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Politics and International Relations

Course details
  • BSc (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 09/2025
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site

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.

Mandatory units in the first and second year will equip you with the necessary skills to succeed in your dissertation in your final year. You will be assigned an individual academic supervisor who will support your sociological research and writing on a topic of your choice.

Skills development is woven throughout your programme and you will graduate with valuable transferable skills that ensure you are well placed to pursue your career goals.

You will be joining a vibrant academic community. We provide regular workshops, guest speakers, reading groups and social events, as well as support for the student societies associated with this programme.

How to apply

This course has limited vacancies, and is no longer accepting applications from some students. See the list below for where you normally live, to check if you're eligible to apply.
  • EU has vacancies
  • does not have vacancies
  • does not have vacancies
  • International has vacancies
  • Scotland does not have vacancies
  • Northern Ireland does not have vacancies
  • Republic of Ireland does not have vacancies

Apply by
29 January

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:
L200
Institution code:
B78
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and accepts a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate study. If you studied at a school, college or university outside the UK, please select the relevant page for further information on qualification equivalences, scholarships and details of our education representatives in your country/region: bristol.ac.uk/international/countries/

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - AAA - ABB

Standard offer: AAA including an essay-based subject. Contextual offer: ABB including an essay-based subject. Please visit: bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/entry-requirements-qualifications/contextual-offers/ for more information about contextual offers.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDD

DDD in any essay-based Applied General BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma.

Access to HE Diploma - D: 30 credits M: 15 credits

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. Mature students can contact mature-students@bristol.ac.uk to check the suitability of their Access course.

Scottish Higher - AAAAB

Standard Higher: AAAAB.

Scottish Advanced Higher - AA

Advanced Higher: AA including an essay-based subject.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 32 - 36 points

Standard offer: 36 points overall with 18 at Higher Level, including 6 at Higher Level in an essay based subject. Contextual offer: 32 points overall with 16 at Higher Level, including 5 at Higher Level in an essay based subject. Please visit: bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/entry-requirements-qualifications/contextual-offers/ for more information about contextual offers.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

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.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

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.

European Baccalaureate: 85% overall, with 8.5 in an essay based subject.

Essay-based subjects include: Ancient History; Anthropology; Archaeology; Art & 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 more about qualification requirements for this course.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. We consider a large range of contextual factors when making application decisions.

If you receive and accept an offer from the University of Bristol, and you meet the terms of your offer in full, you will be accepted.

Learn more on the University of Bristol website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9535Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535Year 1
Scotland£9535Year 1
Wales£9535Year 1
Channel Islands£9535Year 1
EU£24800Year 1
International£24800Year 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.

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