Economics, Politics and International Relations
BA (Hons)
Key facts
UCAS code
LL21
Start dates
January 2024 / September 2024 / January 2025 / September 2025
Location
Course length
Full time: 3 years, or 4 if a work placement is chosen
Part time: up to 8 years
Department
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.

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 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 UCASPart time Home (UK) applicants
Apply direct to the UniversityInternational applicants
Apply direct to the UniversityFull time international applicants can also apply through UCAS
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
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. Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.
Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page
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.
Optional costs
Additional costs | Amount (£) |
---|---|
It’s your responsibility to cover print / binding costs where coursework submission is required. Please note that a lot of the coursework is now submitted online. |
From £30 |
You may choose to purchase books to support your studies. Many books on our reading lists are available via the Library, or can be purchased secondhand. | £20-60 per book |
Accommodation fees in Brookes Letting (most do not include bills) |
£94-265 per week |
Accommodation fees in university halls (bills included, excluding laundry costs) |
£122-180 per week |
Graduation costs include tickets, gowning and photography. Gowns are not compulsory but typically students do hire robes, starting at £41. |
Typically £0-200 |
Students are responsible for their own travel to and from university for classes. BrookesBus travel is subsidised for full-time undergraduate students that are on a course with a fee of £9,250 or more, or living in an Oxford Brookes hall of residence. There is an administration fee for the production of a BrookesKey. |
From £10 |
Funding your studies
Financial support and scholarships
Featured funding opportunities available for this course.
All financial support and scholarships
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.

Study modules
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.
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.
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
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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.