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Politics and International Relations at UEA
Find out more about studying Politics and International Relations at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreBA (Hons) Politics with a Year Abroad
Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Arts
- UCAS Course Code
- L20A
- Typical Offer
- ABB
- Contextual Offer
- BBC
- Course Length
- 4 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2027
Other Course Options
Other Start Dates
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14th
UEA is ranked 14th overall for research quality in Politics and International Studies
Times Higher Education REF 2021 Analysis91%
Of students were positive about the support provided by teaching staff
Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024-25Course Overview
Why BA Politics with a Year Abroad at UEA?
Study how power works while learning from experts shaping debates in Westminster and beyond. Develop analytical, communication, and practical skills to make an impact in your future career. Spend your third year studying abroad.
Why choose UEA?
- Inside Westminster: Go beyond textbook politics by meeting officials and experiencing Westminster from the inside
- Lively debates: Study how power works by debating your ideas in lively seminars
- Politics in action: Explore elections, protest movements, public policy, political communication, and global justice across a dynamic curriculum
What is BA Politics with a Year Abroad?
Politics examines how power is distributed, contested, and justified, from local councils to international institutions. You’ll study political ideas, institutions, and actors through comparative, theoretical, and empirical lenses.
Seminars emphasise debate, group projects, and real-world exercises that mirror real decision-making environments. Guest speakers, field visits, and online engagement bring contemporary politics into the classroom each week.
Flexible study pathways allow you to explore elections, protests, public policy, political communication, and global justice. You’ll be supported by a close-knit department committed to helping you succeed in your studies and future career.
You’ll spend your third year studying abroad at one of our global partner institutions. This experience broadens your academic perspective, builds cultural awareness, and enhances your future career opportunities.
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Year Abroad
On this four-year course, you’ll spend your third year studying abroad. You’ll study at one of UEA’s partner universities worldwide, with destinations including Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, Europe, Latin America, Canada, and the USA.
Studying abroad broadens your academic and cultural horizons while building confidence and communication skills. It also adds valuable international experience to your CV, helping you stand out to employers.
Partner destinations vary each year, so flexibility in your preferred location is recommended. You’ll need a 55% average across your first two years to participate. If your plans change, you can transfer to the three-year version of the degree at any time.
Check out study abroad.
Careers
Career Pathways
With a BA Politics with a Year Abroad degree, you could develop a career as a:
- Policy Officer: Develop and review policies for government departments, local councils, or public institutions
- Campaign Manager: Organise advocacy campaigns and strategies for charities, NGOs, or political groups
- Political Journalist: Report on elections, governments, and political events for media organisations
- Public Affairs Consultant: Advise organisations on government relations, regulation, and political developments
- Politics Researcher: Conduct research on political issues for universities, think tanks, or policy organisations
Career Support
Career Central offers one-to-one guidance, skills workshops, and employer events tailored to politics, public policy, and related careers. You can access mentoring from UEA alumni working in government, NGOs, and political communivation across the world. Specialist resources help you find internships, volunteering, and part-time roles that build relevant experience and networks. You’ll receive full access to career support and vacancies up to three years after graduation.
After the Course
Graduates progress into roles across government, NGOs, journalism, public affairs, consultancy, and international organisations. Your ability to analyse evidence, argue persuasively, and understand power dynamics is highly transferable between sectors. Many continue onto Master’s programmes in politics, public policy, international relations, or law, including at UEA. A global alumni community provides networking events, mentoring, and sector insights long after you graduate.
Study and Modules
Structure
You’ll begin to study politics at university with compulsory modules that will help you build a strong foundation of knowledge. You’ll study political institutions and actors, political communication and the media, as well as politics on the international stage. You'll also explore the ideologies that structure our understanding of politics, such as liberalism, feminism, conservatism, and socialism.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
In the second year, you'll take core modules that will give you analytical tools, enabling you to pursue your independent study and research. You’ll examine the political world systematically, by comparing political processes and forms of government from across the world.
You’ll also be encouraged to specialise by choosing modules that focus on more specific ideas, topics or geographic regions that interest you. This will help shape your expertise based on the things that you feel passionate about.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 40)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 40)Optional C Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 20)Optional D Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 20)Optional G Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 40)Optional H Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 40)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
On this course, you'll spend your third year studying abroad at one of our many partner institutions across the globe. This is a brilliant opportunity to experience living in another country, see how your subject and others are studied there, develop greater confidence and enhanced communication skills, and gain experiences that will help your CV stand out to employers.
Check out our Study Abroad pages to learn more.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
In your final year, you’ll become increasingly independent in your learning. You'll be able to choose from a broad range of optional modules. In addition, supervised by our staff, you could write a dissertation on a topic of your choice, or undertake a group research project. The final year will provide you with the analytical, theoretical and methodological tools you’ll need to excel in your future career.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 30, Max Credits: 60)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 30)Optional C Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 30)Optional D Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 30)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
Teaching combines lectures, small-group seminars, workshops, and simulations, all delivered by research-active political specialists. Discussion-led seminars connect theory to current events, encouraging debate and critical reflection on live political controversies. Guest speakers, public events, and digital platforms like Eastminister and Politics on the Edge extend learning beyond the classroom. You’re supported to become an independent learner through guided reading, formative tasks, and regular academic advising.
Year one builds core knowledge through lectures plus seminars where you debate readings and practise presenting arguments.
Year two introduces more specialised topics and research methods, with workshops developing your independent research and policy-writing skills.
In year three, while on your year abroad, you'll usually have to study at least 50% of your modules in your main area of academic specialism(s) at UEA, but you'll also have opportunities to explore other subjects if you wish (depending on exact topics and modules offered by your host university).
Year four centres on advanced option modules, small-group supervision, and extended projects such as dissertations or external research collaborations.
Assessment
Assessment is varied to help you develop strong academic and professional skills. You’ll complete essays, policy briefs, case studies, and presentations across the degree. Assessments are designed to test your analytical ability, communication skills, and understanding of global issues. Support is available through feedback, academic skills workshops, and supervisor guidance.
In the first year, assessments introduce you to academic writing and evidence‑based argument. Tasks help you build confidence in presenting ideas clearly.
In year two, you’ll complete more analytical assessments, including research methods tasks and thematic essays. Assignments strengthen your ability to interpret data and evaluate complex global issues.
On your year abroad, you'll undertake assessments in modules in your host university. You'll need to pass the year abroad, but your marks don’t count towards your final degree classification.
In your final year, you’ll produce an independent research project with specialist guidance. Advanced modules include applied assessments that reflect real-world professional tasks.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade C or grade 4.
In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.
- Contextual Offers
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes(opens in a new window).
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
A levels
ABB
Contextual offer: BBC
BTEC
DDM
Contextual offer: DMM
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers.
Access to HE Diploma
Access to Humanities and Social Sciences Pathway. Pass Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 30 credits at Level 3 and with Merit in 15 credits at Level 3.
Contextual Offer: Access to Humanities and Social Sciences Pathway. Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Merit in 30 credits at Level 3 and pass in 15 credits at Level 3.
T levels
Obtain an overall Merit.
Foundation Year Options:
If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes.
- Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements
International Baccalaureate
32 points overall.
Irish Leaving Certificate
3 subjects at H2, 3 subjects at H3
Scottish Highers
AAABB or above.
A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable.
Scottish Advanced Highers
BCC or above.
A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable.
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy(opens in a new window) applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Progression
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade C or grade 4.
In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
A levels
ABB
International Baccalaureate
32 points overall.
We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. For specific details about your country, view our information for International Students(opens in a new window)
- UEA International Study Centre
If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, UEA International Study Centre(opens in a new window) offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, UEA International Study Centre offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy(opens in a new window) applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Progression
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2027/28 are:
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UK Students: £10,050
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International Students: £24,250
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships(opens in a new window) for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see additional course fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
Apply for this course through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), using UCAS Hub.
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started. (opens in a new window)
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information: