Politics and International Relations
Study the workings of society and governments around the globe, including questions of power, justice, democracy, empire, security, revolution, activism, and identity.
in the East of England for undergraduates employed as managers, directors or senior officials.
Source: GOS 2025
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.
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Find out more about studying Politics and International Relations at ARU.
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Gain important transferable skills for your career, including research and data analysis.
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Take innovative assessments that include but also go beyond the traditional essay, like blogs, podcasts, presentations and letters.
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Learn from expert tutors including historians, sociologists and political scientists.
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Attend events with key political figures organised by our Labour History Research Unit.
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Study in Cambridge, with its impressive collection of museums, libraries, archives and political clubs.
Study at an award-winning university
We were named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.
Careers
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.
Teaching and modules
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 *.
- Introduction to Politics and International Relations
- Global Affairs
- A History of Now
- Political Thought
- Into ARU
- 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 Law *
- Welfare State to European State: Britain 1906-1975 *
- Mobilities and Migration *
- Ireland and the Irish after Independence *
- 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 *
- The Era of Thatcher and Blair *
- The Making of Modern Media *
- Comparative and Global Criminal Justice *
- Counter-Terrorism Policing *
- Organised Crime *
To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course. Find out more about foundation years.
- Foundation in Humanities, English, Media, Social Sciences and Education
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.
- Work Placement - Humanities and Social Sciences
Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.
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Dr Richard CarrAssociate Professor
Student experience
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This report by our Labour History Research Unit considers how the Labour government might deal with issues like home and foreign policy by exploring their historical approach.
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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
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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.
Entry requirements
Fees and funding
Apply for Politics and International Relations
Clearing places available
UK students, apply through Clearing for a September 2025 start
