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Politics and international relations is a fast-changing, broad-based discipline, allowing you to engage with the key issues of today. Our degree programme at Kent gives you a strong foundation in the subject with a specific focus on the global aspects of contemporary world politics.
Overview
The School of Politics and International Relations is an exciting place to study - you receive high-quality teaching informed by cutting-edge research on a range of political issues, such as ethno-political conflict, human rights, feminism, social theories of justice divided societies, and US and European politics.
At Kent, you are taught by people who have advised government departments or have conducted international conflict mediation exercises. They bring this experience to their teaching, giving you the opportunity to see how theoretical ideas apply in the real world.
Many of our lecturers have also won teaching awards for their innovative teaching practices.
Politics at Kent was:
- 5th in The Guardian University Guide 2017
- 6th in The Guardian University Guide 2017 and 9th in The Times Good University Guide 2017 for graduate prospects.
Our degree programme
Our Politics and International Relations BA (Hons) programme helps you to think critically about political and international events, ideas and institutions.
You study in a supportive and responsive learning environment, gaining knowledge and understanding of the theory and analysis of politics and international relations.
Our programme is flexible, which means you can tailor your own pathway according to your interests.
We offer a very wide choice of modules, reflecting the research interests of our staff, including conflict resolution, federalism, comparative politics, European integration, ethnic conflict, terrorism, the theory of international relations, political theory, and the politics of countries, such as China, Japan, Russia and the USA.
In the final year, you have the opportunity to choose the Specialist Dissertation, where you carry out research produce an academic piece of writing on a topic of your choice. The module concludes with the Student Conference, where you present your work to a panel of staff and fellow students.
If you are keen to widen your field of interest, you can also choose to study modules from another school in the second and final year of your degree.
Study resources
Facilities and resources to support the study of Politics and International Relations include:
- extensive library collection of books and journals in politics and international relations, including online resources
- access to the European Documentation Centre [CHECK]
- dedicated Student Support Officer, who advises on issues related to academic study as well as wider University life
- Study Skills Officer, who provides subject-related guidance
- the Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS), which provides information and advice on all aspects of effective learning and general study skills.
Inspiring community
As a Politics student at Kent, you join a lively and welcoming international community, bringing together a wealth of experiences and diverse perspectives.
You are encouraged to get involved in the School’s extra-curricular programme of events and activities, which focuses on bridging the gap between academic study and real-life politics.
The School’s Public Speaker Programme features prominent academics and practitioners, who are invited to speak on current issues. You can also attend the Open Forum, a weekly debating group where staff and students discuss the hot topic of the week.
As for student-run societies, you are spoilt for choice. At Kent, you can choose from:
- Current Affairs and Politics Society
- Kent European Debates Society
- Debating Society
- Kent Model United Nations Society.
Strong links
The School of Politics and International Relations has established strong links with academic institutions across Europe and beyond.
Your options
Our students have a chance to study abroad for a year between their second and final year. Previous destinations include:
- Argentina
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Canada
- China
- Colombia
- Europe
- Hong Kong
- Peru
- Uruguay
- USA.
You don’t have to make a decision before you enrol at Kent but certain conditions apply.
At Kent, you can always enhance your degree studies by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.
Independent rankings
Politics at Kent was ranked 5th in The Guardian University Guide 2017. In the National Student Survey 2016, Politics at Kent was ranked 8th for overall student satisfaction.
For graduate prospects, Politics at Kent was ranked 6th in The Guardian University Guide 2017 and 9th in The Times Good University Guide 2017. Of Politics students who graduated in 2015, 96% were in work or further study within six months (DLHE).
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Teaching and assessment
Our main teaching methods are lectures, seminars, working groups, PC laboratory sessions and individual discussions with your personal tutor or module teachers. Assessment is through continuous feedback, written examinations, assessed essays and oral presentations.
Politics Open Forum
We hold a weekly extra-curricular Open Forum organised by our School research groups, where students and staff have the opportunity to discuss and debate key issues of the day that affect higher education and politics in the world today.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- place questions of political and international order and decision-making at the centre of social-scientific analysis
- provide knowledge of political and international relations theory and analysis within a supportive learning environment
- enable students to grasp the concepts, approaches and methods of politics and international relations, and to understand their contested nature
- encourage students to think critically about political and international events, ideas and institutions
- enable students to relate the academic study of politics and international relations to questions of public concern
- provide a curriculum supported by scholarship and a research culture that promotes wide-ranging intellectual enquiry and debate
- enable students to develop cognitive and transferable skills relevant to their vocational and personal development.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- key concepts, theories and methods and how to use them to analyse political ideas, institutions, practices and issues in the global arena
- the structure, institutions and operation of different political systems
- the social, economic, historical and cultural contexts of political institutions and behaviour
- the political dynamics of interaction between people, events, ideas and institutions
- factors accounting for political change
- the contestable nature of many concepts and different approaches to the study of politics and international relations
- the normative and positive foundations of political ideas
- the nature and significance of politics as a global activity
- the origins and evolution of the international political system, including contemporary changes
- different interpretations of world political events and issues.
Intellectual skills
You gain intellectual skills in how to:
- gather, organise and deploy information from a variety of primary and secondary sources
- identify, investigate, analyse, formulate and advocate solutions to problems
- develop reasoned arguments, synthesise relevant information and exercise critical judgement
- reflect on and manage your own learning and make use of constructive feedback to enhance your own performance and personal skills.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in:
- understanding the nature and significance of politics as a human and global activity
- the application of concepts, theories and methods to the analysis of political ideas, institutions, practices and issues in the global arena
- how to evaluate different interpretations of world political events and issues
- the ability to describe, evaluate and apply different approaches to collecting, analysing and presenting political information
- the contending and comparative approaches to politics and international relations
- understanding the nature of conflict in relations between and within states.
Transferable skills
You develop transferable skills in how to:
- communicate effectively and fluently in speech and writing
- use communication and IT for the retrival and presentation of information, including statistical or numerical data
- work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time-management
- collaborate with others to achieve common goals.
Careers
To help you appeal to employers, you also learn key transferable skills that are essential for all graduates. These include the ability to:
- think critically
- communicate your ideas and opinions
- manage your time effectively
- work independently or as part of a team.
The School has also recently developed an internship module, enabling you to gain hands-on experience in the workplace in a field relevant to your studies.
Graduate destinations
Recent graduates have gone on to develop careers in areas including:
- teaching
- publishing
- practical politics
- local and central government
- the diplomatic service
- EU administration
- financial services
- non-governmental organisations
- journalism
- international business.
Help looking for a job
The School runs an Employability Programme, focused on providing you with the skills you need when it comes to looking for a job. This includes workshops on summer internships and networking, to careers in diplomacy and the civil service.
Students also have access to a weekly Employability Newsletter, of jobs for graduates, as well as internship and volunteering opportunities.
The University also has a friendly Careers and Employability Service, which can give you advice on how to:
- apply for jobs
- write a good CV
- perform well in interviews.
Independent rankings
Politics at Kent was ranked 6th in the UK for graduate prospects in The Guardian University Guide 2017.
Of Politics students who graduated in 2015, 96% were in work or further study within six months (DLHE).
The average starting salary for graduates of this degree is £20,000, according to Which? University.
What our graduates say
“I was heavily involved with the students’ union at Kent, which really steered my career path towards human rights activism.”
Jonathan Cornejo
Politics and International Relations graduate, now working for Amnesty International
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | BBB |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 15 points at HL |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | ||
| Part-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.