Course summary

Lancaster’s History and International Relations degree is taught jointly between our Department of History and the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion. It gives you the opportunity to build an in-depth knowledge of both subjects, learning from scholars in the field. Your degree scheme concentrates on the history of international politics since 1780 and introduces you to various theoretical understandings of the modern world. You will be given the opportunity to develop a stronger understanding of the influence of History and International Relations on each other, while engaging with topics such as diplomacy, terrorism, religious conflict and human rights. Beginning with modules including ‘From the Medieval to the Modern: History and Historians’ and ‘Politics in the Modern World’, you will move on to modules such as; ‘Peace Studies in Action, and ‘International Relations, Security and Sustainability’ in your second year. Your Placement Year Sometimes known as a year in industry, your placement year will take place between your second and final year of study and this will extend your degree to four years. A placement year is an excellent way to... • try out a role that you may be interested in as a career path • start to build your professional network (some placement students are offered permanent roles to return to after they graduate) • develop skills, knowledge and experience to put you ahead of the field when you graduate You'll spend your third year in a paid, graduate-level position, where you’ll work for between nine and twelve months in the type of role that you might be considering for after you graduate. A very wide range of companies and organisations offer placements across all sectors. As a full-time employee, you’ll have a detailed job description with specific responsibilities and opportunities to access training and development, the same as other employees. Our Careers and Placements Team will help you to secure a suitable placement with expert advice and resources, such as creating an effective CV, and tips for applications and interviews. You will still be a Lancaster University student during your placement and we’ll keep in touch to check how you are getting on. The university will use all reasonable effort to support you to find a suitable placement for your studies. While a placement role may not be available in a field or organisation that is directly related to your academic studies or career aspirations, all offer valuable experience of working at a graduate level and gaining a range of professional skills. If you are unsuccessful in securing a suitable placement for your third year, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent non-placement degree scheme and continue with your studies at Lancaster, finishing your degree after your third year.