BA (Hons)
International Relations and Languages
Examine international political forces and learn a language
Course Overview
Why take this course?
This programme offers an in-depth knowledge of the way national and transnational economic and political forces shape our lives, and how to negotiate your way around it. You will study individual states and issues that transcend national boundaries - the global environment, international debt, world poverty - alongside your chosen language.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Choose your foreign language from French, German, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin or English as a Foreign Language
- Study or work abroad for a year
- Undertake work or research placements, volunteer roles and internships alongside your study
What opportunities might it lead to?
Students at Portsmouth who took a degree in this area have gone on to careers in:
- global business and banking
- the European Commission, the EU and other international organisations
- teaching
- postgraduate study
As European expansion and integration progresses, and the world becomes increasingly a global village, the possibilities for employment in transnational organisations and commercial companies will keep on growing.
I like the freedom of choice this course has, including a wide range of options and the option to study abroad for a year.
Fahad Atalla, international relations student
Key Facts
- UCAS Course Code:
- LR29
- Duration
- 4 years full time with language year abroad
- Entry
200-280 points from 3 A levels or equivalent.
Other qualifications- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £8,750 p/a*
International full-time students: £10,500 p/a*
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- humanities.admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 8299 - Department
- School of Languages and Area Studies
Subject:
History, Politics and Social Studies
Find out what our students say about studying at Portsmouth, including:
- The diverse spread of subjects offered and ability to complete your own research
- The critical thinking, analytical and debating skills you’ll develop
- The passionate lecturers with a wide range of specialist research expertise
Visit us at our open day
Wed 10 Jul
Structure & Teaching
Year one
Year one provides the essential skills to study international relations and the chosen foreign language.
- EITHER General Language (Grade 1 & 2) OR General Language (Grade 3) & Language Project
- Introduction to International Relations: States, Conflict & Cooperation
- 3Introduction to Political Thought
- Studying At University
- Global Issues
Year two
Year two develops the core subjects of international relations and the study of your language area. You also select optional units alongside a compulsory unit in Career and Research Management that prepares you for the writing and submission of the dissertation in the final year.
- EITHER General Language (Grade 3 & 4) OR General Language (Grade 4) & Language for Professional Communication 1
- International Politics
Options including:
- International Relations Theory
- Global Environmental Issues and Concerns
- Democratisation in Latin America
- US Foreign Policy: Ideals and Self Interest
- International Politics of the Middle East
- Conflict and Disaster
- Foundations of the European Union
- Language
- Learning from Experience
Final year*
The final year provides opportunities for specialist study through the dissertation, alongside core units in language and international relations..
- Dissertation/Major Project
- General Language Grade 6
- Language for Professional Communication 2
- Global Political Economy
- One option from:
- Democracy and Democratisation
- Strategic and Security Studies
*On this programme you will spend your third year in a country where your target language is spoken.
Teaching and Assessment
Our staff are enthusiastic specialists who are active in research, and many language teachers are native speakers. They will enthuse you about their fields of expertise, provide advice and guide you to appropriate learning resources. Our virtual learning environment and Sony Virtuoso multimedia digital classrooms support knowledge and skills developed in traditional lectures and seminars.
Students are encouraged to work in small teams analysing primary documents and debating contemporary issues so that all students learn from a range of opinions and interpretations and increase their academic abilities in a genial environment.
How are you assessed?
Our assessment methods are varied, with relatively few formal examinations. The emphasis is on continuous assessment, with assessments designed to measure the learning outcomes of your various units. Most assessment is done through submission of essays, reports, case studies, book reviews or other pieces of written work. Some units are assessed by means of projects, which can be particularly useful to build up your career profile. Some language-based tests are oral presentations to measure your progress in oral communication.
Tutor's view
Dr Janet Bryant
International Relations and Languages
What a combination! Take French, Spanish, German, Italian, Chinese or Japanese to the highest undergrad level, spend a year in a country where that language is spoken, AND learn about the contemporary international system, and the key issues, conflicts and controversies which make the relations between states so fascinating.
Visit us open day
Facilities & Features
Year Abroad
Study or work abroad
Labs and LRC
Language labs and the Learning Resource Centre
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books
Year Abroad
On this programme you will spend your third year in a country where your target language is spoken. We have well-established links with universities in France, Germany, Spain, West Africa and Latin America if you wish to spend this period studying, or, with University approval, you may arrange a work placement abroad. Students who cannot undertake the Year Abroad because of changes in personal circumstances transfer to a 3 year 'with Languages' variant.
Labs and LRC
We have four state-of-the-art Sony Virtuoso Language Laboratories, where you can manipulate video, sound, text and Internet sources in a rich, multimedia language-learning environment. You may also use the Learning Resource Centre, which provides access to texts, space and software that can augment your learning.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
You can expect to find work in areas as diverse as management, banking, marketing and sales, commerce, export, tourism and the media, or in local, national or international government, as well as teaching or lecturing, research, voluntary organisations and NGOs. Many also enter areas such as advertising and marketing, PR, media, banking and financial services.
Roles our graduates have moved into include:
- politician’s assistant
- public affairs consultant
- bilingual consultant
- multilingual project coordinator
- translator
Work experience
This course allows you to take the Learning From Experience (LiFE) option, which lets you earn credits toward your degree for work/research placements, volunteer roles or internships undertaken alongside your studies. The option gives you the opportunity to enhance your employability skills, to reflect on the ways in which you've done so, and to learn to express this to potential employers.
The School of Social Historical and Literary Studies can offer you a number of work experience opportunities in a range of local organizations during your degree course. Currently these include projects at the National Museum of the Royal Navy and the New Theatre Royal, with local government departments and political groups, and a number of our students have worked on small research projects for the local community.
You may also be able to undertake a work placement as part of your year abroad. Whether you work or study, the period spent abroad enhances your intercultural awareness and fluency in your chosen language, both qualities increasingly appreciated by employers in a globalised economy.
Career planning
6.04 minutes
Finding a job is a competitive business, but the statistics show that 89 per cent of our 2011graduates went into employment, further study or training within six months of finishing their degrees.
To make sure you take the right steps on your career path, we’re here to give you help, support and advice throughout your study. Even after you’ve graduated, we continue to give you support for up to five years.
Employers tell us that they want graduates to be able to demonstrate certain skills when they come out of university. Our courses take account of this. We make sure we prepare you for employment through work-related learning, projects, placements and working in simulated environments that are designed to prepare you for the working world.
Open Day
Our next open day is Wed 10 July
VISIT US! Have a look around and get a feel for what it’s like to live and study here. We’ll be on hand to talk to you about your course interests and show you all of our amazing facilities. You’ll also get to meet tutors and other students…
Application, Fees and Funding — find out more