Course Description Document

Course Title	Politics and International Relations (2025-26)
Course Code	8910
Award Title	Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc (Hons))
Awarding Body	University of Southampton
Teaching Institution	University of Southampton
Regulated by	Office for Students
Accreditation	None
Regulations	The Regulations of the University can be found on the University's Governance Webpages: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/about/governance/regulations-policies
Location of study	Southampton
Length of the course	34 Months
Tuition Fees	Fees for students can be located by the student fees page. https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentservices/money-matters/student-fees/index.page

Course Overview

Enables you to specialise in areas of contemporary political importance such as democratization, public policy, environment, media, migration, political parties and behavior, gender, and national/regional politics.
Helps develop indispensable research skills such as effective oral and written communication, problem-solving, data analysis and independent thought.
Provides excellent training for a wide range of careers, such as the civil service, international organisations, NGOs, advocacy and lobby groups, political campaigning, journalism, as well as in a broad range of corporate and business careers.
Provides a strong grounding for future postgraduate study across a range of politics-related subjects.
The key features of this programme are breadth, depth, flexibility and choice:
Breadth is achieved by studying across the subfields of political theory, global politics, public policy, and political analysis, and in delivering rigorous training in research methods.
Depth is achieved through the range of specialised modules in Part 2 and 3, which build on the foundations delivered in Part 1, and which together provide the knowledge and understanding required of a politics and international relations degree.
Flexibility is achieved through the optional module capacity in each part of study, which provides for specialisation as your knowledge and understanding of the discipline develops, and through the dissertation in Part 3, which is pursued in a topic of your choice in politics.
Choice is achieved by way of the wide selection of available options, which enable you to deepen your knowledge in those areas of most interest to you.
Tailoring your degree (Minor subject)
The structure of your degree programme allows you to exercise choice in each part of study. You can exercise this choice in a number of ways.
You can use these optional modules to deepen your knowledge of your main subject area.
You can combine additional modules from your main subject with modules from other disciplines or choose from a selection of interdisciplinary modules.
You can choose modules that build into a minor pathway, the title of which will be mentioned in your degree transcript. Details of the minors available and the modules that are included can be found at www.southampton.ac.uk/cip.

Aims of the Course

Having successfully completed this programme you will be able to demonstrate:
Knowledge of the central theoretical and methodological issues in the study of politics and international relations.
Knowledge of selected issues and events within politics and international relations.
Capacity for the critical evaluation of theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence in the field of politics and international relations, and for the application of such perspectives in your own work.
Capacity to undertake independent enquiry into political issues, using appropriate methodologies.
Skills in written and oral communication, the use of information technology, the analysis of different forms of information, and working co-operatively in groups to achieve designated outcomes.
Ability to work independently in identifying and analysing the subjects of your enquiry.

Course Structure

The tables below provide a list of the modules that make up your course.

Each module is worth a specified number of credits: you can take a combination of core and compulsory modules enabling you to cover key subject knowledge. Some courses have option modules which enable you to develop your own interests.

Each level of your programme requires a certain number of credits. The number of option modules you can take depends on the number of core modules at a given level and this is also influenced by the requirements of the regulatory requirements for professionally accredited courses. Some courses also have pre and co-requisites, and these are included in individual module information.

Your learning will be led by the latest research, and modules can change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. You can always find the most up-to-date information about your modules and who is teaching them via the information on our webpages and, post enrolment, via the Faculty hub.

If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an option module, it may not be offered. If an option module will not be run, we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

The core and compulsory modules available on your course are as follows:

Part I Typical programme content We teach a range of core modules common to all the politics and international relations degrees in the first part, as well as core modules which are particular to some degrees only. Four modules are typically studied per semester. There are optional module choices in all three parts, and in Part 3 all modules taken are optional (except the dissertation, which is compulsory). Research methods modules are taught in both Part 1 and Part 2, in order to deliver the key research skills required on this programme, to support your research and study in your other modules, and to prepare you for the dissertation in Part 3. Students select optional modules from a range which may include those listed below (although specific options may change from year to year). In addition to this, our Curriculum Innovation Programme offers our students the chance to take optional modules outside their core disciplines. This allows you to personalise your education, to develop new skills and knowledge for your future. The structure of the programme and the modules currently offered are set out below. Of the modules shown against each part of your programme, some are compulsory (i.e., enrolment is automatic) and others are optional. Against each part, you are directed to which modules are compulsory and which are optional. The optional modules listed constitute an indicative list. There will always be choice but the options might vary between parts. A list of optional modules will be available to you via the Student Record Self-Service system once you enrol at the University. The programme comprises three parts, each corresponding to one year of full-time study. You will normally have to take 4 modules (30ECTS/60 CATS) each semester (i.e., 8 modules (60ECTS/120 CATS) in each part of the programme. Each credit can be considered as the equivalent of approximately ten hours of study. All the modules offered in this programme (except the dissertation) are 7.5ECTS/15 CATS modules. This means that each module comprises around 150 hours of study divided into contact time (e.g. lectures, seminars, workshops) and non-contact time when you will be engaged in directed study (preparation for classes) and independent study when you will be involved in producing assignments and preparing and taking examinations. The dissertation is a 15 ECTS/30 CATS module comprising 300 hours of study divided into contact time (workshops and supervisory tutorials) and a significantly larger portion of hours allocated to non-contact, independent study time. This is because the dissertation is designed to foster independent inquiry and is the culmination of three years of study, enabling you to apply theories and methods explored at all parts and to examine one area of the discipline in detail.
Part I Core and Compulsory Semester 1 You must take the following modules and pass all core modules.
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
PAIR1007	Crises of the 21st Century	7.5	Core
PAIR1004	Engaging Political Ideas	7.5	Core
PAIR1002	Comparative Politics	7.5	Core
RESM1001	Understanding the Social World	7.5	Compulsory
Part I Core and Compulsory Semester 2 You must take the following modules and pass all core modules.
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
PAIR1011	A (Dis) United Kingdom? An introduction to British Politics	7.5	Core
PAIR1001	Introduction to International Relations	7.5	Core
RESM1002	Simple Liars, Damned Liars and Experts: the use of empirical research in social science	7.5	Compulsory
Part I Forced Choice Semester 2 You must choose and pass 1 from the following 2 modules.
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
PAIR1015	Foundations of Modern Politics	7.5	Core
PAIR1012	Global Dilemmas: Reading Contemporary Politics	7.5	Core
Part II Students should choose an equal balance of modules across the year.
Part II Compulsory Semester 1 Students must choose one of the following two compulsory modules.
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
PAIR2010	The Struggle for Democracy	7.5	Compulsory
PAIR2001	Theorising International Politics	7.5	Compulsory
Part II Option Semester 1 You must choose between 7.5ECTS/15CATS and 15ECTS/30CATS from the following list of modules
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
PAIR2024	Chinese Politics	7.5	Optional
PAIR2026	Democratic Theory	7.5	Optional
PAIR2065	Education Policy and Reforms: Global Experiences and Local Contexts	7.5	Optional
PAIR2051	Power and Ethics Before Machiavelli	7.5	Optional
SSPC2002	Techno Harms: Discrimination, Conspiracy Theories and Extremism	7.5	Optional
PAIR2021	The Politics and Governance of the EU	7.5	Optional
PAIR2034	Ethics of War	7.5	Optional
PAIR2018	Partisans, Public Opinion and Elections: Understanding the Political Mind	7.5	Optional
PAIR2064	Migration, Borders, Refuge: Political Ethics in an Age of Mobility	7.5	Optional
PAIR2068	Introduction to Experiments in Social Science	7.5	Optional
SSPC2018	Intersectional Perspectives on Modernisation Processes	7.5	Optional
Part II Option Semester 2 Depending on your choice of Research Methods options, and ensuring your modules are equal across semesters, you must choose between 7.5ECTS/15CATS and 22.5ECTS/45CATS from the following list of modules
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
PAIR2011	American Political Thought	7.5	Optional
PAIR2066	Anarchism in Theory and Practice	7.5	Optional
PAIR2049	Children and Human Rights	7.5	Optional
SSPC2005	Collective Action and Social Change	7.5	Optional
PAIR2052	Ethics of Public Policy	7.5	Optional
SSPC2013	Race and Ethnicity in Society	7.5	Optional
PAIR2042	Reinventing Democracy: Innovation, Participation and Power	7.5	Optional
PAIR2063	Green Political Thought: Humans and other stories	7.5	Optional
SSPC2012	Gender and Society	7.5	Optional
PAIR2067	The Government Lab	7.5	Optional
PAIR2050	Contemporary Theories of Justice	7.5	Optional
PAIR2017	European Power and the Geopolitics of Europe and Asia	7.5	Optional
PAIR2048	Gender, Power and Politics	7.5	Optional
PAIR2069	Public Opinion in Action: What we know and how we know it	7.5	Optional
Part II Research Methods Options Students must choose 15ECT/30CATS from the following list of modules
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
RESM2001	Introduction to Social Data Analytics	7.5	Optional
PAIR2002	7.5	Optional
PAIR2004	Qualitative Research in Politics & International Relations	7.5	Optional
Part III You must ensure that you choose an equal balance of modules across the year.
Part III Core You must take and pass the following module on an approved topic
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
PAIR3003	Dissertation in Politics & International Relations	15	Core
Part III Option Semester 1 You must choose between 7.5ECTS/15CATS and 15ECTS/30CATS from the following list of modules
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
PAIR3021	Chinese Politics	7.5	Optional
PAIR3033	Democratic Theory	7.5	Optional
PAIR3071	Education Policy and Reforms: Global Experiences and Local Contexts	7.5	Optional
PAIR3050	Power and Ethics Before Machiavelli	7.5	Optional
PAIR3030	The Politics and Governance of the EU	7.5	Optional
SSPC3019	Intersectional Perspectives on Modernisation Processes	7.5	Optional
SSPC3006	Techno Harms: Discrimination, Conspiracy Theories and Extremism	7.5	Optional
PAIR3027	Partisans, Public Opinion and Elections: Understanding the Political Mind	7.5	Optional
PAIR3042	Ethics of War	7.5	Optional
PAIR3070	Migration, Borders, Refuge: Political Ethics in an Age of Mobility	7.5	Optional
PAIR3080	Introduction to Experiments in Social Science	7.5	Optional
Part III Option Semester 2 You must choose between 7.5ECTS/15CATS and 15ECTS/30CATS from the following list of modules
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
PAIR3063	American Political Thought	7.5	Optional
PAIR3081	Anarchism in Theory and Practice	7.5	Optional
PAIR3062	Children and Human Rights	7.5	Optional
SSPC3014	Collective Action and Social Change	7.5	Optional
PAIR3057	Ethics of Public Policy	7.5	Optional
SSPC3015	Race and Ethnicity in Society	7.5	Optional
PAIR3038	Reinventing Democracy: Innovation, Participation and Power	7.5	Optional
PAIR3061	Gender, Power and Politics	7.5	Optional
PAIR3015	Contemporary Theories of Justice	7.5	Optional
PAIR3026	European Power and the Geopolitics of Europe and Asia	7.5	Optional
PAIR3069	Green Political Thought: Humans and other stories	7.5	Optional
PAIR3079	The Government Lab	7.5	Optional
SSPC3018	Gender and Society	7.5	Optional
PAIR3083	Public Opinion in Action: What we know and how we know it	7.5	Optional

Learning and Teaching

Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning, and assessment activity, with each ECTS credit taken equivalent to 20 hours of student effort. While your actual contact hours may depend on the option modules you select, the information available on our webpages give an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities.

When not attending lectures, seminars and other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and for other types of assessments and examinations.

Full information about contact hours is provided in individual module information.

Should you wish to revisit this following enrolment, these indications have been located in a permanent resource. This can be accessed at any time via the link below:

https://sotonac.sharepoint.com/teams/CourseSupplementaryInformation/SitePages/Study-Time.aspx

How we'll assess you

Summative assessment(s) usually take place at the end of each module, although some may have interim assessments throughout. Assessment methods might include written examinations and a range of coursework assessments such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations and projects for example. The marks from summative assessments count towards your module mark.

Each module normally contains at least one piece of practice or formative assessment for which you receive feedback. Formative assessments are developmental and any results do not count towards your module mark, but they are an important part of your learning.

The information available on our website gives an indication of the assessment methods used on your course, at each level of your course.

Should you wish to revisit this following enrolment, these indications have been located in a permanent resource. This can be accessed at any time via the link below: https://sotonac.sharepoint.com/teams/CourseSupplementaryInformation/SitePages/Assessment.aspx

Staff involved in delivering the different elements of the course

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on your course. The team includes senior academics, professional practitioners, specialists with industry experience, demonstrators and technical officers.

Postgraduate research students who have undertaken appropriate training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars if their research specialism is directly related to the topic of the module and may also be involved in practical classes, project work and field trips. All contributions will be carried out under the supervision of the module leader.

Fees

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and standard exams.

Extra costs you may experience

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.

Depending on the nature of your course, you may be able to choose modules which may have additional costs, such as field studies, travel overseas or industrial placements which will change the overall cost of your course. Details of these costs can be found in module information.

Please also ensure you read the section on additional costs in the Fees, Charges and Expenses Regulations.

The following course-related costs are not included in your fees:

Type	Details
Calculators	Where a calculator is required, all Casio Calculators are allowed but they must be Non-Programmable, Scientific models. More information is available in the Examination Regulations https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/assessment/assess-overview/exam-regulations.page
Stationery	You will be expected to provide your own day-to-day stationery items, e.g. pens, pencils, notebooks, etc. Any specialist stationery items that you may need will be specified in the relevant module profile.
Textbooks	Where a module specifies essential texts, the Library will identify the optimal option(s) to support the module via the course Reading List. This may include e-books (ideally with unlimited concurrent usage) or a digitised chapter extract, supported by a limited number of print books (where available). You may request that the Library purchases additional print copies via 'suggest a book', borrow an additional copy via our inter-library-loans service or you may prefer to buy your own copies for high demand titles.
Printing	In most cases, written coursework such as essays and projects are submitted online. However it may be necessary to submit a hard copy of some projects, business projects and dissertations. The costs of printing a hard copy for submission of such work will be your responsibility. You will also have to cover the cost of photocopying. https://www.southampton.ac.uk/isolutions/students/printing.
Optional Visits (e.g. museums, galleries)	Some modules may include optional visits to a museum, galleries, etc. You will normally be expected to cover the cost of travel and admission, unless otherwise specified in the module profile.

Bursaries, scholarships and other funding

We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from underrepresented backgrounds.

You may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs.

If you are a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.

You may be able to get a scholarship or grant that's linked to your chosen subject area.

Financial Support

The Student Services Centre offers support and advice regarding student finances. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course. You can find more information about financial support via our webpages: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentservices/money-matters/student-support-fund/index.page

Academic support

The Student Support Hub is your first point of contact when it comes to seeking support. The team will answer your questions or concerns about your wellbeing, fees and funding, accommodation and visas. The team will help make sure you receive the support you need, guiding you to further support services where required. You can find more information about student support via our webpages:

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentservices/index.page

One of the most important people you will meet while you are a student at Southampton is your Personal Academic Tutor, who will be allocated to you for your arrival at the University and who is normally a member of academic staff in your own or a closely related subject area. Your Personal Academic Tutor will offer one-to-one support and advice throughout your time at Southampton and will support you in your studies or with other issues you may have. You can find out more via our webpages:

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/academic-support-guidance/personal-tutor.page

Disclaimer

As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our courses to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. As a result, this course may be revised during a student's period of registration; however, any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Please read our Disclaimer to see why, when and how changes may be made to a student's course.