Politics and International Relations BA

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

The University of Sheffield

Program Overview

If you’re fascinated by politics, power, and the big issues shaping our world, Sheffield’s Politics and International Relations BA gives you the tools to dig deep. You’ll explore everything from democracy and justice to global conflict, climate change, and migration — while developing the research and analytical skills that employers value.

Curriculum structure

First year
Your first year is about building a strong foundation. You’ll learn how political scientists actually work through Political Analysis 1: An Introduction to Research and Scholarship, while Thinking Politically: Key Concepts introduces you to the big ideas like power, freedom, and justice. Modules such as The World’s Wicked Problems and Introduction to Global Political Economy bring those ideas to life by looking at pressing global challenges like climate change, migration, and inequality.

Second year
In your second year, things get more applied. Political Analysis 2: How to do Empirical Research will give you hands-on skills in gathering and analysing evidence, while Political Theory in Practice helps you use theory to tackle real-world issues. You can also choose from fascinating options like Autocracies and Democracies, Chinese Politics, or Security Studies to tailor your learning to what excites you most.

Third year
Your final year is all about independence and specialisation. You’ll complete a dissertation on a topic you’re passionate about, with support from a supervisor. Alongside that, you’ll choose from a wide range of modules — like Political Psychology, Leadership Ethics, Global Culture Wars, or Armed Conflict — so you can leave Sheffield with real expertise in areas that matter to you.

Focus areas

Political theory and ideas, international relations and global challenges, comparative politics, research methods, specialist optional topics like gender, migration, and political economy.

Learning outcomes

By the time you graduate, you’ll know how to analyse politics critically, carry out your own research, and apply theories to real-world problems. You’ll also become a confident communicator who can explain complex issues clearly — a skill that’s highly valued in any career.

Professional alignment

The course doesn’t carry a formal professional accreditation, but it’s designed to connect you with real opportunities. You can take a placement year in industry or a year abroad, and many modules include skills directly linked to policy, research, and practitioner work.

Reputation

Sheffield is consistently recognised for excellence in this field:

Top 10 in the UK for International Relations (Guardian University Guide 2025)
Top 10 in the UK for Politics (The Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025)
90.4% of graduates in employment or further study within 15 months (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021-22)
Ranked in the world top 100 for Politics (QS World University Rankings by Subject).

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Sheffield, you won’t just sit in lecture halls learning theory — you’ll actually do politics. From your first year, you’ll be building practical skills: presenting in groups, creating podcasts or policy briefs, and testing out research methods on real issues. You’ll also study in modern, student-friendly spaces like The Wave and Elmfield, designed for collaboration as much as independent work. And if you want to boost your career prospects, the department makes it easy to take a placement year or even study abroad.

Here’s a taste of the hands-on opportunities and facilities you’ll have access to:

Placement year – Spend a year working in industry or the public sector between your second and third year. It’s a chance to apply what you’ve learned in real organisations, build confidence, and graduate with professional experience.
Internships & volunteering – Supported by the University’s careers team, these short-term opportunities connect you to employers and community projects, giving you CV-worthy skills while you study.
Course projects – Not everything is an essay. You’ll work on group debates, produce podcasts and blogs, and even create visual projects like posters that communicate complex political issues to wider audiences.
Specialist facilities – You’ll study in The Wave (with its flexible lecture and seminar rooms) and Elmfield (home to social spaces and seminar teaching), plus make use of the Information Commons and Diamond for 24/7 library access, digital tools, and dedicated group work rooms.
Library and digital resources – Sheffield’s five library sites give you access to over 1.3 million books and journals, plus a huge range of e-resources and specialist support from librarians.
Mentoring scheme – In your final year, you can be matched with a mentor (often Sheffield alumni) working in areas like government, think tanks, or NGOs, helping you shape your next steps.

Progression & Future Opportunities

A Politics and International Relations degree from Sheffield opens doors in so many directions. Recent graduates have gone into roles like policy analysis, international development, media and communications, and even diplomacy and foreign affairs. What they all have in common is the ability to take the skills they learned here — critical thinking, research, and communication — and apply them to jobs that really make an impact.

Here’s how Sheffield sets you up for success:

Dedicated careers support – The Faculty Employability Team runs workshops, networking events, and helps with CVs and interviews. You’ll also have access to Sheffield’s central Careers Service, which connects you with employers in government, charities, NGOs, media, and the private sector.
Strong graduate outcomes – An impressive 90.4% of graduates from this course were in work or further study just 15 months after finishing. The average starting salary is around £25,500–£26,000, with many earning more depending on their chosen sector.
Placement and industry links – You can choose to take a placement year, giving you professional experience before you even graduate. Students have worked in a range of organisations, from NGOs and charities to public sector and business roles.
Reputation that lasts – Sheffield is ranked Top 10 in the UK for Politics and International Relations in major league tables, and its research was rated world-leading in the most recent REF (2021). That global recognition means your degree carries weight wherever you go.
Real-world preparation – Employers value Sheffield graduates: most report that their jobs match their long-term career goals, and unemployment rates are very low (just about 5% 15 months after graduating).

Further Academic Progression:
If you want to keep studying, you’ll have excellent options. Many graduates move straight into master’s degrees in International Relations, Public Policy, Security Studies, or Political Theory. Others stay on for research degrees (MPhil or PhD), while some combine their Sheffield degree with professional qualifications to move into areas like diplomacy, law, or NGO leadership.