BA (Hons) in Diplomacy and International Relations

Why study this course?

Explore contemporary diplomacy against the changing nature of world politics in this highly innovative international diplomacy degree course. Lecturers with nationally recognised expertise guide you through issues of international terrorism, climate change and violent conflict, and introduce you to the practices of a variety of international players including Greenpeace, the United Nations, and even celebrities and private individuals.

Our politics courses are third for overall student satisfaction according to the latest National Student Survey (NSS).

Additionally, our politics courses are ranked eighth in the UK for student satisfaction in the Complete University Guide 2023.

This exciting course provides students with an excellent grounding in the development and dilemmas of diplomacy and international affairs in today’s globalising world.

This bachelor's degree is practically oriented and you’ll gain experience and develop your skills through formal opportunities to interact with serving and former diplomats and other international actors. You can also take part in simulations, roleplay exercises, and a variety of assessment tasks.

There are also excellent opportunities for you to pursue a specific interest, such as a particular region (eg the Middle East or Africa) or to study a language. Our teaching team can also support you in finding a work placement with a relevant organisation in your final year. We've helped our students secure work placements in embassies, government departments and non-governmental organisations such as Amnesty International.

Members of the course teaching team have nationally-recognised expertise in developing students’ employability, and the practical dimension of the course, along with opportunities for reflection through the various methods of assessment, will enable graduates of the programme to promote themselves effectively in the competitive job market.

This course received a 100% overall student satisfaction rate in the 2018 National Student Survey.

Modular structure

The modules listed below are for the academic year 2022/23 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.

Year 1 modules include:

• Global Politics, Economy and Society (core, 30 credits)
• Introduction to International Relations (core, 30 credits)
• Peace, Conflict and Diplomacy since 1945 (core, 30 credits)
• Politics and Government (core, 30 credits)

Year 2 modules include:

• Approaches to International Relations and Foreign Policy (core, 30 credits)
• Diplomacy Old and New (core, 30 credits)
• American Foreign Policy (option, 15 credits)
• Empowering London: Working within the Community (option, 15 credits)
• Immigrants and Nativists (option, 15 credits)
• Media and Culture (option, 15 credits)
• Peace and Conflict in Theory and Practice (option, 30 credits)
• Politics of the Middle East (option, 15 credits)
• Racism and Ethnicity (option, 30 credits)
• Shifting Global Power in the 21st Century (option, 15 credits)
• Strategy in the Contemporary World (option, 15 credits)
• The Politics of the European Union (option, 15 credits)

Year 3 modules include:

• Public Diplomacy and Global Communication (core, 30 credits)
• Placement 1 Year (alternative core, 30 credits)
• Project 1 Semester (alternative core, 15 credits)
• Project 1 Year (alternative core, 30 credits)
• African Politics (option, 15 credits)
• Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding (option, 30 credits)
• Empowering London: Working within the Community (option, 15 credits)
• Human Rights and International Conflict (option, 15 credits)
• International Security in an Era of Globalisation (option, 30 credits)
• Latin American Politics (option, 15 credits)
• Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism (option, 15 credits)
• The Politics of Modern States (option, 30 credits)

Where this course can take you

Graduates have found positions with organisations involved in international negotiation and global governance including the UK Department for International Development, the United Nations, national diplomatic services, regional organisations, aid and development agencies, international business and national diplomatic services.

The programme is also excellent preparation for further study or research. High numbers of our graduates have embarked on postgraduate courses in diplomacy, conflict resolution and peacebuilding, international relations, international human rights law, and international public policy at prestigious higher education institutions both in the UK and around the world.