In year 1, you will take three introductory modules, Introduction to International Relations I: Perspectives, and Introduction to International Relations II: Themes and Issues, and Academic Literacy in Politics and International Relations.
In years 2 and 3, you can choose from a range of advanced modules that focus on different aspects of international relations.
In year 3, you are expected to choose six honours-level modules from a range reflecting the research expertise of staff. 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. You can also study the following combinations as single honours courses:
Study modules
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.
Year 1 and 2
Year 1
Compulsory:
- Introduction to International Relations I: Perspectives
- Introduction to International Relations II: Themes and Issues
- Academic Literacy in Politics and International Relations
Elective:
- Introduction to Politics
- Politics in Comparative Perspective
Compulsory:
- Researching Politics and International Relations I: Analytical Modes
Elective:
- Researching Politics and International Relations II: Methods
- Understanding Europe: History, Culture and Political Economy
- Current issues in Politics and International Relations
- Global Governance and Civil Society
- Contemporary Security Studies
- Nationalism, Identity and Ethnicity
- Development and Social Change in Latin America
- Russia and East Europe After Lenin
- International Trade and Migration
- Work-Based Learning
Years 3
Honours modules:
- Global Environmental Politics
- Conflict and Peacebuilding
- International Human Rights Law
- International Law and Institutions
- Theory and Practice of Human Rights
- Violence, Resistance and Identity Politics
- International Development
- Counter Terrorism in Comparative Perspective
- Central Asia in Global Politics: Beyond Oil and Islam
- Postcolonial Perspectives on Western Culture and Politics
- Independent Study
- Dissertation in International Relations
- Militarism and Society
- Law, Empires and Revolution
- The Ethics of Migration
Modules in detail » Module diagrams »
Work placements
Our work placement module offers students the opportunity to build on the skills and knowledge gained in the level 4 modules by undertaking a placement with organisations that are engaged in areas relevant to the study of International Relations. You will be able to evaluate and reflect critically upon this experience in a module that links theory and practice of International Relations in a professional context.
Students organise placements themselves, and are responsible for their own travel and associated costs - it is advised that they organise placements bearing this in mind. Oxfordshire based placements are accessible via public transport - often via the University’s subsidised BROOKESbus service, which is free to bus pass holders. Placements in London will incur higher travel costs; for example, a day return ticket on the Oxford Tube costs £14 (subject to change, for the latest fares see the Oxford Tube website). It is encouraged that students explore opportunities for their placement provider to cover travel costs if they opt for a placement which is not local.
Study abroad
International Relations students are actively encouraged to study for part of their degree at other universities. With over 100 partner institutions across the world, Oxford Brookes can offer a great overseas study experience. Within Europe the Erasmus programme includes opportunities at Free University Amsterdam and The University of Tampere, Finland. In the past, students have also taken advantage of opportunities to study in the USA, Kazakhstan and Australia.
Studying abroad provides an amazing opportunity to add value to your studies by:
- increasing your employability within an international market
- boosting your language skills
- building your confidence in adapting to new situations
- improving your knowledge of different cultures.
While on exchange you will gain credits which count towards your degree.
Tuition fees are paid as they would be if you remained in the UK, either to Oxford Brookes via your Student Loan or directly to Oxford Brookes according to your preference.
You will be responsible for all other costs such as accommodation, purchasing your airfares, travel and health insurance and visas. Funding is available through the Erasmus scheme, and also via some international programmes such as the Santander Student Awards.
There is also a European work placement programme which gives you the chance to work abroad as part of your studies.
For more information, visit our pages on studying abroad and exchanges.
Free language courses for students - the Open Module
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.
Please note that the free language courses are not available if you are:
- studying at a Brookes partner college
- studying on any of our teacher education courses or postgraduate education courses.
Additional costs
We do not expect students to purchase any compulsory course books, as they are all available in the library. If students wish to purchase additional books to supplement their reading, this is at their own discretion.
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.