BA (Hons) Politics and International Relations & Social Policy at University of Strathclyde

Programme overview

Joint Honours BA combining politics and international relations with social policy, giving knowledge of the policymaking process, political theories of social need and how ideology influences social policy. Exchange partnerships in Europe, North America, Australia and Hong Kong support study abroad.

What you will study

Politics and International Relations: Year 1 builds skills and concepts in comparative and international politics; Year 2 covers International Relations and Global Politics, Political Philosophy and a first class in research design; Year 3 offers themes in Elections, Parties and Public Opinion, Public Policy and International Relations and Security, with quantitative methods; Year 4 is an honours dissertation with options such as International Development, International Security and US Foreign Policy. Social Policy: Year 1 introduces key challenges in Scottish society (health, housing, education, social security) and how issues come to be defined as social problems; Year 2 covers the historical development of social policy in Scotland since 1845, human needs, citizenship and social exclusion.

Career pathways

Politics graduates are employed in the media, management, teaching, sales and advertising, local government, further and higher education and social work. The degree is the normal route into business traineeships, recognised in the training of Modern Studies teachers and suited to entry to the civil service.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Highers: standard 1st sitting AAAA, 2nd sitting AAAAB (including English plus at least one other social science subject from the preferred list; plus National 5 Maths or Application of Maths at B to C); minimum 1st sitting AABB, 2nd sitting AABBB (English at B plus a social science subject; National 5 Maths or Application of Maths at C). Preferred subjects: Classical Studies, Drama, Economics, Gaelic, Geography, History, Modern Studies, a Modern Language, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies, Sociology. A-levels ABB-BBB (Year 2 entry AAA-ABB). IB Year 1 entry 32-30 (Year 2 entry 36-32). Irish Leaving Certificate: two H2 and three H3 passes including English. HNC Year 1 entry: Social Sciences with A in the Graded Unit and National 5 Maths C or equivalent; HND Social Sciences with AAB in the Graded Units may enable second-year entry. Lower contextual offers may be made to eligible widening-access applicants. English language for international applicants (university standard): IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no component below 5.5.

Domestic applicants: GBP 9,790 a year (2026/27). Rest of UK (England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Republic of Ireland) rate for full-time undergraduate programmes; Scotland-domiciled fee to be confirmed by the Scottish Funding Council Source

International applicants: GBP 24,100 a year (2027/28) Source

Intake: September 2027

Duration: 4 years

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