Politics and International Relations

Politics and international relations together offer one of the most relevant frameworks for understanding the world we live in. Politics examines how power is organised within states, how institutions shape collective decisions, and how citizens, movements, and governments interact. International relations extends that lens to the space between states, asking how countries cooperate and compete, what drives foreign policy, how security is maintained or undermined, and how global forces from climate change to the rise of new powers reshape the order that emerged after the twentieth century's conflicts.

At Keele, this three-year full-time BA brings together the study of domestic and international politics, giving you a grounding in both political theory and the applied study of contemporary issues. You will engage with questions of democracy and its vulnerabilities, environmental politics, geopolitical transformation, and the complex calculations that drive foreign policy. The programme has a strong commitment to developing practical skills alongside academic ones, including analytical thinking, problem-solving, and social research methods.

A distinctive feature of this course is its connection to real-world actors: you will have opportunities to work with community groups, activists, and professionals in the public and private sectors, building experience that complements your academic study. The course includes a sandwich year, giving you the option of a full year's professional placement, as well as a year abroad and access to work placements, making it one of the more richly structured undergraduate degrees in its field. The typical entry tariff is 104 UCAS points.

Graduates move into careers in public affairs, journalism, the civil service, NGOs, international organisations, law, policy analysis, and political consultancy. The combination of theoretical depth and practical engagement that Keele's programme offers is valued by employers who want graduates who can think clearly and act effectively. Postgraduate study in politics, international relations, law, or public policy is also a well-trodden path for those who want to develop specialist expertise.