Politics and International Relations

UCAS code: L200

Here's what De Montfort University says about its Politics and International Relations course.

This course uses a range of innovative strategies to immerse you in the most pressing contemporary issues in politics and international relations. You'll engage in interactive sessions and complete a range of assignments aimed at boosting your employability, ensuring you graduate with the confidence and capabilities needed to succeed in diverse career paths.

You'll join a diverse community of students, from both traditional and non-traditional backgrounds, across the East Midlands and beyond. You'll benefit from guest lectures and events, including the highly anticipated Congress to Campus event, offering direct insights from leading experts in the field. Our staff are committed to delivering cutting-edge, research-led teaching, with exciting modules on international politics and the critically relevant topic of decolonising politics.

Key features

• Collaborate with the DMU UN Hub and engage with global initiatives through participation in COP summits and other high-profile international activities, offering real-world experience on critical global issues.

• Specialise in either Politics or International Relations during your second year, leading to an extended research project in your final year that challenges your skills in research, critical thinking, and communication.

• Learn from faculty experts and study cutting-edge topics such as decolonising politics, American politics, and security studies, guided by faculty members who are leading researchers in these areas.

• Develop invaluable skills for your future career through every module, with opportunities for personal growth and practical experience integrated throughout the program.

• Gain a wide range of critical analysis, communication, and presentation skills through course and assessment design focused on real-world applications, preparing you for success after graduation.

• Benefit from faculty who are not only experts in their fields but actively engaged in producing groundbreaking research, ensuring that you learn the latest developments in Politics and International Relations.

• Learn from academics who frequently contribute to local, national, and international news outlets, such as BBC Radio, giving you insights from those shaping public discourse.

• Benefit from block teaching, where most students study one subject at a time. A simple timetable will allow you to really engage with your learning, receive regular feedback and assessments, get to know your course mates and enjoy a better study-life balance.

Year 1 Block 1: Ideas and Change in Politics and International Relations Block 2: Journeys and Places Block 3: Global Challenges: Politics and Policy Block 4: Comparative Politics and Democracy

Year 2 Block 1: Political Theory

• Politics pathway: Political Theory – Why Big Ideas Matter
• International Relations pathway: Contemporary International Relations Theory Block 2: Exploring Work and Society Block 3:
• Politics pathway: Global Political Economy: Gender, Race, Class
• International Relations pathway: Not Westminster Block 4: Political Research in Action

Year 3 Politics pathway Block 1: Politics of the Americas Block 2: Decolonising Politics Block 3: Sustainable Futures Block 4: Politics and IR Project (year-long) International Relations pathway Block 1: Global Inequalities Block 2: Security, Peace and Conflict Block 3: Tackling Global Crises Block 4: Politics and IR Project (year-long)

Once you have selected a specialism pathway, you cannot switch to an alternative pathway for the remainder of the course.

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments - rather than lots of exams at the end of the year - and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging.

Overview In first year, the students will take a college-wide interdisciplinary module, the first iteration of which is called Journeys and Places.

In year two students will move into their chosen pathway: politics or international relations. There, experts in the disciplines will teach them more advanced theoretical perspectives.

Students will conclude year 2 by merging back into a large group to study research methods, where they will learn about and develop new skills.

Year three concludes with the submission of the long project or dissertation.

Contact hours You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, studios, group work and self-directed study. You will normally attend around 14 hours of timetabled taught sessions (lectures and tutorials) each week, and we expect you to undertake at least 25 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research.