University course · real outcomes from HESA / Discover Uni · part of Careermash
University degree

Politics and International Relations

The University of Essex
Qualification
Degree
Length
4 yrs
UK fees / yr
£9,535
Study
Full-time
Worth knowing: about 20% of students don't make it past first year here - ask the uni what support they offer.
Robin · your guide
Here's the honest picture on this course - what you'd study, whether you'd likely get in, what it pays, and where it leads. Everything's real data.
About this course

Understand global politics, power, and diplomacy. Gain real-world experience and skills through research, societies, and optional study abroad or placement. The BA Politics and International Relations is a three-year degree, with an optional fourth year for a placement or study abroad.

You’ll explore the political and international forces that shape societies and the global system - from institutions, diplomacy and democratic processes to power, conflict, rights and governance. Through hands-on learning, independent research and collaborative projects, you’ll develop the insight and practical skills to interpret complex political and international issues, understand real-world policy, and engage confidently with political and global debate. The BA Politics and International Relations gives you the knowledge and skills to understand the political forces shaping our world, from local elections to global issues.

You’ll study power, diplomacy, conflict, and global cooperation while developing research, analytical, and communication skills valued by employers worldwide. You'll learn in a department where research informs governments and international organisations at the highest levels. Here, you'll discover how political theory informs real-world decision-making.

Could you get in?
The grades students arrived with
<48 pts1%
48-63 pts14%
64-79 pts6%
80-95 pts9%
96-111 pts18%
112-127 pts14%
128-143 pts6%
144-159 pts10%
160-175 pts7%
176-191 pts3%
192-207 pts3%
208-223 pts1%
224-239 pts2%
How they qualified
70% got in with alevel. The rest came in a mix of ways:
alevel70%
otherHE20%
other6%
none2%
baccalaureate1%
Could I get in? Try your grades
120 UCAS pts
Pay & prospects
91%
In work or further study after
50%
In professional / skilled jobs
80%
Continue past first year
80%
Student satisfaction
What graduates earn over time
£26,500
After 15 months
£25,000
3 years on
£32,500
5 years on
What students say National Student Survey
80%
of students are satisfied with the course overall
Teaching86%
Assessment & feedback82%
Academic support85%
Well organised92%
Learning resources91%
Student community87%
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Where this degree can lead
Like the look of it?
When you're ready, the full entry requirements and application are on The University of Essex's own site.
Apply on uni site
Careermash · real course data from HESA / Discover Uni, in plain English.

Career data: role, pay and progression profiles built for Careermash's careers engine; AI-impact estimates from Anthropic's observed AI-usage telemetry and OpenAI's AI Jobs Transition Framework. Course data: HESA / Discover Uni, including Graduate Outcomes, LEO and the National Student Survey. Apprenticeships: IfATE-published standards, approved only.

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