note this foundation year with ICP isn't currently open to EU or International students.

    We look at more than just your grades

    While we consider your grades when making an offer, we also carefully look at your circumstances and other factors to assess your potential. These include whether you live and work in the region and your personal and family circumstances which we assess using established data.

    Explore more about how we make your offer

    I love Portsmouth, I love the university, every tutor and lecturer I had over the three years was really supportive, and my course was brilliant.

    Joseph Bridgebrowne, BA (Hons) International Relations

    Optional pathways

    On this course, you can study history or international development alongside your international relations degree. This will lead to one of these awards at the end of the course:

    Why study International Relations?

    Hear from our students about why they love studying international relations. Learn more about the variety of subjects, your career opportunities and what makes the University of Portsmouth special.

    Dr Aishling Mc Morrow: International relations is how states interact in the international system. As you can imagine, it's really broad and we look at many different topics and issues within that. It's not just states that we look at: it's non-governmental organisations, it's terrorist organisations and how they all interplay and interact with each other to make up this thing, that is the international system.

    India: I wanted to study this course because I've always had an interest in politics, and I felt that this course would provide me with opportunities to expand that knowledge while also gaining a greater global perspective on political issues.

    Samantha: I had my 'aha' moment when I actually came to Portsmouth and my foundation programme was law with international relations because I wasn't sure which one I wanted to do. I actually spoke to a lecturer, and I was like, "Should I do IR or should I change to law?" and it was her passion for me that really sold me and I really found myself identifying with it, and then that's when I knew like, "okay, this is it".

    Dr Aishling Mc Morrow: I think what students are attracted to is the variety of the course. So one day you could be studying conflict and security, and then the next day you might be studying development aid. Which are polar opposites, and they're different worlds, but you get to do that within your course.

    Samantha: It teaches you to see people from another perspective and I think that's really important, not just in diplomacy, but in everyday life.

    Joshua: The modules, they're so broad and vast so people can find their niches within that. So there you can find, "okay, this is what I stand for."

    Dr Aishling Mc Morrow: There are a lot of career opportunities. We have students working with the U.N. High Commissioner of Refugees, working in the House of Congress in the U.S. and working as researchers with Parliament in the U.K.

    Johannes: I don't think I picked Portsmouth, I think Portsmouth picked me. This course really motivates me in this way to just go the extra mile, really do the reading, turn up and just invest my time and energy.

    Dr Aishling Mc Morrow: The reason why I think students should study and come to the University of Portsmouth is because what our courses enable our students to do, is look at the events that's happening in the world today and have the ability to process them and critically analyse them and to question the information that's put in front of them.

    Aleksandra: Ever since I've started to study International Relations I've completely fallen in love with it. First, when I got to my seminars or lectures, I felt like Alice in Wonderland exploring the world from completely different angles I would never think about before and that's what got me.

    English Program Requirements

    Career

    The analytical skills you’ll develop on this course are in demand – your ability to understand complex issues and find solutions to them means that roles across government agencies, NGOs, charities, think tanks and international organisations are all within your reach.

    And with technology continuing to develop at a frantic pace, there’s an ever-increasing demand for graduates with the knowledge required to ensure new developments are ethical. 

    When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your skills and cultural experience to work. 

    What can you do with an International Relations degree? 

    Graduates from this degree have gone on to careers in the following sectors:

    • local and central government 
    • embassies
    • non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
    • security services 
    • international organisations, like the United Nations (UN) 
    • international charities like War Child, Amnesty International or the Red Cross 
    • policy research and think tanks
    • media and international business consultancy 
    • political risk analysis 
    • public relations 
    • voluntary organisations 
    • management 
    • banking and financial services
    • tourism 

    Placement year (optional)

    After your second or third year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry.

    Taking an optional placement year will give you the experience you need to increase your chances of landing your perfect role. We'll give you all the support you need to find a placement that prepares you for your career, and we'll continue to mentor you throughout your placement.

    Previous students have been on placements to organisations such as:

    • The Ministry of Defence
    • The House of Commons
    • National Museum of the Royal Navy
    • Otra Cosa (Peru)
    • SEK International
    • Freedom from Torture
    • Victim Support London
    • Tools for Self Reliance

    You could also choose to set up your own business, or take a voluntary placement.

    What jobs can you do with an International Relations degree?

    Recent graduates have gone on to roles including:

    • director of Language Studies for an international school
    • political researcher, Houses of Parliament
    • assistant to Member of Parliament
    • civil servant, the Cabinet Office
    • senior policy advisor, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
    • communications officer, House of Commons
    • local government administrator, Government of Jersey
    • public affairs consultant 
    • bilingual consultant 
    • multilingual project coordinator 
    • translator 
    • social researcher 
    • information officer 
    • conference producer

    Ongoing career support – up to 5 years after you graduate

    Get experience while you study with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities and work experience. Towards the end of your degree and after graduation, you'll get 1-to-1 support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to find your perfect role.
    Futureproof your career

    What can you do with an International Relations degree? 

    Graduates from this degree have gone on to careers in the following sectors:

    • local and central government 
    • embassies
    • non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
    • security services 
    • international organisations, like the United Nations (UN) 
    • international charities like War Child, Amnesty International or the Red Cross 
    • policy research and think tanks
    • media and international business consultancy 
    • political risk analysis 
    • public relations 
    • voluntary organisations 
    • management 
    • banking and financial services
    • tourism 

    Placement year (optional)

    After your second or third year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry.

    Taking an optional placement year will give you the experience you need to increase your chances of landing your perfect role. We'll give you all the support you need to find a placement that prepares you for your career, and we'll continue to mentor you throughout your placement.

    Previous students have been on placements to organisations such as:

    • The Ministry of Defence
    • The House of Commons
    • National Museum of the Royal Navy
    • Otra Cosa (Peru)
    • SEK International
    • Freedom from Torture
    • Victim Support London
    • Tools for Self Reliance

    You could also choose to set up your own business, or take a voluntary placement.

    What jobs can you do with an International Relations degree?

    Recent graduates have gone on to roles including:

    • director of Language Studies for an international school
    • political researcher, Houses of Parliament
    • assistant to Member of Parliament
    • civil servant, the Cabinet Office
    • senior policy advisor, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
    • communications officer, House of Commons
    • local government administrator, Government of Jersey
    • public affairs consultant 
    • bilingual consultant 
    • multilingual project coordinator 
    • translator 
    • social researcher 
    • information officer 
    • conference producer

    During my degree, I was lucky enough to be a delegate at Harvard’s National Model United Nations Conference with hundreds of other university students from around the world.

    Samantha Chihuri, BA (Hons) International Relations

    Read Samantha's story

    International Relations and Politics research at the University of Portsmouth

    Ed Stoddard, Reader in International Security, explains how cutting-edge research like his (into the changing character of warfare) informs our courses and talks about some of the career opportunities this course can lead to.

    Ed Stoddard: So the research I do here at the University is focused on the changing character of warfare.

    Over the last few years I've been particularly focusing on questions to do with terrorism and violent extremism in the West African region, especially around the Lake Chad area.

    And we use that research and distribute it at conferences and events with policymakers, both here in the UK, but also in West Africa as well. Armed conflicts are so destructive and, you know, I think it's incumbent on us as researchers who work in this area to try and think of ways they can be avoided, of course, in the first instance.

    But if, when those armed conflicts do happen, try and think of measures that we can put in place to reduce their impact.

    So the research connects with students here in a number of different ways. It supports the work they do in terms of their dissertations, but also directly into the modules that they study.

    You know, our research, once we've done it and we've written the papers and we've publish the outputs, that gets then translated into the lectures that we deliver. So they will be directly learning and benefiting from that research that we've done out in the field in their studies and contributing to their degree.

    There's a really broad range of different career opportunities that are available to students. The Foreign Office, the Civil Service and more broadly, the Ministry of Defence.

    But also we have students who go to international organisations, NGOs, charities that work internationally in conflict zones, and we also have quite a lot of students who go into various research roles and risk analysis roles.

    Portsmouth is a really exciting and vibrant city and the university is literally at the heart of the city. I think also the university has a really strong focus on student support and a really strong focus on teaching quality.

    And I know that my colleagues spend very considerable amount of that time working to make sure that the experience for Portsmouth students is a really brilliant one. And I think those are some of the key reasons why students who are here really enjoy their degrees.

    Fee Information

    Tuition Fee

    GBP 17,900 

    Application Fee

    GBP  
    University of Portsmouth

    International Relations BA (Hons), sandwich with foundation year and work placement

    University of Portsmouth

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    United Kingdom,

    Portsmouth

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