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International Relations and History at Bath Spa University - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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Bath Spa University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Open days

30Nov
Bath Spa University undergraduate open day
Undergraduate
11Jan
Bath Spa University undergraduate open day
Undergraduate

Course summary

  • Analyse the influence of history on world politics and learn how to challenge the status quo.
  • Merge theoretical study with practical research skills to create change and have an impact.
  • Pursue your own passions by studying topics that interest you.
How did the world become a system of states? Why is war an enduring feature of world politics? How does colonialism shape the political possibilities of globalisation? To unpack the complexities of today’s world, we first need to understand how the past becomes the present. Our International Relations and History degree will help you to develop the knowledge and gain the practical skills required to engage meaningfully with the world, for a wide range of future career paths. From the European 'discovery' of the Americas in the 15th century to the collapse of the USSR and the rise of China, you’ll explore both western and non-western political traditions and assess their relevance to contemporary global structures. There has never been a better time to address these questions, as the world grapples with its difficult histories while facing the climate crisis. This course will help you to become a conscious, informed citizen of the world, equipped with the knowledge and expertise required to collectively build better futures. You’ll be taught by our team of approachable tutors, whose research crosses continents and embraces past, present and future. You'll analyse big data and tiny fragments of text. You’ll explore objects and images, and examine the contrasts between powerful institutions and the voices of ordinary people. Why study International Relations and History? Combining International Relations with History will deepen your understanding of world politics. International Relations gives you a broader global perspective on key developments and the nature of historical change, allowing you to make connections between events separated by time and place. History allows you to understand how the world came to be as it is, how and why it has changed over time, and where it might be going in the future.

Modules

An interdisciplinary first year introduces you to a wide range of ideas, approaches and concepts, which will underpin and inform your whole degree. Throughout, you'll develop the skills and insight you'll need to solve problems, work with others, ask questions, challenge your own assumptions, and interrogate evidence, data and opinions. In the second year, you’ll focus on the mechanisms of foreign policy, intelligence and diplomacy and the connections that come from informal collaborations and creative action. Optional modules allow you to pursue your passion for particular periods or genres of history. You’ll apply your knowledge and understanding to a defined problem or case study of your choosing. Alongside a range of optional modules, in the final year you'll bring together your theoretical and practical knowledge to devise, plan and implement your final project. This might be an extended piece of academic writing, but it might also be a pitch to a local employer, a community project, a policy brief or the creation of digital resources.

Assessment method

We use a mix of assessments, including essays, group and individual presentations, online reports, surveys, project portfolios, campaign documents and context papers, podcasts, blog posts and vlogging. These have been designed to build practical skills that graduates can take into employment.

How to apply

29Jan

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.

Application codes

Course code:
IRH1
Institution code:
B20
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
71%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
91%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
Channel Islands £9535 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535 Year 1
EU £16460 Year 1
International £16460 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
International Relations and History at Bath Spa University - UCAS