COURSE CURRICULUM

The BA Hons International Relations program at Lancaster offers a comprehensive exploration of global politics, providing students with the knowledge and skills to understand and analyse international systems and contemporary global issues. In the first year, students are introduced to foundational concepts, including the origins and principles of international relations, global governance, political theory, and pressing global challenges, alongside modules encouraging a broader understanding of the world through discovery-based learning. The second year deepens this knowledge, examining the reshaping of global order, political research methods, and specialised topics such as authoritarianism, global capitalism, geopolitics in the Global South, and modern conflicts, encouraging critical engagement with diverse political perspectives. In the final year, students undertake a dissertation that integrates their learning and develops research expertise, while optional modules allow further study of critical political theory, international security, policy-making, regional politics, and contemporary issues such as democracy, global crises, and strategic relations among states. The program balances theoretical understanding with practical and analytical skills, equipping students to evaluate complex international issues, understand geopolitical dynamics, and consider multiple perspectives on global affairs. Graduates are well-prepared for careers in diplomacy, international organisations, policy analysis, global business, government, and further academic research, fostering informed and adaptable professionals capable of engaging with the challenges of a dynamic global environment.