International Relations - 2012 entry
BA (Hons)
/
BSc (Hons)
- combined (see 'Combine with...' tab for available combinations)
Typical A-level offer: BBC or equivalent
Overview
International Relations is the study of world affairs. It examines some of the critical issues of modern and contemporary times, such as:
- the changing nature of international co-operation and conflict
- the new character of warfare
- the impact of globalisation upon states and societies
- the persistence of world problems such as poverty, migration and global environmental change
- the role of non-state actors, such as multinational corporations, international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and transnational terrorist groups.
The course begins with an overview of the history and theory of international relations and then encourages you to think about current issues and what they tell us about the changing nature of world politics. It will offer you the training to analyse and engage with a wide range of sources, giving you a deeper and broader insight into the bigger picture of what is going on in the world.
Why Brookes?
As an International Relations student at Oxford Brookes, you will be taught by a highly-committed team of staff who will help you develop the disciplinary and professional skills which will serve as a springboard for your future career development.
We are committed to offering you an up-to-date programme of study whilst maintaining student choice and student-centred learning. Our course offers several distinctive features:
- a research-led teaching programme
- flexible modular programme
- placement learning opportunities
- an undergraduate research scholarship scheme
- study abroad exchange programmes.
The Department of Social Sciences is home to the Centre for Democracy Studies and three research groups in Critical International Studies, European Politics and Society, and Social and Political Change. Teaching staff are active researchers with strong publication records. This means that the knowledge you gain will be underpinned by the latest academic thinking.
During semester time we host a series of weekly research seminars where guest speakers from other universities and from outside the academic sector give presentations on research themes of interest to International Relations students. The department also publishes an online newsletter and blog in which both undergraduate and postgraduate students are encouraged to participate.
Teaching, learning and assessment
International Relations is taught by staff within the growing Department of Social Sciences. You will be learning in a stimulating and friendly atmosphere where you will be able to develop a wide range of disciplinary and professional skills. Our teaching staff are committed to the highest standards in both teaching and research, and have an impressive record of publication in books and academic journals.
Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, group work, field trips, and individual and group presentations. Assessment is by coursework and examination. Coursework includes essays, group projects and individual seminar presentations. Some modules involve an element of examination at the end of the semester, but others are assessed solely on the basis of your work during the semester.
Learning outcomes
In today’s employment market 'transferable skills' are buzz words. As an International Relations student at Oxford Brookes you will gain expertise in your field, but also develop a set of skills to help you stand out from the crowd, including the ability to:
- undertake independent research
- use critical analysis and creative thinking
- keep in step with the latest developments
- become confident in presentation and public speaking
- develop networking opportunities
- refine your writing abilities.
In detail
SSL Brookes - Twitter
School of Social Sciences and Law - FacebookRELATED COURSES:
Course content
For most of you, International Relations will be a completely new subject. In Year 1, you will take two introductory modules, Introduction to International Relations and Contemporary Issues in World Politics, which cover the basics of international relations.
In Years 2 and 3, you can choose from a range of advanced modules that focus on different aspects of international relations. These advanced modules include US Foreign Policy, International Security and Conflict Resolution, International Relations of Global Environmental Change, Globalisation and Democracy, International Human Rights Law, and International Relations of East Asia.
In Year 3, you are also expected to take four honours-level modules, such as Theory and Explanation in International Relations and The Global Political Economy. You may choose to write a dissertation in your final year as part of the honours component of the course. This is an extended piece of original research which offers you the opportunity to specialise in one of your fields or to combine them both in an interdisciplinary project.
International Relations is a combined honours degree, which means you study it alongside another subject. Please see the 'Combine with...' tab for the list of possible subject combinations. The most common combinations are with Law, History, and Sociology, but students may also choose from a wider range of subjects such as French Studies or Business. You can also study the following combinations as single honours courses:
As courses are reviewed regularly, the module list you choose from may vary from that shown here. You can view detailed descriptions of some of the modules here.
Year 1
- Introduction to International Relations
- Contemporary Issues in World Politics
Years 2 and 3
- Globalisation, Democracy and Civil Society
- The Global Political Economy
- East Asian Regionalism
- Global Environmental Politics
- Conflict and Post-war Reconstruction
- International Human Rights Law
- Understanding Europe: History, Culture and Political Economy
- Researching Politics and International Relations
- Structures of International Governance
- The Theory and Practice of Human Rights
- America and Europe: the Political Economy of Global Hegemony
- Dissertation in International Relations
Work placements
Oxford Brookes is working in consortium with Warwick and Coventry universities to develop academic placements for students of International Relations, Politics and Sociology. Examples of possible placements include working for an MP or local councillor, or with a voluntary organisation. At present, the number of places is limited and subject to competition, but more placements will become available as the scheme expands.
Study abroad
International Relations students are actively encouraged to study for part of their degree at other universities in the EU, including Göteborg in Sweden, Free University Amsterdam, and Genoa in Italy. In the past students have also taken advantage of opportunities to study in America and Australia.
The department has links with a number of European universities through the Erasmus programme, which last for one or two semesters. With over 100 partner institutions across the world, Brookes can offer you a unique overseas study experience.
More information about exchanges, European work placements and other study abroad programmes, is available here.
Departmental research highlights
All our teaching staff are active researchers with strong publication records, so your learning will always be underpinned by the latest academic thinking. During semester time we host a series of weekly research seminars where guest speakers from other universities and from outside the academic sector give presentations on research themes of interest to International Relations and Politics students. The department also publishes an online newsletter and blog, to which students are invited to contribute.
At Oxford Brookes we believe research is not just for graduates. As well as the open invitation to our seminar series, we encourage you to explore your own areas of interest. We provide you with a solid foundation in your discipline, hone your transferable skills, and give you the opportunity to design your own research project, with guidance from our teaching staff. By undertaking your own research, you will develop invaluable research and communication skills, from designing your project from scratch, to recruiting participants and communicating your findings to your peers and teachers.
Applying to the Undergraduate Research Scholarship Scheme (URSS) means you can receive funding to undertake your own independent research which you present in visual form at one of our regular URSS conferences. Research projects vary hugely, from independent original research to assisting on a member of staff’s existing study, but they always encompass the student’s own fields of interest.
The Reinvention Centre at Oxford Brookes, which hosts the URSS conferences, also publishes Reinvention, a journal showcasing the best undergraduate research both within the UK and overseas.
Free language courses for students - the Open Module
Free language courses are available to all full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students who are studying any course on our Headington (including Marston Road), Harcourt Hill or Wheatley Campuses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.
Key facts
RELATED COURSES:
Department
Course length
Full-time: 3 years
Part-time: up to 6 years
Teaching location
Headington Campus, Gipsy Lane
Start date
September 2012
Combine with...
RELATED COURSES:
This course can be combined with one of the following subjects:
Anthropology
LL62 Mod/RLAN
Business Management
NL22 Mod/RLDP
Communication, Media and Culture
PL32 Mod/RLHQ
English Language and Communication
QL92 Mod/RLLD
French Studies
LRFC Mod/RLFC
Geography
LLF7 Mod/RLGG
History
LVF1 Mod/RLHI
Japanese Studies
TL22 Mod/RLJB
Law
LMF3 Mod/RLLW
Philosophy
LVF5 Mod/RLPQ
Psychology
LCF8 Mod/RLPS
Religion and Theology
VL6G Mod/RLRC
Sociology
LLF3 Mod/RLSO
Spanish (Minor Field)
L2RK Mod/RLSX
Fees / funding
RELATED COURSES:
International students
Full-time: £11,000
Find out how to pay your fees.
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
+44 (0)1865 483088
finance-fees@brookes.ac.uk
Funding and scholarships
For general sources of financial support, see:
Apply / Entry reqs
RELATED COURSES:
Typical offers
A-level: BBC or equivalent
IB Diploma: 31 points
Advanced Diploma: grade B, including A-level at grade B
Other typical offers include:
- BB at A-level and CC at AS-level
- vocational A-levels at equivalent grades
- a recognised foundation or access course
- European Baccalaureate.
Further EU qualifications are also accepted; for more details please contact the senior tutor for this course.
For combined honours, normally the offer will lie between the offers quoted for each subject.
Specific entry requirements
Please also see the university's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
Please see the university's standard English language requirements.
English language requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Border Agency's minimum language requirements as well as the university's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Full-time students should apply for this course through UCAS.
Part-time students should apply directly to the university.
Conditions of acceptance
When you accept our offer you agree to the conditions of acceptance. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Credit transfer
Oxford Brookes operates the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). All undergraduate single modules are equivalent to 7.5 ECTS credits and double modules to 15 ECTS credits. More about ECTS credits.
Student experience
RELATED COURSES:
Why Oxford is a great place to study International Relations
One hour from London but on the edge of quintessentially English countryside, Oxford provides the perfect backdrop for student life. For the last two years Oxford has been voted the top UK city for culture and has a worldwide reputation as a centre of academic excellence. Oxford is the perfect combination of historic and modern, and offers everything you’d expect of a big city, but beautifully packaged.
With students from 140 countries studying at Oxford Brookes, there is a huge range of lively student societies covering a multitude of interests, who organise regular events. Offering a stimulating mix of clubs and bars, cafes and restaurants, museums and galleries, Oxford is the perfect base for your student experience.
Specialist facilities
The department offices are located in the Gibbs Building on the Headington Campus where you will meet for seminars, lectures and tutorials. It is situated just a mile from Oxford’s beautiful and historic city centre.
The university library holds an impressive selection of books and journals, and you can also take advantage of the Library Electronic Information Network (LEIN), giving you access to a range of bibliographical searching tools, databases and electronic journals in international relations.
We have a dedicated Politics and International Relations librarian who is on hand to answer your enquiries, teach you information skills and guide you around the electronic resources on offer. Once you reach the stage of writing your dissertation, you will have access to the world-famous Bodleian Library.
Support for students studying International Relations
The support you receive as an International Relations undergraduate is unparalleled. Our student support coordinators are there for you from the day you arrive to the day you leave, helping with anything from module advice to supporting you with any personal issues you may experience. They organise induction programmes and events throughout the year, and offer a friendly face when you need one.
When you arrive at Oxford Brookes you will be assigned an academic adviser who will provide you with academic support and supervision throughout your degree, helping you monitor your progress and performance. They will also keep you up to date with events around your studies, such as visiting speakers, seminars and career fairs.
General support services
Supporting your learning
From academic advisers and support co-ordinators to specialist subject librarians and other learning support staff, we want to ensure that you get the best out of your studies.
Personal support services
We want your time at Brookes to be as enjoyable and successful as possible. That's why we provide all the facilities you need to be relaxed, happy and healthy throughout your studies.
Accommodation
At Brookes we understand that when you live away from home it's important to be somewhere that you feel comfortable and safe.
After graduation
RELATED COURSES:
Career prospects
Whatever motivations you may have for studying International Relations at Oxford Brookes, one of the key reasons for studying at university is to enhance future career prospects. Oxford Brookes has been recognised for the excellent employment prospects of its graduates and this department is no exception.
In addition to building a resource of discipline-based skills, International Relations encourages the development of a wide range of transferable skills that will prove valuable in many different careers.
Oxford Brookes graduates from both International Relations and Politics enter a variety of careers, for example in the diplomatic service, management, teaching, lecturing, publishing, journalism, advertising, local government, law, trade unions, non-governmental organisations and international organisations.
Further study
A number of our graduates have progressed to postgraduate study, and we are keen to encourage our undergraduates to undertake their own research as part of their studies.
As well as offering supervision in a range of areas for research degrees, the department also runs an International Studies master's programme, which places an emphasis on gaining critical perspectives on contemporary theory and practice. The programme allows you to choose from four specialisms:
- International Relations
- Globalisation
- Security
- Environment and Global Justice.
