BA (Hons) Politics and International Relations with a Year in Continental Europe

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Kent

Program Overview

If you’re curious about how governments work, what drives global events, and how nations cooperate (or clash), Kent’s Politics and International Relations with a Year in Continental Europe is the perfect fit. You’ll explore the world of power, diplomacy, and ideas — while also living and studying in another European country for a year, giving you the kind of cultural and academic experience that employers love.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Building your foundation
Your first year introduces you to the key ideas and systems that shape political life. Through modules like Making Sense of Politics, Roots of Contemporary Politics, and Understanding Change in British Politics, you’ll learn how political institutions work, what influences global decision-making, and how to analyze power and ideology in action. It’s the year you start thinking like a political scientist.

Year 2 – Expanding your world view
In the second year, you’ll strengthen your research and analytical skills through modules like Doing Politics with Words and Doing Politics with Numbers. You’ll also explore topics like Global Governance of Peace and Security and Democracy Under Threat, uncovering how countries collaborate to solve international crises. It’s also the time to choose specializations — from EU politics to political economy or American government.

Year 3 – Your year in Europe
This is the highlight of your degree! You’ll spend an exciting year studying at one of Kent’s partner universities across Europe — in countries like Finland, Norway, Turkey, or the Czech Republic. You’ll experience a new academic culture, improve your language skills, and build lifelong international connections while earning credit toward your degree.

Year 4 – Bringing it all together
Back at Kent, you’ll work on a Final Year Project or dissertation that reflects your interests — maybe investigating global power shifts, public opinion, or political leadership. Optional modules like Negotiation: Theory and Practice, Dictatorships, or Transforming British Politics let you dig deeper into areas you care about most and showcase your ability to think critically and communicate persuasively.

Focus Areas:
Comparative politics, global governance, political theory, European integration, diplomacy, and conflict studies.

Learning Outcomes:
By graduation, you’ll know how to research and analyze political issues, communicate complex ideas clearly, and understand how global systems operate — skills that open doors to careers in international organizations, government, NGOs, media, and more.

Professional Alignment:
This degree isn’t just academic — it’s practical. Kent’s strong links with government agencies, NGOs, and international partners mean you’ll graduate ready to enter fields like diplomacy, journalism, policy analysis, or global consultancy.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings):
Kent ranks among the Top 40 UK universities (Times Good University Guide 2025) and is known for its supportive academic environment — with 90 % of Politics students rating their experience positively in the National Student Survey 2024. Graduates have gone on to roles in the UN, NATO, Foreign Office, and major think tanks.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Kent, you won’t just study politics — you’ll live it. This program brings together theory, debate, and real-world experience so you can see how global decisions are made and how policies take shape. You’ll work on group projects, take part in live simulations, and learn to think like a diplomat, researcher, and policy analyst all at once. Plus, your year abroad in continental Europe lets you experience political systems firsthand, giving you the global perspective that makes Kent graduates stand out.

Here’s how you’ll gain practical, hands-on experience throughout your degree:

Real-world simulations & group projects: In modules such as Negotiation: Theory and Practice and Global Governance of Peace and Security, you’ll step into the shoes of world leaders, diplomats, and policymakers — running mock summits, drafting policy documents, and collaborating on international case studies.
Practical research training: Through workshops and research seminars, you’ll learn to use political data and analysis tools — from discourse analysis techniques to basic statistical software — helping you produce evidence-based reports and dissertations that mirror professional work.
Year abroad experience: Your third year abroad at a partner university in Europe is a unique opportunity to live and study international relations in action. You’ll experience a different academic culture, improve your language skills, and engage with new perspectives on European politics.
Specialist academic support: You’ll have access to the Templeman Library, home to thousands of political science journals and international relations archives, along with dedicated study zones and online research databases.
Research networks & events: Kent’s School of Politics and International Relations regularly hosts guest lectures and student-led workshops through its research clusters — connecting you with academics, visiting speakers, and professionals from government and NGOs.
Field exposure & conferences: Some modules include local field visits or academic trips to political hubs like London or Brussels, helping you link classroom theory to real institutions and policy discussions.
Comprehensive student support: Kent students consistently rate their learning environment highly — with over 90% of Politics students praising the academic and resource support provided by the university.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from Kent’s Politics and International Relations program means you’ll step into the world ready to make a real difference. Whether you want to work in government, diplomacy, research, or global development, you’ll leave with sharp analytical skills, cross-cultural experience, and the confidence to tackle international challenges head-on. Employers value Kent graduates for their ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and understand global perspectives — all essential traits in today’s interconnected world.

Here’s how Kent helps you turn your degree into a meaningful career:

Personalised career support: The Careers and Employability Service runs one-to-one guidance sessions, CV-building workshops, mock interviews, and an annual Employability Festival (EmpFest) where you’ll meet top recruiters and Kent alumni working in global organisations.
Strong graduate outcomes: Around 85% of Kent Politics graduates are employed or pursuing further study within 15 months of graduation, earning an average starting salary of around £31,000.
Real-world connections: Kent graduates have gone on to work for the UK Parliament, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), European Commission, United Nations, Amnesty International, and Oxfam — reflecting the degree’s strong reputation in political and international circles.
Global edge: Your Year in Continental Europe gives you not just academic credit, but real-life adaptability, language skills, and a global network — making you stand out in international careers and postgraduate applications.
Career versatility: Graduates pursue diverse paths as policy analysts, foreign service officers, NGO programme managers, communications specialists, or research consultants, with many working in international policy, journalism, or diplomacy.

Further Academic Progression:
If you decide to continue studying, this degree opens doors to postgraduate programs such as MA International Relations, MA Diplomacy, MA Public Policy, or MSc Global Governance and Conflict Studies. Many graduates also branch into areas like Law (GDL/LLM) or Journalism, building on the strong analytical and writing skills gained at Kent.