BSc Politics and International Relations (L200)

2024 entry | view 2025 entry

Course summary

Bristol has an impressive reputation for teaching and research in politics and international relations and this course offers an enriching experience with exciting intellectual challenges.

You will study the politics of individual countries and governments and the relationships between states, communities and individuals.

The first year includes four compulsory units to ensure a solid grounding in the discipline. You will have greater choice as you progress through the course. The final year provides an exceptional range of units based on staff research interests, including political theory, international relations, political economy, UK politics, US politics, gender, security and conflict.

We emphasise research skills, with a compulsory unit in the first year and a dissertation in the final year. The dissertation enables you to conduct a piece of supervised political research on a topic of your choice.

You will have the opportunity to apply to spend half a year studying abroad at a partner university. To find out more about studying abroad, visit Global Opportunities.

Course structure

Full details about the course structure and units for this course can be viewed in the programme catalogue.

Go to programme catalogue

Entry requirements

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.

AAA including an essay-based subject. Essay-based subjects include: Ancient History; Anthropology; Archaeology; Art and Design (all pathways); Business Studies; Chinese; Classical Civilisation; Classics; Drama; Economics; English Language; English Language and Literature; English Literature; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Film; French; Geography; German; Government and Politics; Greek; Health and Social Care; History; History of Art; Italian; Latin; Law; Media Studies; Music; Performance; Philosophy; Politics; Portuguese; Psychology; Religious Studies; Russian; Social Care; Social Policy; Sociology; Spanish; Theatre Studies and Welsh.
ABB including an essay-based subject. Essay-based subjects include: Ancient History; Anthropology; Archaeology; Art and Design (all pathways); Business Studies; Chinese; Classical Civilisation; Classics; Drama; Economics; English Language; English Language and Literature; English Literature; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Film; French; Geography; German; Government and Politics; Greek; Health and Social Care; History; History of Art; Italian; Latin; Law; Media Studies; Music; Performance; Philosophy; Politics; Portuguese; Psychology; Religious Studies; Russian; Social Care; Social Policy; Sociology; Spanish; Theatre Studies and Welsh.

Find out if you are eligible for a contextual offer
DDD in any essay-based Applied General BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma

Find out more about BTEC entry requirements
36 points overall with 18 at Higher Level, including 6 at Higher Level in an essay-based subject. Essay-based subjects include: Ancient History; Anthropology; Archaeology; Art and Design (all pathways); Business Studies; Chinese; Classical Civilisation; Classics; Drama; Economics; English Language; English Language and Literature; English Literature; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Film; French; Geography; German; Government and Politics; Greek; Health and Social Care; History; History of Art; Italian; Latin; Law; Media Studies; Music; Performance; Philosophy; Politics; Portuguese; Psychology; Religious Studies; Russian; Social Care; Social Policy; Sociology; Spanish; Theatre Studies and Welsh.
32 points overall with 16 at Higher Level, including 5 at Higher Level in an essay-based subject. Essay-based subjects include: Ancient History; Anthropology; Archaeology; Art and Design (all pathways); Business Studies; Chinese; Classical Civilisation; Classics; Drama; Economics; English Language; English Language and Literature; English Literature; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Film; French; Geography; German; Government and Politics; Greek; Health and Social Care; History; History of Art; Italian; Latin; Law; Media Studies; Music; Performance; Philosophy; Politics; Portuguese; Psychology; Religious Studies; Russian; Social Care; Social Policy; Sociology; Spanish; Theatre Studies and Welsh.

Find out if you are eligible for a contextual offer
85% overall, with 8.5 in an essay-based subject. Essay-based subjects include: Ancient History; Anthropology; Archaeology; Art and Design (all pathways); Business Studies; Chinese; Classical Civilisation; Classics; Drama; Economics; English Language; English Language and Literature; English Literature; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Film; French; Geography; German; Government and Politics; Greek; Health and Social Care; History; History of Art; Italian; Latin; Law; Media Studies; Music; Performance; Philosophy; Politics; Portuguese; Psychology; Religious Studies; Russian; Social Care; Social Policy; Sociology; Spanish; Theatre Studies and Welsh.
Advanced Higher: AA including an essay-based subject, and Standard Higher: AAAAB. Essay-based subjects include: Ancient History; Anthropology; Archaeology; Art and Design (all pathways); Business Studies; Chinese; Classical Civilisation; Classics; Drama; Economics; English Language; English Language and Literature; English Literature; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Film; French; Geography; German; Government and Politics; Greek; Health and Social Care; History; History of Art; Italian; Latin; Law; Media Studies; Music; Performance; Philosophy; Politics; Portuguese; Psychology; Religious Studies; Russian; Social Care; Social Policy; Sociology; Spanish; Theatre Studies and Welsh.
Access to HE Diploma in Humanities, Social Sciences, Law or History (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include: at least 30 credits at Distinction and 15 at Merit or above; and at least 12 credits (with 9 at Distinction) in a single essay-based subject. Essay-based subjects include: Ancient History; Anthropology; Archaeology; Art and Design (all pathways); Business Studies; Chinese; Classical Civilisation; Classics; Drama; Economics; English Language; English Language and Literature; English Literature; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Film; French; Geography; German; Government and Politics; Greek; Health and Social Care; History; History of Art; Italian; Latin; Law; Media Studies; Music; Performance; Philosophy; Politics; Portuguese; Psychology; Religious Studies; Russian; Social Care; Social Policy; Sociology; Spanish; Theatre Studies and Welsh.

More about Access to HE entry requirements
Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.
Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/M2 is B, and M3 is C.
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and we accept a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

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