Politics and International Relations BA (Hons)

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Key information

Duration:
3 years full time
Typical A-level offer:
AAB
View full entry requirements
UCAS code:
L290
Start date:
September 2025

Much is at stake in global politics today. War has returned to Europe. Climate change calls for urgent action, but nothing seems to happen. Inequality divides societies and the international sphere. Studying politics and international relations at Sussex allows you to consider these pressing questions as well as gaining real-world experience.

You'll learn new and critical ideas used to understand international issues, how governments make decisions and how we can hold those in power accountable. You'll gain the knowledge and practical skills to help address the challenges the world is facing. Your tutors aren’t just experts in their fields, they’re shaping public policy and influencing NGOs and governments.

You can build practical experience through:

  • integrated internship options with one of our partners in Westminster, political consultancies or the private sector
  • work-shadow political experts such as our Political Writer-in-Residence, the Times’ Chief Political Correspondent Aubrey Allegretti
  • masterclasses where successful professionals like Teresa Albano (Ex-United Nations) will tell how to build your successful international career.

Outside the classroom, there are even more ways to get involved. The student-run Politics and Debating Society will give you the chance to question leading politicians like Green Party MP Siân Berry. And at the IR Society you could hear what it is like to be a student intern with Ukraine’s foreign ministry during the war. Other opportunities include visiting Berlin where you can meet politicians in the German Bundestag and see politics in action..

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

I loved my Sussex experience. It encouraged the kind of analytical thinking that is invaluable in my work.”Fiona Woods
Politics and International Relations BA
How to apply

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Entry requirements

A-level

Typical offer

AAB

Contextual offerView contextual offer

Not everyone has the same support to get to higher education – we help you reach your potential. When we receive applications through UCAS, we consider all factors and will sometimes make contextual offers as part of our Access and Participation Plan

GCSEs

You should have a broad range of GCSEs 9-4 (A*-C), including good grades in relevant subjects.

Extended Project Qualification

We take the EPQ into account when considering your application and it can be useful in the summer when your results are released if you have narrowly missed the conditions of your offer.  We do not routinely include the EPQ in the conditions of your offer but we sometimes offer alternative conditions that include the EPQ. If you wish to discuss this further please contact us

Other UK qualifications

International Baccalaureate

Typical offer

34 points overall from the full IB Diploma.

European Baccalaureate

Typical offer

Overall result of at least 80%.

Other international qualifications

English language requirements

IELTS (Academic)

6.0 overall, including at least 5.5 in each component

Check your IELTS qualification meets all of our language requirements

Find out more about IELTS

IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course.

We accept IELTS One Skills Retake.

 

Other English language requirements

Proficiency tests

English language qualifications

Country exceptions

Admissions information for applicants

Transfers into Year 2

Yes. Find out more about transferring into Year 2 of this course. We don’t accept transfers into the third or final year.

If your qualifications aren’t listed or you have a question about entry requirements, contact us

For details on any additional costs, check out the Fees and scholarships section.

Don’t meet our entry requirements?

If you don't meet our entry requirements, we recommend our in-house Foundation Year course to prepare you for Year 1 of your chosen degree:

If you don't have the required language skills for this course you could consider the International Study Centre. The ISC offers a range of foundation courses in combination with English language teaching.

How to apply
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Modules

This is a joint-honours course, offering you a combinations of subjects, each taking up 50% of your time.

Find out about our types of undergraduate degrees, their structure, modules and credits

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2025/26. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Options

Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

Trips abroad

We organise trips to Germany and France so you can learn more about the current political scene and meet with politicians and academics there.

If you study German politics, you can go on a trip to Berlin to visit the German parliament for discussions with politicians from all major parties.

You also visit other prominent historical landmarks such as the Holocaust Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2025/26. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

Study abroad (optional)

Apply to study abroad – you’ll develop an international perspective and gain an edge when it comes to your career. Find out where your course could take you

If your application to study abroad is successful, you’ll have to meet the academic requirements at Sussex and also at the partner university. Find out more about studying abroad as a Sussex student

I have come away more knowledgeable, more confident and with some excellent memories.”Michael Gray
Politics and International Relations BA
Studied abroad in South Korea

Placement (optional)

To help you gain experience and increase your employability, you can apply for an optional placement as part of your course. You’ll be responsible for applying for and securing your placement. Our dedicated careers team can provide you with information and advice. If you’re successful in obtaining a placement, this will form part of your course.

Find out more about placements and internships

Please note that if you’re receiving – or applying for – USA federal Direct Loan funds, you can’t transfer to the version of your course with an optional study abroad period in any country or optional placement in the USA if the number of credits for the placement/internship exceeds 25% of the total credits for your course. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid

Options

You choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2025/26. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

Writer-in-Residence Scheme

Aubrey Allegretti, experienced political journalist and current Chief Political Correspondent at The Times, is our Political Writer in Residence.  

In this role, Sussex alumni Aubrey will deliver a number of writing workshops as well as a guest lecture for Politics students. He will also judge a political blog writing competition, contribute to our student-run Sussex Politics blog, and organise work shadowing days in London. This experience will give you the opportunity to develop your skills as a political writer and to become an outstanding political communicator. 

Sussex gave me more opportunities than I could have hoped for, and I’m delighted to be returning to help pass on knowledge and skills to today’s students.”Aubrey Allegretti
Chief Political Correspondent, The Times
How to apply
TEF 2023 silver

Silver

The student experience and student outcomes are typically very high quality.
This rating was awarded in 2023, for four years.
(Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)

Find out more about our approach to teaching and supporting you to thrive

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Our staff

International Relations

Politics

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Fees

Home students:
£9,535 per year
Channel Islands and Isle of Man students:
£9,535 per year
International students:
£22,575 per year
Study abroad:
Find out about grants and funding, tuition fees and insurance costs for studying abroad
Placement:
Find out about tuition fees for placements

Note that your fees, once they’re set, may be subject to an increase on an annual basis. Find details on our Tuition fees page.

Additional costs

Note about additional costs

Please note that all costs are best estimates based on current market values. Activities may be subject to unavoidable change in response to Government advice. We’ll let you know at the earliest opportunity. We review estimates every year and they may vary with inflation. Find out how to budget for student life.

Field trip (if module is chosen)

This course has an optional trip to Berlin in the spring term, costing between £150 and £200.

Westminster internship travel costs

This course has an optional internship in Westminster in the spring term of the final year. Travel costs are around £600, or lower if based in the constituency. Spaces for the internship are limited.

Find out about typical living costs for studying at Sussex

Find out about our terms and conditions

Scholarships

Our goal is to ensure that every student who wants to study with us is able to regardless of financial barriers, so that we continue to attract talented and unique people.

How to apply
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Careers

Bespoke support is built into our Politics and Philosophy degree. Career specialists will help you maximise your potential every step of the way. Working with partners and alumni, we run training sessions on the skills that impress employers, from effective presentation to learning from feedback.

Equipped with a powerful combination of specialist knowledge and skills in research, analysis and communication, our graduates stand out in the job market. The degree opens doors to a wide range of exciting and impactful careers in government, policy research, education, journalism, media and business, in the UK and internationally.

Graduate destinations

Recent politics and international relations graduates have gone on to jobs such as:

  • UK anti-corruption policy team lead, Home Office
  • campaign management, The Diana Award
  • journalists, BBC and Sky News.

(Department of Politics careers database)

Working while you study

Our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can help you find part-time work while you study. Find out more about career development and part-time work

I applied for a place on the BBC’s Journalism Trainee Scheme and having a good politics degree from a well-respected university helped secure my interview.”Fiona Woods
Broadcast Journalist/Producer, BBC

Design your future at Sussex

Taking the next step in your career can feel daunting, but we’ll help you to explore, connect and flourish throughout your studies and beyond.

As a Sussex student, you’ll learn how to tackle real-world challenges and have access to tailored programmes of careers support:

  • our Career Lab helps you to explore your options, build key skills and connect with employers. Take part in internships, community consultancy projects and insight visits, where you can learn about life at organisations including Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, Gatwick Airport and the Knepp Rewilding Project
  • one-to-one coaching with your Faculty Careers Consultant can enable you to identify your career goals, write an effective CV and prepare for future interviews
  • entrepreneurship initiatives like StartUp Sussex and Ideas Lab can empower you to turn your concepts into reality.

Explore how our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can support you

National Enterprise Educator Awards logo

Winner
Entrepreneurship Catalyst Award
National Enterprise Educator Awards 2024

The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services logo

Winner
Supporting Student and Graduate Employability Award
AGCAS Awards for Excellence 2024

Rate My Placement Awards - Celebrating the Best Student Employers and Universities for Work Experience

Top 50
Best Universities for Work Experience in the UK
2025 RateMyPlacement Awards

How to apply
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