BA Philosophy and International Relations

Combine the study of philosophy with international relations, and develop a deeper understanding of the world we live in with our BA Philosophy and International Relations.

Studying philosophy at the 澳门六合彩开奖记录 will equip you with the ability to think logically, to evaluate arguments critically, and to challenge your own ideas and those of other people. We will give you an understanding of the central principles, concepts, problems, texts and figures of philosophy. You will be taught by leading experts whose research strengths lie especially in moral philosophy and the philosophy of the mind and language. You will also have the chance to study non-Western philosophies, especially Indian philosophy.

Your first year will introduce you to the general skills required for all philosophy. In your second and third years, you'll have the opportunity to explore your interests in more depth, with modules such as Ethical Argument, Global Philosophies and Oppression, Inequality, and the Enemies of Democracy.

Studying international relations will give you a strong grounding in fundamental elements of the subject, such as political ideas and international relations theory. You will have the opportunity to learn about international relations both in breadth and in depth, through a range of specialist core and optional modules, which cover topical issues such as European political integration, international terrorism, and politics in the Middle East.

You will be taught in small interactive seminar groups, in which discussion and debate with teaching staff and fellow students is encouraged. Our small class sizes ensure that you will receive dedicated, individual attention.

You will also have the opportunity to undertake work placements and study abroad in your second or final year.

We are ranked in the top 125 universities in the world for Arts and Humanities and those offering History, Philosophy and Theology’. (Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024.)

Placement

We encourage you to take placements as they provide you with a chance to put your newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice, as well as allowing you to gain valuable real-world experience.

You can undertake a placement at any point in your degree and work in a company or charity relevant to your studies. For example, a previous student worked at a zoo to learn more about the ethical treatment of animals.

You can also choose our four-year BA Philosophy and International Relations with Placement Experience course, which includes an integrated professional placement between your second and third year of study.

Other students have chosen to study abroad for one semester in their second or final year. Partner institutions include universities in Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan or Australia.

Overview

Combine the study of philosophy with international relations, and develop a deeper understanding of the world we live in with our BA Philosophy and International Relations.

You will also have the opportunity to undertake work placements and study abroad in your second or final year.

Placement

We encourage you to take placements as they provide you with a chance to put your newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice, as well as allowing you to gain valuable real-world experience.

Other students have chosen to study abroad for one semester in their second or final year. Partner institutions include universities in Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan or Australia.

Entry requirements A Level BBB

Select Reading as your firm choice on UCAS and we'll guarantee you a place even if you don't quite meet your offer. For details, see our firm choice scheme.

Our typical offers are expressed in terms of A level, BTEC and International Baccalaureate requirements. However, we also accept many other qualifications.

Typical offer

BBB

International Baccalaureate

30 points overall

Extended Project Qualification

In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) provides to students for University study, we can now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDM

English language requirements

IELTS 7.0, with no component below 6.0

For information on other English language qualifications, please visit our international student pages.

Alternative entry requirements for International and EU students

For country specific entry requirements look at entry requirements by country.

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international or EU student and do not meet the requirements for direct entry to your chosen degree you can join the 澳门六合彩开奖记录’s International Foundation Programme. Successful completion of this 1 year programme guarantees you a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. English language requirements start as low as IELTS 4.5 depending on progression degree and start date.

Learn more about our International Foundation programme

Pre-sessional English language programme

If you need to improve your English language score you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.

Find out the English language requirements for our courses and our pre-sessional English programme

Compulsory modules

Reason and Argument

Explore arguments in different contexts such as newspaper opinions, social media spats and philosophical treaties. You’ll develop critical thinking and logic to evaluate claims and arguments.

Great Works in Philosophy

You’ll delve into the most important philosophical works, considering the significance of each text and analysing the arguments within them to sharpen your critical skills.

International Relations

Investigate the main theories of international relations and discover how to critically examine and evaluate competing theoretical arguments. You’ll master the ability to reach and defend clear conclusions about such arguments and explore the contemporary international order through a theoretical lens.

Politics of Climate Change

Explore the political challenges and debates on climate change, analysing how and why decisions are made, their consequences, and underlying ethical issues. Through analysing climate change across various interconnected settings, you’ll reflect on the relevance of climate change across the wider discipline of political science.

War and Warfare

Acquire a grounding knowledge of the role of war in international relations. You’ll focus on concepts and types of war, their causes, and how they relate to real-world issues in international relations and international security.

Optional modules

Radical Philosophy

Question your assumptions and beliefs by exploring radical philosophical claims. You’ll compare and contrast different ways of doing philosophy, such as phenomenology and deconstruction.

Global Justice

Discover global perspectives on justice and freedom, from the Buddha to Christian female mystics, to acquire new insights and question your own beliefs and ideas.

Philosophical Skills for Life

Develop the skills needed to produce persuasive and nuanced academic arguments, research, and referencing. You’ll learn how to identify limitations and advantages of philosophical writing.

These are the modules we currently offer for 2024/25 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they're informed by the latest teaching and research methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the 澳门六合彩开奖记录.

Compulsory modules

The Study of Politics

Learn how to identify different methods and approaches to the study of politics and international relations. You’ll study qualitative and quantitative methods of research, as well as methods of political theory, to prepare you for more advanced study in the subject.

Global Order

Discover what international order is, how orders function, and the variety of different ways that relations among political communities can be, and have been, organised. You’ll explore key dilemmas and trade-offs that characterise international relations and how contemporary problems are best addressed.

Optional modules

Ethical Argument

Develop your knowledge and skills by considering arguments in moral philosophy and contribute to debate by learning how to argue in a charitable but critical way.

Oppression, Inequality, and the Enemies of Democracy

Explore the concerns of society by asking questions within contemporary political philosophy. You’ll enhance your ability to think reflectively and critically about the role of fairness in society.

Meaning and the Mind

Consider questions such as How can there be minds in a physical world? How does a mental state (like a memory or a perceptual experience) come to represent the world? What role does consciousness play in the mind? Discuss and analyse some of the core arguments in philosophy of mind, including with historical reference to the figures who originally formulated those arguments.

Global Philosophies

Participate in cross-cultural conversations about global issues such as gender, race, social identities, and death. You will be introduced to and taught how to analyse a range of concepts, including Buddhist, Jain, and African American critical theories, performative theories, and phenomenological theories.

Aesthetics

Explore topics that are central to philosophical aesthetics including beauty, definitions of art and truth in literature. This will enable you to develop critical understanding of philosophical problems raised by art and aesthetic experience.

Philosophy through the Ages: The Minds that Shaped our World

You’ll engage with a range of ideas and theories from classic texts that mark some of the most important and influential ideas in philosophy, from Socrates to the present day.

Ignorance, Doubt, and Relativism

Investigate the concept of knowledge and analyse and evaluate some of the core arguments in contemporary epistemology. You will learn about the different theories of knowledge and explore famous works from Ernest Sosa, Alvin Goldman, David Lewis, Edward Craig, and Miranda Fricker.

Political Classics

Discover thinkers, ideas and traditions that have always played a central role in the study of politics. Through the writings of a selection of classic thinkers, you’ll explore difficult debates around private property, democracy, individual autonomy, and other topics that have never been resolved.

Contemporary Strategy

Explore a series of contemporary problems and how they stand in the field of modern strategy. Through examples and practical simulations, you’ll gain an understanding of strategic problems and their relevance in the contemporary world.

Global Politics and History

Learn how the study of history and the analysis of past events influence the study, contemporary debates, and practice of world politics.

The Media and Politics

Develop your understanding of the role and influence of media in contemporary politics and society through a combination of lectures and media. You’ll refine your ability to engage broad audiences in political debate by producing a pre-recorded documentary that you’ll present as part of a radio broadcast.

British Government and Politics

Discover the workings of British government and parliament and explore a range of related topics, such as elections, political parties, and the relationship between government and the judiciary. You’ll discuss current events and put your knowledge into practice through a micro-placement.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the 澳门六合彩开奖记录.

Compulsory modules

Dissertation in Philosophy

Engage in original and independent research to produce an extended essay that focuses on a philosophical topic of your choice. You’ll also submit an assessed research proposal and give a presentation.

Dissertation in International Relations

Produce your own piece of work in consultation with an expert supervisor. You’ll plan and execute a project of your own devising, making use of ideas, materials and methods introduced in the first half of the year.

Independent Learning Module

Choose a philosophical topic that fascinates you to form the basis of an extended essay. This will enhance your independent learning skills, self-awareness and ability to reflect on your progress and strengths.

Optional modules

Free Will and Responsibility

Investigate the concepts of freedom and responsibility using philosophical thinking and by applying approaches from different cultures.

Philosophy of Language: Animals, Babies, Colours, and Language Death

Engage with questions concerning meaning, language and communication. To address these, you'll engage with foundational texts in linguistics, psychology and anthropology and research informed by developments in the cognitive sciences.

Early Chinese Philosophy

Deepen your understanding of the history of philosophy. You’ll focus on early Chinese philosophy to include the Confucian and daoist traditions, as well as moral, social, and political philosophy.

Current Moral Philosophy

Explore current debates in ethics, roughly focusing on material published in the last 20 years. These debates could be totally new, or they could be current takes and debates about much older issues (such as Aristotle's ethics).

Fairness

Learn about leading contemporary theories of fairness, including the relation of fairness to impartiality, equality, proportionality, need, desert, and free-riding. You'll address conflicts between fairness and other values, while developing your skills in dealing with abstract moral concepts and normative arguments.

Business Ethics and Social Responsibility

Explore and debate critical issues in business ethics from a moral, practical and, sometimes, political perspective. You will learn about topics such as the morality of sweatshop labour, the ethics behind advertising, and the corporate obligation to do what is right.

Society and State in Ancient Greece

Study the classic works in Ancient Greek political philosophy, including some or all of Aristotle's Politics and Rhetoric and Plato's Republic and Gorgias. You'll look at the philosophers' conceptions of politics, society, and government, and examine their relevance to modern concerns and issues.

The Scandal of Film

Study the role films play in our cultural lives. Explore film in relation to reality, the human condition, philosophy and art.

Hume and Wittgenstein

Speech Attacks: Bullshit, Lies, Propaganda

Discuss the foundations of speech act theory and examine ways that it has been applied to philosophical problems in feminist theory and political and social theory. Explore lies and bullshit, and what (if anything) is wrong with these uses of language. And we will discuss the nature of propaganda and 'fake news' and how to resist its effects.

Paradoxes

Explore some of the great contemporary and historical paradoxes in philosophy, and their proposed solutions. Philosophy is full of paradoxes – logical, semantic, metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, and others, which shed light on big philosophical issues.

Metaphysics

Discover metaphysics, one of the foundation stones of philosophy, and how the way we deal with metaphysical problems affects our approach to problems in many other areas of philosophy, such as philosophy of mind and epistemology.

Philosophy of Religion

Explore the central topics within analytic philosophy of religion, examining both contemporary ideas and their historical origins. Through lectures and seminars, you will evaluate these concepts and consider their significance and validity.

Dynamics of Civil Wars

Explore the dynamics of political violence in civil wars through theoretical and empirical analysis of key problems, such as participation, recruitment, organisation, external support, rebel diplomacy, and rebel governance.

International Terrorism

Learn what terrorism is and what distinguishes it from other forms of conflict and warfare in the international system. You’ll discover the causes and consequences of terrorism throughout history, which factors influence terrorist target selection and modus operandi, and the options available to counterterrorism.

British Foreign and Defence Policy since 1945

Learn the theory and practice of how foreign and defence policy is made and explore real-life examples of these policies, from the end of the British Empire to Brexit. You’ll also examine a series of post-war challenges, from the Suez crisis to the conflict in Ukraine, and UK’s role in the world today.

War, Peace and International Ethics

Examine the ethical questions involved in war through real-world case studies and philosophical thought-experiments. You’ll discuss different moral issues, such as humanitarian intervention, the role of individual and collective self-defence, civilian immunity, terrorism, torture, and the punishment of war crimes.

Critical Security Studies

Explore the processes through which particular actors or practices are constructed as security issues and subjected to exceptional strategies. You’ll be introduced to the study of politics of identity, focusing on the relational construction of identities within popular media such as films.

US Foreign Policy

Analyse how American foreign policy decisions are made, who influences them, and how they have evolved over time. You’ll gain an understanding of crucial events such as the Vietnam War or the response to 9/11, while also exploring salient challenges faced by US foreign policymakers today.

Politics and International Relations of the Middle East

Gain a nuanced understanding of the politics of Middle Eastern states and how they relate with international tensions and conflicts of the region. You’ll study the history of these countries and their state-civil society relations, as well as the international politics, roles of superpowers, and their interests in the area.

The Politics of Nuclear Weapons

Examine the historical and political contexts for nuclear policy making, with an emphasis on the political and technical considerations affecting national choices. You’ll explore the issues surrounding non-proliferation strategies, nuclear security, and next steps for arms control.

International Political Economy

Explore the interaction between states and markets, and between winners and losers, at domestic and international levels. You’ll discover the major theoretical approaches to international political economy through a range of topics, including international trade and finance, development, the effects of globalisation on the welfare state and the environment, and the use of economic sanctions.

Gender and Politics

Examine how gender manifests in the political domain, such as how stereotypes about masculinity and femininity shape political campaigns. You’ll also consider how gender intersects with race, ethnicity, and sexuality.

International Organisation in Global Politics

Gain employability skills for working within international organisations. You’ll analyse how organisations are designed, their effectiveness for solving cooperation problems and advancing national interests, and major challenges that they face.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the 澳门六合彩开奖记录.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,535 per year for 2025/26 then fixed per year at this fee for the standard duration of your course.

New international students: £25,250 per year for 2025/26 then fixed per year at this fee for the standard duration of your course.

Tuition fees

To find out more about how the 澳门六合彩开奖记录 sets its tuition fees, see our fees and funding pages.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

Careers

Throughout your degree, you will have the opportunity to complete modules with a focus on careers and skills, encouraging you to think about what careers you would like and what skills you will need.

Studying philosophy will enable you to develop a range of transferable skills in clear thinking, logical analysis and the critical assessment of argument. Such skills are greatly valued in a variety of professional careers such as law, politics, management and marketing. Overall 94% of graduates from Philosophy and 93% of graduates from Politics and International Relations are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation [1].

Past students have put their political analysis skills to direct use in the home and European civil services, political research units, think tanks, non-governmental organisations and journalism. Other graduates have found employment in the civil service, journalism, consultancy, finance, local and central government, and previous employers have included the Ministry of Defence, Cambridge University Press, local authorities and other universities.

Some of our graduates choose to continue their studies at postgraduate level, or through conversion courses and teacher training.

[1] Based on our analysis of HESA data (c) HESA 2024, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021/22 includes all Philosophy responders and first degree Politics and International Relations responders.

澳门六合彩开奖记录