Course overview
This innovative four-year degree leads to an MSci qualification. Years one, three and four are spent at The University of Nottingham, with the second year spent in one of 25 overseas institutions, including the universities of Hong Kong, British Columbia, Auckland, Melbourne, Paris, Vienna and Prague. You also have the opportunity to complete a Universitas 21 Certificate in Global Issues, by electing to take 'face-to-face' or online modules offered by participating universities (currently Hong Kong, British Columbia, Nottingham and Melbourne) in your second and third years.
Year one
In year one you will be introduced to the foundations of international relations, through modules on global politics and political ideas, along with optional modules from both within and outside the School of Politics and International Relations.
Year two
Year two is spent focusing on global issues in one of 25 partner institutions around the world, drawn from the Universitas 21 (U21) network, the School's European Erasmus exchange partners and The University of Nottingham's campus in Ningbo, China. As well as taking modules at your host institutions, you may also elect to follow online modules offered by the U21 Global Issues Programme, and work towards the completion of a U21 Certificate in Global Issues.
Year three
Year three is spent back at Nottingham, where you will take a range of modules chosen from the wide range offered on international relations and global issues.
Year four
In the final year, you will follow one of the School's masters-level courses in international affairs: currently International Relations, Social and Global Justice, International Security and Terrorism, Diplomacy, European and Global Politics. All these courses include a 15,000-word dissertation on a subject of special interest to the student.
You will be required to study until September in the final year of this course.
Entry requirements
A levels: AAA
English language requirements
IELTS 7.0 (including 6.0 in any element)
TOEFL iBT 100 (no less than 21 in listening and writing, 22 in reading and 23 in speaking)
Modules
The modules we offer are inspired by the research interests of our staff and as a result, may change from year to year. The following list is therefore subject to change but should give you a flavour of the modules we offer.
Typical year-one modules
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Political Ideas in Revolution
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Understanding Global Politics
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Foundations for Politics
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Roads to Modernity: An Introduction to Modern History 1789-1945
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Problems in Global Politics
Typical year-two modules
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Approaches to Political Studies
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Designing Political Research
Typical year-three modules
These modules will typically include Poltiics and Drugs, The Impact of Globalisation, Afghanisatand and Pakistan, and The Far Right in Europe.
Skills and careers
You will have a broad understanding of international relations and the ability to think through and analyse political ideas and concepts. Your skills will include the ability to think and study independently, and to develop and sustain a reasoned argument. Your international experience will be an asset to your CV.
Average starting salary
The average starting salary for 2009/2010 full-time graduates of the School of Politics and International Relations was £20,391.89.*
*Average starting salary from known destinations of first-degree leavers who studied full-time, 2009/10.