Study the workings of society and governments around the globe, including questions of power, justice, democracy, empire, security, revolution, activism, and identity.
Gain insights into change and continuity in national and global governance, how leaders and politicians have influenced such processes, and how the directions and decisions of political parties and institutions affect people’s lives.
You’ll explore the impact of individual leaders like Tony Blair and Vladimir Putin alongside the role of international organisations and alliances.
With a curriculum that stretches across Africa, Asia and Europe, you'll also look at wider issues of international conflict and world peace, consumption and trade, crime and terrorism, and media and communication.
Find out more about studying Politics and International Relations at ARU.
Why ARU?
Gain important transferable skills for your career, including research and data analysis.
Take innovative assessments that include but also go beyond the traditional essay, like blogs, podcasts, presentations and letters.
Learn from expert tutors including historians, sociologists and political scientists.
Graduate equipped for a career in a political party, diplomacy and other areas of the civil service, or for international organisations.
Your use of data analysis and different sources from government documents to focus groups, as well as our innovative assessment methods, will all give you an impressive narrative to tell prospective employers.
You can also learn a language on our optional modules, boosting your employability internationally in areas such as UN conflict resolution and diplomacy.
You could go on to work in a variety of fields, including:
local government
charities
NGOs
European and international organisations and agencies.
You might also explore career paths in public service, the criminal justice system, future energy policy and planning, security, negotiation and peacekeeping, or communication and media.
Natasha studied at ARU and now works on Irish policy control with the UK Civil Service. Find out what inspired her to get involved in politics, and how our course helped her. Natasha's story.
We want you to be a step ahead when you graduate, so we offer:
We’re here to help you develop your CV and find that all-important role after graduation. Our Employability Service offers tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, help to complete job applications, and much more. You’ll have 24/7 access to an online Careers Centre too, which is packed with useful resources.
The support continues after you graduate, with lifelong access to our Alumni Career Centre.
Learn about the interlocking institutions that constitute politics, and explore ideological constructs that underpin political change.
You’ll also get to grips with digital methods, learning valuable skills in the digital humanities.
From Year 2 you’ll explore key issues like migration and war, as well as your own interests on optional modules, and build your research skills.
Finally, you’ll complete an independent project on a topic of your choice, and learn methods to communicate your research, while other modules will include exploring how social media facilitates both political activists and ‘bad actors’.
Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.
Year 1
Introduction to Politics and International Relations
Global Affairs
A History of Now
Political Thought
Into ARU
Year 2
From World War to Cold War
Give Peace a Chance: Fundamental Issues and Perspectives on Contemporary International Relations
Researching Society and Culture
Ruskin Module (15 credits)
The United States in the 20th Century *
Intoxicants and Intoxication *
The British Empire 1783-1919 *
International Human Rights *
Welfare State to European State: Britain 1906-1975 *
Mobilities and Migration *
Ireland and the Irish after Independence *
Year 3
Undergraduate Major Project
Hitler to the Hashtag: Political Communication in Peace and War
From Theory to Practice International Relations in the 21st Century
A Global History of Government and Society, 1945-1999
Research Communication
Gender and Sexuality in Britain: 1880-2000 *
Race, Racism and Ethnic Identity *
From Communism to Consumerism: Russia since 1917 *
Global Feminisms *
From Workhouses to Universal Credit: The Past, Present and Future of the British Welfare State *
You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall. Find out more about placement years.
A foundation year prepares you for the rest of your course, and focuses on general skills such as researching and referencing, numeracy and ICT, and communication. We'll also start to look at some more subject-specific topics.
Your placement year is a chance to put everything you’ve learnt in Years 1 and 2 into practice. Spend typically 9-12 months working for an organisation, developing your skills and gaining valuable work experience. Our Placements Team is here to help you secure a placement.
You’ll show your progress through a combination of traditional essays and exams as well as more innovative methods that reflect skills you’ll need for the workplace, including blogs, podcasts, live briefs, portfolios, presentations, data collection and letters.
Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.
Graduate Natasha now works on Irish policy control with the UK Civil Service. Find out what inspired her to get involved in politics, and how our course helped her. Listen to Natasha's Spotlight podcast
A 60 second seminar from Dr Richard Carr, Senior Lecturer in History and Politics at ARU.
Facilities
Benefit from award-winning learning facilities, including extensive library and IT resources and a huge range of digital resources to sustain your research.
You can also access support, should you need it, with study skills, careers advice, health and wellbeing, and more.
Studying in the ancient university city of Cambridge gives you access to many more resources, including libraries, archives, museums and political clubs both in the city and beyond.
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.
Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.
You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.
We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.
Important additional notes
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.
Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.
You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.
We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.
Important additional notes
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.
Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.
You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.
We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.
International students
We welcome applications from international and EU students, and accept a range of international qualifications.
This course includes an optional placement year. The placement year fee is:
£1,500 (2025-26)
£1,700 (2026-27)
You will be responsible for covering the cost of travelling to your placement during your placement year. This cost could vary significantly depending on where your placement is located, where you live during your course and how you travel.
Living at university
We understand that affordability is an important issue when you’re thinking about studying at university.
The overall cost of university can vary depending on where you’re studying and which course you’re taking.
Costs may also be lower if you're living at home. However, some of the main costs you’ll want to think about include:
accommodation
bills
internet, mobile phone and calls
travel
food and drink
socialising and going out
study materials.
Most full-time UK students can apply for a Maintenance Loan to help cover living costs. More about maintenance loans.
Our Money Advice Service is on hand if you’d like to chat about living costs, budgets and managing your money. You can also find out more about student finance at one of our Open Days.
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries, which provide extra financial support while you’re at university.
If you're eligible for a scholarship, you'll generally receive it automatically – there's no need to apply.
Our campus employment bureau, ARU Temps, can help you find part-time work that fits around your studies. It's a great chance to enhance your CV and boost your income while you study.
Dr Richard Carr
