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Economics, Politics and International Relations

BA (Hons)

Key facts

UCAS code

LL21

Start dates

September 2023 / January 2024 / September 2024

Location

Headington

Course length

Full time: 3 years, or 4 if a work placement is chosen

Part time: up to 8 years

UCAS Tariff Points

104

Overview

Financial turmoil and ecological change in recent years have shown how political and economic developments cannot be separated. Our Economics, Politics and International Relations degree will prepare you for roles in international organisations. You'll gain the skills to look behind the headlines and understand the forces shaping the contemporary world.

You will explore the economic factors shaping the relationships between national governments and learn to link theory and practice at each stage. You will examine the issues which are central to the lives of the world's population.

You will take part in activities such as:

  • problem-solving classes
  • solving case-studies
  • discussing competing theoretical frameworks
  • providing policy recommendations in stylised scenarios.

The specialist expertise you gain will prepare you for roles requiring an international perspective. You'll graduate with knowledge of recent developments in the global economy. And how they link with political changes at both national and international levels.

Students in a lecture theatre

How to apply

Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. The combination of A-level grades listed here would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.

Standard offer

UCAS Tariff Points: 104

A Level: BCC

IB Points: 29

BTEC: DMM

Contextual offer

UCAS Tariff Points: 88

A Level: CCD

IB Points: 27

BTEC: MMM

Further offer details

Applications are also welcomed for consideration from applicants with European qualifications, international qualifications or recognised foundation courses. For advice on eligibility please contact Admissions: admissions@brookes.ac.uk

If you don’t achieve the required tariff points you can apply to join a foundation course, like Foundation in Business or an international foundation course to help to reach the required level for entry onto this degree.

Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

GCSE: Mathematics (grade C/5 or above)

Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

English language requirements

Please see the University's standard English language requirements.

International qualifications and equivalences

Go

English requirements for visas

If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.

Pathways courses for international and EU students

If you do not meet the entry requirements for this degree, or if you would like more preparation before you start, you can take an international foundation course. Once you enrol, you will have a guaranteed pathway to this degree if you pass your foundation course with the required grades.

If you only need to meet the language requirements, you can take our pre-sessional English course. You will develop key language and study skills for academic success and you will not need to take an external language test to progress to your degree.

Terms and Conditions of Enrolment

When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.

Credit transfer

Many of our courses consider applications for entry part-way through the course for students who have credit from previous learning or relevant professional experience.

Find out more about transferring to Brookes. If you'd like to talk through your options, please contact our Admissions team.

Application process

Full time Home (UK) applicants

Apply through UCAS

Part time Home (UK) applicants

Apply direct to the University

International applicants

Apply direct to the University

Full time international applicants can also apply through UCAS

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£9,250

Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module

Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£1,500

International full time
£14,900

International sandwich (placement)
£1,500

Home (UK) full time
£9,250

Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module

Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£1,500

International full time
£15,500

International sandwich (placement)
£1,500

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

Tuition fees

2022 / 23
Home (UK) full time
£9,250

Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module

Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£1,500

International full time
£14,900

International sandwich (placement)
£1,500

2023 / 24
Home (UK) full time
£9,250

Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module

Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£1,500

International full time
£15,500

International sandwich (placement)
£1,500

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 483088

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.

Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Learning and assessment

In each year of this course your time is split between economics, politics and international relations modules.

In Year 1 you will explore the three disciplines of economics, politics and international relations.

In Year 2 you will develop your understanding by studying microeconomcis and macroeconomics, and examining the global political economy and the dilemas of governing. You will also take a Research Methods module as well as a module looking at the use of economic skills in the workplace.

You can choose to spend Year 3 on a work placement where you will gain commercial and practical experience. Many students are offered graduate positions by their placement employer.

Students have enjoyed placements at:

  • Microsoft
  • Government Economic Service
  • IBM
  • Office for National Statistics
  • JP Morgan.

In your Final Year (Year 3 without a work placement and Year 4 with one), you can pursue your own interests in depth, alongside modules considering various perspectives on global challenges and managing global issues. You can choose a range of specialist options and work on a dissertation.

Group study

Start this course in January

You have the option to start this course in January. In each of your three years, you will study your first semester between January and May and your second semester between September and December. There will be no teaching during June, July and August. 

Study modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Microeconomics I

Macroeconomics I

Mathematics for Economics and Finance

Economics and Society in Context

Introduction to Politics

Politics in Comparative Perspective

Introduction to International Relations I: Perspectives

Introduction to International Relations II: Themes and Issues

Year 2

Compulsory modules

Dilemmas for Governing

Exploring and Enhancing Employability

Global Political Economy

Microeconomics II

Macroeconomics II

Researching Politics and International Relations

Choose 2 optional modules from this list

  • International Labour Markets
  •  Introduction to Econometrics
  •  History of Economic Thought
  •  International Trade
  •  State and Society: Europe and the United States
  •  Nationalism and Regime Change
  •  Borders and Solidarities in World Politics
  •  Independent Study. 

Year 3 (optional placement year)

Optional modules

Optional Work Placement Year (includes a Placement Search and Preparation module in your second year)

You can spend your third year on a work placement. You will gain commercial and practical experience, and many students are offered graduate positions by their placement employer. Recently, students have enjoyed exciting and intellectually challenging positions at Microsoft, the Government Economic Service, IBM, the Office for National Statistics, JP Morgan, PayPal, Hewlett-Packard, Trip Advisor and a host of other organisations, many of which operate internationally. During your placement there is a fee which is paid to the university. It covers the cost of your placement tutor, and the support we provide whilst looking for a placement position and during your placement role. Whilst on your placement you will still be classed as a student. You will be paid a financially sustainable salary which will vary depending on your role, company and location. Learn more about how Oxford Brookes Business School supports students secure a work placement.

Year 4 (or year 3 if no placement)

Compulsory modules

Perspectives on Global Challenges (2 module credits) (Honours)

Managing Global Issues: Environment and Development (Honours)

Optional modules

Choose 5 optional modules from this list

  • Environmental Economics
  • Economic Growth
  • Behavioural Economics
  • Economics
  • Politics and International Relations dissertation (2 module credits)
  • Econometrics
  • Violence and the Politics of Peace and Identity
  • Violence, Militarism and Terrorism
  • Freedom and Justice in Contemporary Political Theory
  • Ethics, Power and World Politics
  • Independent Study
  • Placement Learning (Compulsory for Sandwich mode). 

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Download course structure chart

Learning and teaching

On this course your learning experience will be exciting and challenging. You will develop confidence and the necessary skills to take on the demands of graduate jobs in leading international organisations.

Our teaching methods include:

  • lectures
  • seminars
  • workshops
  • group projects
  • presentations
  • role plays
  • analysis of numerical data
  • discussions of topical material
  • guest speakers.

You’ll also learn through e-learning activities such as:

  • self-study quizzes
  • diagnostic assessments
  • computer-based simulations
  • online discussion groups.

We are delighted to have launched our new Bloomberg Trading Suite.

Students on our Accounting, Finance and Economics courses can gain certification and experience of trading on the financial markets by making mock transactions using real-world financial market data. Read our in-depth news story to find out more.

Bloomberg Trading Suite News Article

Assessment

Assessment methods used on this course

The majority of modules use a combination of both examinations and coursework for assessment. However some modules are assessed solely by coursework or by examination.

You will benefit from ongoing in-depth, specific feedback on your work.

Study abroad

You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Brookes. Most exchanges take place in the second year. Although we will help as much as we can with your plans, ultimately you are responsible for organising and funding this study abroad.

After you graduate

Career prospects

This degree prepares you for a career as an economist in the public, private or not-for-profit sectors and a range of professions including the diplomatic service, management, teaching, publishing, journalism, local government, law, trade unions, NGOs and international organisations.

Our Careers Centre will provide you with support to find the right job for you.

Student profiles

Our Staff

Dr Sara le Roux

Sara is the Programme Lead and senior lecturer for Economics courses at Oxford Brookes and teaches on a variety of modules. Sara received a Dean's Commendation for Academic Excellence from the University of Exeter and her areas of interest are behavioural and neuro-economics, economic impact studies and game theory.

Read more about Sara

Free language courses

Free language courses are available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.

Information from Discover Uni

Full-time study

Part-time study

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.