International Relations BSc (Hons) - 2026/7
Awarding body
University of Surrey
Teaching institute
University of Surrey
Framework
FHEQ Level 6
Final award and programme/pathway title
BSc (Hons) International Relations
Subsidiary award(s)
| Award | Title |
|---|---|
| DipHE | International Relations |
| CertHE | International Relations |
| Ord | International Relations |
Modes of study
| Route code | Credits and ECTS Credits | |
| Full-time | ULB10016 | 360 credits and 180 ECTS credits |
| Full-time with PTY | ULB10024 | 480 credits and 240 ECTS credits |
QAA Subject benchmark statement (if applicable)
Politics and International Relations
Other internal and / or external reference points
N/A
Faculty and Department / School
Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences - Politics & International Relations
Programme Leader
KITCHEN Nicholas (Politics IR)
Date of production/revision of spec
29/05/2026
Educational aims of the programme
Programme learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | Awards | Ref. |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Programme structure
Full-time
This Bachelor's Degree (Honours) programme is studied full-time over three academic years, consisting of 360 credits (120 credits at FHEQ levels 4, 5 and 6). All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Bachelor's Degree (Ordinary) (300 credits)
- Diploma of Higher Education (240 credits)
- Certificate of Higher Education (120 credits)
Full-time with PTY
This Bachelor's Degree (Honours) programme is studied full-time over four academic years, consisting of 480 credits (120 credits at FHEQ levels 4, 5, 6 and the optional professional training year). All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Bachelor's Degree (Ordinary) (300 credits)
- Diploma of Higher Education (240 credits)
- Certificate of Higher Education (120 credits)
Programme Adjustments (if applicable)
N/A
Modules
Year 1 - FHEQ Level 4
| Module code | Module title | Status | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POL1017 | DEBATES IN BRITISH POLITICS | Compulsory | 15 | 1 |
| POL1027 | POLITICS OF CRISIS | Compulsory | 15 | 2 |
| POL1028 | INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS | Compulsory | 30 | Year-long |
| POL1029 | INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | Compulsory | 30 | Year-long |
| POL1030 | INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THEORY AND IDEOLOGY | Compulsory | 30 | Year-long |
Module Selection for Year 1 - FHEQ Level 4
All modules in Year 1 are compulsory.
Year 2 - FHEQ Level 5
Module Selection for Year 2 - FHEQ Level 5
Semester 1 you will study two compulsory modules (15 credits):
POL2027 APPROACHES TO RESEARCH
POL2034 INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
Semester 2 you will study this compulsory module (15 credits each):
POL2028 RESEARCH METHODS
POL2036 International Security: The Return of the Great Power Politics
In addition, you must select four 15 credit optional modules to make up a total of 60 credits in each semester.
POL2027 APPROACHES TO RESEARCH requires students to have obtained 55% or above in their final mark to select POL3061 DISSERTATION in the final year
As part of your optional module selection, you are able to choose up to 15 credits from our range of interdisciplinary modules (subject to availability). For more information please refer to the website (https://www.surrey.ac.uk/personalising-your-degree-university-surrey)
Year 3 - FHEQ Level 6
Module Selection for Year 3 - FHEQ Level 6
Students must complete a total of 120 credits. All modules are optional.
Students can select only one of:
POL3082 POLITICAL COMMUNICATION
POL3088 POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
Students taking the dissertation module should select no more than 3 additional modules in either Semester 1 or Semester 2.
POL2027 - APPROACHES TO RESEARCH requires students to have obtained 55% or above in their final mark to select POL3061 DISSERTATION in the final year
Year 1 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 4
| Module code | Module title | Status | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POL1017 | DEBATES IN BRITISH POLITICS | Compulsory | 15 | 1 |
| POL1027 | POLITICS OF CRISIS | Compulsory | 15 | 2 |
| POL1028 | INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS | Compulsory | 30 | Year-long |
| POL1029 | INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | Compulsory | 30 | Year-long |
| POL1030 | INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THEORY AND IDEOLOGY | Compulsory | 30 | Year-long |
Module Selection for Year 1 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 4
All modules in Year 1 are compulsory.
Year 2 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 5
Module Selection for Year 2 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 5
Semester 1 you will study two compulsory modules (15 credits):
POL2027 APPROACHES TO RESEARCH
POL2034 INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
Semester 2 you will study this compulsory module (15 credits each):
POL2028 RESEARCH METHODS
POL2036 International Security: The Return of the Great Power Politics
In addition, you must select four 15 credit optional modules to make up a total of 60 credits in each semester.
POL2027 APPROACHES TO RESEARCH requires students to have obtained 55% or above in their final mark to select POL3061 DISSERTATION in the final year
As part of your optional module selection, you are able to choose up to 15 credits from our range of interdisciplinary modules (subject to availability). For more information please refer to the website (https://www.surrey.ac.uk/personalising-your-degree-university-surrey)
Year 3 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 6
Module Selection for Year 3 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 6
Students must complete a total of 120 credits. All modules are optional.
Students can select only one of:
POL3082 POLITICAL COMMUNICATION
POL3088 POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
Students taking the dissertation module should select no more than 3 additional modules in either Semester 1 or Semester 2.
POL2027 - APPROACHES TO RESEARCH requires students to have obtained 55% or above in their final mark to select POL3061 DISSERTATION in the final year
Professional Training Year (PTY) -
| Module code | Module title | Status | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POLP025 | PROFESSIONAL TRAINING YEAR MODULE (FULL-YEAR WORK) | Core | 120 | Year-long |
| POLP026 | PROFESSIONAL TRAINING YEAR MODULE (WORK-STUDY 50/50) | Core | 120 | Year-long |
| POLP027 | PROFESSIONAL TRAINING YEAR MODULE (FULL-YEAR STUDY) | Core | 120 | Year-long |
Module Selection for Professional Training Year (PTY) -
N/A
Opportunities for placements / work related learning / collaborative activity
| Associate Tutor(s) / Guest Speakers / Visiting Academics | N | |
| Professional Training Year (PTY) | N | |
| Placement(s) (study or work that are not part of PTY) | N | |
| Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme) | N | |
| Study exchange (Level 5) | N | |
| Dual degree | N |
Quality assurance
The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2026/7 academic year.