University of Essex
Politics and International Relations BA (Hons)
University of Essex

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews for 30 graduates of Politics and International Relations BA (Hons) at University of Essex for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Politics & International Relations.

Overall student satisfaction
92 /100
30 total respondents
The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Politics & International Relations

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Politics & International Relations at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £25000 £25000 £30000
25-75 percentile range £22500 - £30000 £20000 - £32000 £24500 - £38500


Salary of all UK Graduates of Politics & International Relations

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £25651 £24571 £30295
25-75 percentile range £22016 - £30312 £19077 - £31076 £22913 - £40577

Course Description

Why don’t democratic countries go to war with each other? Why don’t young people vote? Who should pay for climate change? Why do oil-rich states have worse human rights records? These are the kinds of questions addressed in our BA Politics & International Relations. Based in one of the most prestigious government departments in Europe, this course enables you to learn how politics works within countries and between countries. We provide a thorough grounding in all major areas of political science and international relations and widen your awareness of the world system, while training you in the research and critical thinking skills that are prized by employers. With this course you can explore a very wide range of topic areas, including:

  • Human rights and global justice
  • Elections, referendums and the psychology of voters
  • Civil war and international peacekeeping
  • The politics of natural disasters
  • Protest, revolution and democracy
  • Aid, trade and development

Studying Politics & International Relations at Essex will train you to question everything with confidence, to support opinions with strong evidence and have the courage to challenge others. We encourage you to be daring and bold, and to support your thinking with the broadest range of facts and ideas. Our Department of Government has an outstanding record of teaching, research and publication. We are rated top in the UK for research (REF 2014), and have consistently been the highest-rated politics department in the country since national assessments began. We are also ranked 7th in the UK for Politics and International Studies in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Politics and International Relations BA (Hons) at University of Essex

30% Administrative occupations
30% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals
10% Caring personal services
10% Business and public service associate professionals
10% Welfare and housing associate professionals

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 6.5
    • Graduate Degrees
    • 6.0
    • Undergraduate Degrees
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Politics and International Relations, BA (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees Politics and International Relations BA (Hons)

England UK £9250 year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 year 1
Scotland £9250 year 1
Wales £9250 year 1
Channel Islands £9250 year 1
Ireland £9250 year 1
EU £20500 year 1
International £20500 year 1

Additional fee information

Fees displayed are for 2024-25 entry. Fees may increase for each academic intake and each academic year of study.

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

  • year 1 (Default entry point)
  • year 2
  • year 3

University Rankings

Positions of University of Essex in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of University of Essex in related subject specific rankings.

Social Studies & Humanities

    • #10 
    • #74 
    Social Sciences
    THE World University Rankings by Subject
    [Published 19 October, 2023]
    • #34 
    • #301 
    Social Sciences
    NTU Rankings by Subject
    [Published 11 July, 2023]

See all 29 university rankings of University of Essex

About University of Essex

The University of Essex, is a public, research university where curiosity prevails and thinking outside the box isn’t just encouraged, it’s expected. Based in the county of the same name, Essex, the main campus is located in Wivenhoe Park, near Colchester. It is home to the university’s three faculties, Humanities, Science & Health and Social Sciences, as well as a very large community of local rabbits, and other small fauna typical of the English countryside.

List of 921 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Essex - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Essex

undergraduates:
12070
postgraduates:
3690
Total:
15760
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Where is this programme taught

Colchester Campus
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