Politics and International Relations (Placement Year)

BA Hons

  • UCAS code L251
  • Entry year 2026 or 2025
  • A level requirements ABB
  • Duration Full time 4 years
Open days
Request a prospectus
Virtual tour

We welcome applications from the United States of America

We've put together information and resources to guide your application journey as a student from the United States of America.

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • Study abroad and placement opportunities

  • Connect with experts in global politics

  • 2nd in the UK for Research Power in Politics (REF2021)

Today’s world is complex and fast-paced. Studying Politics and International Relations at Lancaster will give you the tools to understand the forces shaping the twenty-first century, and the political interactions that occur within and among nations. Our cutting-edge programme introduces you to the concepts, methods, and theories of politics and international relations, revealing how power is exercised, how policies are formed, and how decisions are made. As you become an expert in politics and international relations, how will you use your knowledge? What part might you play in responding to global challenges?

Why Lancaster?

  • Join a degree like no other that combines domestic politics, global affairs, and international relations, giving you a well-rounded understanding of global issues
  • Learn from a team of experts who work with UK local, regional, and national governments, make regular media appearances, and who shape the future of politics and international relations
  • Join one of only 20 universities to offer a parliamentary studies module, run in conjunction with UK Parliament
  • Learn how to tackle difficult questions with confidence, whilst building your skills in debating, presenting, and writing policy briefs
  • Take advantage of internship opportunities, where you can work on research projects with NGOs, think tanks and charities

Ask the big questions

How will new patterns of migrations change politics within and between nations in the 21st century? How will AI and cyber technologies change the practice of politics, security, and war? How will Europe and America respond to the rise of China and the changing balance of global power?

When you study politics and international relations at Lancaster you will explore these questions and more. You will learn from world-leading specialists in the politics of the UK, Europe, America, Russia, Africa, India, China, and the Middle East. You’ll be exposed to ongoing debates in the fields of public policy, diplomacy and warfare, and directly engage with the strategic implications of rapidly advancing technologies. Overall, you will be trained to think about politics with a truly global mindset.

Going beyond the traditional study of politics and international relations, you will explore critical problems in depth, whilst gaining a comprehensive understanding of contemporary political debates and developments from top experts in the field.

Global Challenges. Innovative Solutions.

You will gain a rigorous understanding of the theories and analytical methods used to research politics and international relations, while exploring your own regional and thematic interests. Our programme offers innovative perspectives on the most urgent challenges facing Britain and the world today such as climate change, social inequalities, cultural division, gender rights, immigration, and security. You’ll learn through real-life case studies and gain transferable skills by participating in innovative simulations and policy workshops, helping you develop creative ideas and solutions to global challenges.

Bringing together critical engagement with theory and cutting edge applied analytical research skills, you will learn to engage with these global challenges from many different perspectives, using your knowledge to develop innovative and sustainable solutions.

During this course, you will explore a range of fascinating themes and topics including:

  • Power, politics and policy:Critically engage with foundational ideas and debates in policymaking, democracy, climate change and global inequalities for real-world application of these ideas.
  • The future role of the state: Engage with the increasingly interconnected role of states in politics and their capacity to respond to the challenges of our time.
  • A changing global order: Explore the impact of globalisation on the rise of new powers, the decline of old ones, and the implications for global governance.
  • War, (in)security, and conflict: Analyse the dynamics of contemporary conflicts, the evolving nature of warfare, and the challenges to international security.
  • Cyber threats and disinformation: Analyse the challenges posed by cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and the erosion of trust in digital information in a fast-changing technological environment.
  • Global capitalism and economic inequality: Explore the impact of globalization on economic inequality, social justice, and labour rights.
  • Peacebuilding and conflict resolution: Familiarise yourself with research-informed strategies to foster peace and rebuilding in conflict-affected societies.

A career focussed skill set

Throughout the course, you will be encouraged to build your academic and employability skills, giving you a strong foundation to excel in your future career. You will master research and data analysis techniques, vitally important for many competitive global careers. Driven by cutting-edge research and current global developments, hands-on projects and collaborative experiences that mirror the challenges of the professional world will equip you with the problem-solving and critical thinking skills to tackle these issues.

Putting this knowledge and skill set into practice, you will be supported in presenting your work across a range of mediums. You will learn through interactive and collaborative sessions such as policy labs, and simulations including mock select committees, mock citizens assembly and mock PMQs. To present your work, you could be creating a policy brief, podcast, reflective diary, blog, research portfolio, or policy memo and evaluation.

You will have the opportunity to boost your prospects further by applying for one of the annual internships offered by Lancaster’s Richardson Institute for Peace Studies. This competitive programme allows you to work alongside leading policy and research organisations whilst providing you with opportunities to:

  • Publish your work
  • Work with students across the school on high-impact research projects
  • Work with organisations such as NGOs, think tanks, and charities
  • Gain valuable work experience that will be attractive to future employers

Your Placement Year

Sometimes known as a year in industry, your placement year will take place between your second and final year of study and this will extend your degree to four years.

Placements and Internships

Hear from students and employers on how Lancaster University could support you to gain real-world experience and bolster your CV with a placement or internship as part of your degree.

A student working on a piece of stained glass.

A placement year is an excellent way to...

  • try out a role that you may be interested in as a career path
  • start to build your professional network (some placement students are offered permanent roles to return to after they graduate)
  • develop skills, knowledge and experience to put you ahead of the field when you graduate

You'll spend your third year...

in a graduate-level position, where you’ll work for between nine and twelve months in the type of role that you might be considering for after you graduate. A very wide range of companies and organisations offer placements across all sectors.

As a full-time employee, you’ll have a job description with specific responsibilities and opportunities to access training and development, the same as other employees.

A whiteboard showing a diagram of 'how to create a CV'

Our Careers and Placements Team...

will help you to search and compete for a suitable placement with expert advice and resources, such as creating an effective CV, and tips for applications and interviews.

You will still be a Lancaster University student during your placement and we’ll keep in touch to check how you are getting on.

Students drinking coffee in a campus coffee bar

The university will...

use all reasonable effort to support you to find a suitable placement for your studies. While a placement role may not be available in a field or organisation that is directly related to your academic studies or career aspirations, all offer valuable experience of working at a graduate level and gaining a range of professional skills.

If you are unsuccessful in securing a suitable placement for your third year, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent non-placement degree scheme and continue with your studies at Lancaster, finishing your degree after your third year.

The Richardson Institute

Formed in 1959, the Richardson Institute is the oldest peace and conflict research centre in the UK. Since 2012 it has provided an internship programme that gives students the opportunity to work with different organisations on issues of peace and conflict.

Richardson Institute

Careers

This programme will equip you with a versatile skill set that prepares you for a wide range of exciting careers. Throughout your studies, you will develop the awareness and ability to analyse global politics trends, making you a critically aware, applied problem-solver, and excellent communicator.

Graduates of this programme go on to rewarding careers in many roles including:

  • Government policy maker
  • Civil servant or diplomatic service officer
  • Political advisor for a think tank, trade union or political party
  • Politician
  • Social and environmental advocate
  • Public affairs
  • International aid worker
  • Relief worker in a humanitarian organisation
  • Teacher of higher education
  • Journalist
  • Lawyer
  • Public affairs consultant
  • Business manager or consultant

Many of our graduates also choose to progress to postgraduate study, taking a master’s degree in politics, international relations or a related field.

Careers and employability support

Our degrees open up an extremely wide array of career pathways in businesses and organisations, large and small, in the UK and overseas.

We run a paid internship scheme specifically for our arts, humanities and social sciences students, supported by a specialist Employability Team. The team offer individual consultations and tailored application guidance, as well as careers events, development opportunities, and resources.

Whether you have a clear idea of your potential career path or need some help considering the options, our friendly team is on hand.

Lancaster is unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which recognises activities such as work experience, community engagement or volunteering and social development. A valuable addition to your CV!

Find out more about Lancaster’s careers events, extensive resources and personal support for Careers and Employability.

Careers

Find out about some of the careers our alumni have entered into after graduation.

Entry requirements

These are the typical grades that you will need to study this course. You may need to have qualifications in relevant subjects. In some cases we may also ask you to attend an interview or submit a portfolio. You must also meet our English language requirements.

Find more about these qualifications and others not shown here

Learn about how we will assess your application

Qualifications and typical requirements accordion

Contact Admissions

If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, please complete our enquiry form and one of our team will get back to you.

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

Course structure

Enhancing our curriculum

We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future.

We will publish more detailed information about the structure of this degree course for 2026-entry in June 2025, ahead of our summer undergraduate open days. This will include overviews of the core modules you will take and examples of optional modules which may be available to you.

Fees and funding

We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2026/27 entry fees have not yet been set.

As a guide, our fees in 2025/26 were:

Home International
£9,535 £24,700

Fees and funding information

Additional fees and funding information accordion

Scholarships and bursaries

Details of our scholarships and bursaries for students starting in 2026 are not yet available.

You can use our scholarships for 2025-entry applicants as guidance.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2026/2027 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

Undergraduate open days 2025

Our summer and autumn open days will give you Lancaster University in a day. Visit campus and put yourself in the picture.

Undergraduate Open Days
two students sitting and reading on some outdoor steps

  • Virtual tour

    Take five minutes and let us show you what Lancaster has to offer, from our beautiful green campus to our colleges, teaching and sports facilities.

  • Accommodation guide

    Most first-year undergraduate students choose to live on campus, where you’ll find accommodation to suit different preferences and budgets.

  • The city and beyond

    Our historic city is student-friendly and home to a diverse and welcoming community. Beyond the city you'll find a stunning coastline and the picturesque Lake District.