This politics and international relations degree immerses you in the political discourses shaping our world – and the future – with study based in London, a global centre of international diplomacy.

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Key information

Study mode

Full-time

Start date

September 2027-28

Duration

UCAS code

Annual fees

Home: £10,050

International: £24,573

Location

St Katharine Docks & The City, London

Optional semester in Boston, USA

Optional work placement

Why choose a Politics and International Relations degree?

There’s no better city than London to study politics. Based alongside the seat of the UK Government and many of its agencies, a host of international organisations and world-renowned research institutes and think tanks, you’ll be at the heart of today’s political conversation.

At a time when politics and international relations are under intense public scrutiny, the BSc (Hons) Politics & International Relations degree will deepen your understanding of agency, power and the forces that shape our world.

Gain your politics degree in the UK, a global force in international diplomacy.

Undertake experiential learning projects that will develop your critical thinking skills.

Learn to apply rigorous thinking to analyse political developments as they happen.

Personalise your curriculum with electives, deepening your specialist political knowledge or using interdisciplinary studies to broaden your experience.

Study in the heart of London, one of the most vibrant and diverse cities on the planet, with the opportunity to spend a semester in the USA.

Study in London

Experience state-of-the-art campus facilities in the heart of one of the world’s best student cities, where the bustling global city of business, technology and culture acts as an extension of your classroom.

Industry experience

Learning through experience is core to our approach. Throughout your studies, you’ll have opportunities to work on challenges that have real-life impact and elevate your classroom learning.

Global community

As part of Northeastern University’s network of 13 university campuses across the USA, Canada and London, we offer a truly global mindset, with a community of staff and students in London from almost 100 nationalities.

What our students say

Working with an external partner was an invaluable way to gain experience with hands-on learning. Meeting and talking to industry professionals was also a great way to start building connections within the field.

Politics & International Relations student

Mackenzie

Smaller classes mean you get to know your professors. It feels more personal. Being so close to London and the rest of England and Europe is so unique and offers so much opportunity, I have loved my time at the university.

Data science student

NU London offered a specialised opportunity to study an honours programme in my degree subject, heightened by small class sizes, and more personalised features in the lectures. My lecturers knew my style of learning and my ability and were able to tailor the information into the way I best understood it.

Economics student

The resources available, both on and beyond our beautiful campus, combined with the wealth of opportunity and support from our lecturers, make it a special, personalised place where students are pushed to do more and become more.

Business student

I have quite honestly loved every moment. The teaching has been amazing, the classes are always interesting, and I never run out of exciting events to attend. I cannot wait to see what the future holds.

English student

Programme overview

What you’ll study

Our BSc (Hons) Politics & International Relations curriculum covers how government and society are organised, political ideas and ideologies, and international relations: including war, peace, security, economies, globalisation and more.

You’ll explore the relationship between the individual and the state, sources of authority and forms of government, as well as their implications for policy-making.

examine key ideas and research methods in contemporary politics and international relations, exploring subjects such as sovereignty, power, war and peace

discuss state institutions, and how their formation and development contribute to democracies

evaluate the circumstances that affect international conflict or cooperation

study the impact of global imperial history on international relations today, with a focus on post-colonial and decolonial theories

gain an understanding of the history, politics and policies of the EU, and its role in trade, aid, conflict resolution and fostering democratisation

discover critical and theoretical approaches to political speech, from policymaking to rhetoric and public engagement via traditional and social media

learn about the inner workings of key international organisations, and their varied methods for tackling regional and global problems

explore concepts of security and stability – in terms of not only armed conflict, but broader issues such as minority rights, poverty, climate change and disease

The courses that run in each academic year are subject to change in line with faculty availability and student demand, and may have limited capacity or be unavailable to you due to the timetable. There is, therefore, no guarantee every course will be available every year.

Elective pathways

You’ll have the opportunity to select about 40% of your degree content, tailoring your curriculum to your personal goals. You might choose electives that deepen your knowledge of your main degree discipline, explore a range of different subjects, or follow a defined pathway to develop a secondary area of expertise.

If you take three or more courses, across at least two levels in a defined area outside your main discipline, you can apply to receive recognition for this in a letter alongside your degree certificate and transcript (e.g. BSc (Hons) Politics & International Relations with History).

Introduction to Politics & International Relations

Comparative Politics

Foundations of Western Political Thought

International Relations in Practice

Plus four elective courses

Decolonising International Relations

The European Union in the World

Political Arguments in Action

Plus one of the following courses:

British Government in Global Context

Foundations of Critical Thought

Political Ideologies

Societies in Transition

Intermediate Politics and International Relations Directed Study I

Intermediate Politics and International Relations Directed Study II

(Option to study in Boston, USA and follow a US curriculum in the second semester)

International Organisations

Security Studies

Final Project (Politics & International Relations)

Plus two of the following courses:

Sustainable Development

International Political Economy

Green Political Thought

Development of Asia

Contemporary Politics of Latin America and Spain

Comparative Regionalism

Advanced Politics and International Relations Directed Study I

Advanced Politics and International Relations Directed Study II

Advanced Special Topics in Politics and International Relations

Plus two elective courses

For more detailed course information, visit the Academic Handbook.

Academic Handbook

How you’ll learn

You’ll learn through a combination of:

lectures

workshops

seminars and tutorials

guided independent study

hands-on or community-based projects

a semester-long work placement in your final year

We pride ourselves on our ability to offer personal attention, with small class sizes that allow everyone to participate and thrive:

most lectures and seminars will have a maximum of 40 students.

tutorials typically have up to five students, and may sometimes be one-to-one.

in your intermediate research course you will receive two-to-one or one-to-one tuition, and in your final project you will benefit from one-to-one tuition.

Studying in the heart of London, you’ll engage through immersive learning in one of the most vibrant and diverse cities on the planet. You’ll also have the opportunity to experience university life in the USA, with an option to spend a semester at Northeastern University’s Boston campus.

Careers and employability

Skills for a successful career

The BSc (Hons) Politics & International Relations programme develops a broad range of skills and knowledge important for institutional decision-making and policy-making, so you’ll stand out from the crowd on graduation. You’ll develop the ability to:

demonstrate initiative and self-organisation

collect and evaluate material from a broad range of sources

use critical analysis to contribute effectively to political, social and policy debates

apply theoretical and methodological tools of policy, institutional and behavioural analysis

communicate clearly and persuasively to different audiences

Sectors you could work in

The skills you’ll gain through your studies are highly transferable and prized by employers in a range of sectors, including:

governmental and inter-governmental institutions and agencies

risk analysis and management roles in security and financial organisations

journalism

public policy roles in think tanks or charities

the sustainable development sector and social value accounting

Networking for your future

Years 1 & 2 – you’ll engage with a range of industry partners, exploring your goals and possible career paths.

Year 3 – you’ll use your experience to choose the right industry partner for your final year work placement.

Graduation – you’ll have developed industry contacts and skills for a smooth transition to professional life.

Dedicated careers support

At Northeastern University London, we work with you from day one to support your career ambitions.

Our dedicated careers counsellors will help you identify your goals and develop a plan to help you succeed, from application through to interview.

Where you’ll study

At our vibrant campus in the heart of London, you’ll find modern facilities and inspiring surroundings with everything you need for your studies.

See our campus

Chat with our students

Want to know more about life at Northeastern University London? Chat with one of our student ambassadors for their take on what it’s like to be part of our global community.

Chat with a student

Meet the Faculty

Meet some of the academic staff from the Social Sciences Faculty.

Alison Statham

Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning (Students), Affiliate Associate Professor of Politics for the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Associate Professor in Politics and Pedagogy

Celal Özkızan

Assistant Professor in International Relations and Politics

John Wolfe Ackerman

Assistant Professor in Politics and International Relations

Marianna Griffini

Assistant Professor in International Relations and Anthropology

Xuechen Chen

Associate Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange for Social Sciences and Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations

Expert on EU external relations with the Asia-Pacific region, and China’s foreign policy

Experiential case study

How businesses can help drive a regenerative economy, set by Volans

In this experiential network project set by external partner Volans, students from different disciplines worked in teams to address the challenge of how businesses can help drive a regenerative economy.

Discover more

Entry requirements

Standard offer

Our typical offer for undergraduate degrees is:

A-level: ABB-BBB

International Baccalaureate: 32-34 points including TOK and the Extended Essay, or 6, 6, 5 in Higher Level subjects with an overall pass in the IB Diploma

or an equivalent UK or international qualification

If you’re predicted to achieve below our typical offer, we’d still like to hear from you. We review every application holistically, and may invite you to interview so we can learn more about you.

If English is not your native language, you’ll need to show you’re proficient in English to study with us. You can find more on the test results we accept on our entry requirements page.

Our entry requirements

Tuition fees

Bursaries

For Home students, our annual undergraduate fees for 2027-28 entry are £10,050

For International students, our annual undergraduate fees for 2027-28 entry are £24,573

Undergraduate fees

We offer a means-tested bursary scheme for Home students whose household incomes are under £63,500.

Bursaries for Home students

Home students starting their first undergraduate degree may be able to apply for a government-funded loan. You may also be able to eligible for a maintenance loan, depending on your household income.

Tuition fee and maintenance loans

Ready to join our thriving, global community?

Frequently asked questions

Want to know more about our programmes or the student experience at Northeastern University London? Find the answers to all your burning questions.

What can you do with a politics and international relations degree?

A politics and international relations degree develops skills that are highly transferable and prized by employers in a range of sectors. Our graduates go on to work in governmental and inter-governmental institutions and agencies, risk analysis and management roles in security and financial organisations, journalism, public policy roles in think tanks or charities, and the sustainable development sector and social value accounting.

Can I combine politics and international relations with other subjects?

Yes. Around 40% of your BSc (Hons) Politics & International Relations degree is made up of elective courses, so you can tailor your studies to your interests. If you take three or more courses in a defined area outside your main discipline, across at least two levels, you can apply to have this recognised in a letter alongside your degree certificate and transcript (for example, BSc (Hons) Politics & International Relations with History).

What A-levels do I need for a politics and international relations degree?

Our typical offer for a BSc (Hons) Politics and International Relations degree is A-level grades ABB-BBB, or International Baccalaureate 32-34 points including TOK and the Extended Essay (or 6, 6, 5 in Higher Level subjects with an overall pass). If you’re predicted below our typical offer, we still encourage you to apply — we review every application holistically and may invite you to interview.

What is experiential learning?

Learning through experience is core to our approach. Throughout your studies, you’ll have unparalleled opportunities to work on challenges that have real-life impact and elevate your classroom learning. And our close partnerships with organisations from startups to multinationals will give you a head start in your career, offering experience that will help you stand out from the pack.

From site visits, talks from guest speakers in your field and industry bootcamps, to exploring real-life case studies and participating in research projects directed by leading academics, you’ll apply the skills and theory you’re learning to solve real problems set by external organisations, making a tangible impact on their work and decision-making.

In the process, you’ll gain the skills you need for the future, such as teamwork, creative thinking and adaptability – all while building your network, your confidence and your career prospects.

Can I study abroad as part of my degree?

Many of our undergraduate degrees offer the opportunity to spend a semester at Northeastern University’s Boston, USA campus for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You’ll make new connections and get a taste of student life overseas, opening your eyes to new ways of living, learning and teaching, and the vibrant atmosphere of a US university campus.

During your semester in Boston, you’ll follow a US curriculum, earning credits that will count towards your Northeastern University London degree, so you’ll still graduate on time.

You can see on our degree pages which programmes include the opportunity to spend a semester in Boston.

What are electives and pathways?

Your degree will combine mandatory courses that are built into your programme and you must study, plus options that you can select from the elective course list. Electives provide the opportunity to create a bespoke programme of studies, and across different disciplines. We offer a broad range of electives across numerous subject disciplines.

This enables you to follow an additional subject “pathway” – for example art history, technology & ethics, or sustainability – and earn formal recognition alongside your academic record at graduation.

Can I do a work placement as part of my degree?

Our professional work placements – known as “co-ops” (cooperative education) – offer a unique opportunity to explore potential careers and apply your classroom learning to real-world challenges.

Co-op is our most immersive experiential programme. Through co-op placements you’ll immerse yourself with one of our partner organisations over a period of months, working with mentors who are fully invested in your success. You’ll be supported to find the opportunities that are right for you, and to make the most of your experience.

What is the student community experience like?

Life at Northeastern University London is about more than gaining an exceptional education. It’s also about discovering a place where you can grow, make new connections, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

With students and staff from almost 100 nationalities, you’ll be part of a truly diverse and lively community where everyone is different, and everyone belongs. With this vibrant mix of people from different nationalities, backgrounds and cultures, you can expect a university experience that’s fun, exciting, and filled with new discoveries.

You’ll find a busy calendar of events happening across our campus buildings, in our student accommodation, and in and around London’s myriad of cultural hotspots. From themed social events and cultural celebrations to creative writing open mics, crafting sessions and gaming nights, there’s always something new to explore. And you can check out stimulating workshops and talks on a broad range of topics including science, philosophy, and more.

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