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Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Course Overview
-
L27 -
City Campus -
Full-Time -
12 Months -
20 Sep 2021
Open up a world of opportunities by exploring some of the most pressing challenges facing nations today. From climate change and conflict to trade negotiations and social inequality, you will gain an understanding of these challenges at a local and global level.
You will discover how the subject of international relations has evolved, considering traditional theories and how they compare with contemporary thinking and current events. By studying global institutions such as the World Bank, the United Nations and the EU and the role they play on the political stage, you will gain an insight into how they deal with the shifting political and social issues that influence decision making at a regional, national and worldwide level.
You will also explore the impact of globalisation and its consequences for international society, enhancing your expertise and giving you the confidence to tackle the ethical challenges occurring in the world around you.
Our course incorporates a focus on employability, personal effectiveness, advocacy, activism and research skills. You'll have access to both student and academic members of staff with a variety of interests and expertise related to the study of International Relations, all of whom share an interest in rigorous academic study and a desire for progressive social change locally and globally.
Why study International Relations at Leeds Beckett University...
- Research-led teaching
- Access to guest lectures, speakers and conferences
- Engage with charitable and public sector organisations
- Small group teaching
- Part-time options available
Everything you need to know
Discover all there is to know about the course, from entry requirements and fees to exploring the school you’ll be joining - we’ve got it covered.
Entry requirements
Applicants should either have at least a second class honours degree in the cognate subjects of Sociology, Politics, Economics, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Human Geography, History, Business Studies, Criminology, Journalism, Media Studies, Anthropology, Education Studies, Peace Studies, European Studies, International Political Economy, Social Work, Law, Social Sciences, Social Policy, Development Studies, Events Management, Marketing, Security Studies or International Relations, at least a second class honours degree in a non-cognate subject supported by evidence of an aptitude for the subject applied for, or have equivalent experience or training, normally from within the work environment. All applications should be supported by a reference, either academic or professional; you can download our reference template for completion. All applicants should satisfy our University English language requirements.
Entry requirements
Applicants should either have at least a second class honours degree in the cognate subjects of Sociology, Politics, Economics, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Human Geography, History, Business Studies, Criminology, Journalism, Media Studies, Anthropology, Education Studies, Peace Studies, European Studies, International Political Economy, Social Work, Law, Social Sciences, Social Policy, Development Studies, Events Management, Marketing, Security Studies or International Relations, at least a second class honours degree in a non-cognate subject supported by evidence of an aptitude for the subject applied for, or have equivalent experience or training, normally from within the work environment. All applications should be supported by a reference, either academic or professional; you can download our reference template for completion. All applicants should satisfy our University English language requirements.
Selection Criteria
We may use selection criteria based on your personal attributes; experience and/or commitment to the area of study. This information will be derived from your personal statement and reference and will only be used if you have met the general entry requirements.
IELTS
IELTS 6.0 with no skills below 5.5, or an equivalent qualification. The University provides excellent support for any applicant who may be required to undertake additional English language courses.
Mature Applicants:
Our university welcomes applications from mature applicants who demonstrate academic potential. If you have recent relevant work experience and/or professional qualifications, we may be able to consider you for entry through our ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ policy. Please ensure that you list both your qualifications and relevant work experience in your application.
All applicants should meet our standard entry requirements of GCSE grade C in English language and, where specified, Maths. Alternative qualifications such as functional skills are accepted in lieu of GCSEs for most courses.
Independent study is a crucial part of learning at university and you will be required to undertake many hours of self-directed research and reading, and preparation and writing of assessments. Your course is delivered through a number of modules, which will help you to plan your time and establish a study routine. Outside of your lectures, workshops and tutorials, a range of support is available to assist with your independent study. Our subject-specific librarians will be on hand to direct you to the specialist learning and study-skill resources. You’ll also be assigned an academic advisor to give you tailored feedback and support.
Our silver status in the latest Teaching Excellence Framework, reflects our commitment to deliver high-quality teaching, learning and outcomes for our students.
Teaching & Learning
Distance Learning - overall workload
If you choose to study this course by distance learning, as a guideline you will need to allocate around 10 hours per week to complete each module plus a further five hours for additional reading and assignments. These 10 hours of teaching and learning will be delivered using a range of interactive resources, this typically includes audio and video content, group discussions, reflective exercises, quizzes, online reading and much more. All these resources are delivered through our Virtual Learning Environment and can be accessed at a time and place that suits you.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic we are currently unable to advise on the mode of teaching for September 2021, however we will keep you updated and provide more information as soon as we can. We continue to follow government guidance and your teaching and learning will reflect the restrictions in place at the time of delivery. We currently anticipate that you may experience a blended approach – this is a mix of face-to-face, on campus and online teaching and learning. You can keep up to date with teaching and learning at Leeds Beckett via our Covid-19 website. Updated course specifications will be available in August 2021. In the meantime, our existing course specifications are available.
What you'll learn
Learn how to deploy the principal classical and contemporary theories of International Relations by developing theory within the context of modern and historical case studies.
Gain an understanding of the concepts, theories and methods used in the study of global development. You will study the origins, evolution and contemporary dynamics of development within the international system and the challenges facing it, and you will be able to apply your knowledge of global development with originality within advanced academic settings.
Explore the contested conceptualisation of human rights, via universalist/relativist and cosmopolitan/communitarian debates, and locate the theorisation of rights within the broad schools of international relations thought. You’ll study the tensions that emerge through the institutionalisation of rights at an international level, the operation of sovereignty and the politics of rights at a group and individual level.
Explore the possibilities and challenges of taking gender seriously within both international relations and international political economy. You will study key theoretical, conceptual, empirical, and practice debates surrounding the role of gender in international politics and global political economy.
Engage in critical depth with a research-based project aligned to your personal interests and professional aspirations.
What you'll learn
Consider how projects fit within organisations, and how they are developed, funded and managed. You will be introduced to the essential components including planning, evaluation, ethics and governance issues, and stakeholder engagement.
Explore acts of war, political violence and ‘crimes of aggression’ through the lens of criminological discourse. You will develop an in-depth understanding of war and its relationship with ‘crime’ by critically evaluating the role of individual states, international communities, as well as victims, bystanders and known perpetrators or combatants.
This module interrogates the concept of insecurity and draws on a range of theories and understandings of security, and how this has evolved from a focus on the state to incorporate human security. You will explore the relationship between conflict, security and development, including the roles of key actors, agencies, policies and interventions, and key intersections of gender, ethnicity, poverty and exclusion. You will also examine responses to traditional and new security threats from a human rights perspective via a range of local and global case studies.
Critically examine the interrelationship between the theoretical rationale for globalisation and its policy and practice in relation to the issues of the political economy of development and growth.
Gain a better understanding of the environmental dilemmas that confront us in the contemporary world, by moving beyond the limitations of mainstream economic analysis in coming to terms with the threats of environmental degradation and climate change. This module tries to reawaken a broader type of ethical, natural and social theorisation which has been present in political economy at least since the 18th century.
Fees & Funding
£7,500
Home / EU 2021
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2021/22 is £7500. The amount you will pay may increase each year to take into account the effects of inflation.
£14,000
International 2021
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2021/22 is £14000. The amount you will pay is fixed at this level for each year of your course.
Fees & Funding
£7,500
For students entering in 2021
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2021/22 is £7500. The amount you will pay may increase each year to take into account the effects of inflation.
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.
Essential Costs
- Travel, accommodation and sustenance associated with your dissertation, research projects or data collection (the cost will vary depending on your topic and individual project and you could choose to undertake a project that does not have any associated costs or conduct it in a cost-effective manner)
Optional Costs
- Educational visits; the details and location will vary, sometimes trips are free, but the costs you will need to pay could include travel, accommodation and subsistence
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
Additional information
For further information on financing your studies or information about whether you may qualify for one additional support or scholarships, follow the links below:
£14,000
For students entering in 2021
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2021/22 is £14000. The amount you will pay is fixed at this level for each year of your course.
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.
Essential Costs
- Travel, accommodation and sustenance associated with your dissertation, research projects or data collection (the cost will vary depending on your topic and individual project and you could choose to undertake a project that does not have any associated costs or conduct it in a cost-effective manner)
Optional Costs
- Educational visits; the details and location will vary, sometimes trips are free, but the costs you will need to pay could include travel, accommodation and subsistence
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
Additional information
For further information on financing your studies or information about whether you may qualify for one additional support or scholarships, follow the links below:
My previous experience has allowed me to build international professional networks that provide me with insights into the challenges and solutions for a more peaceful and just world, which I thoroughly enjoy sharing with my students. Teaching is exciting because I get to work with courageous people who are changing their communities for the better.
Professor Rachel Julian
Professor
Your future in our hands
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a course. Take a look at the team you’ll be working with, employability statistics and career prospects to help make up your mind.
The course allowed me the freedom to explore how charities are run and how ethics are imposed within the organisation
Nicholas Renn Nichol
Managing Director AptART, BSc (Hons) International Relations & Global Development
Professor Rachel Julian
Professor / Leeds School Of Social Sciences
Dr Rachel Julian is a researcher and expert on peace, the power of community action and Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping. In addition to researching the significance of local voices in social change, she works with Nonviolent Peaceforce in Myanmar on understanding the lives and work of civilian ceasefire monitors.
Career Prospects
You’ll have an in-depth understanding of the social and political challenges that affect nations around the globe, with the capacity to cope with these challenges in employment as well as political and social engagement. Our graduates have taken their qualification into a variety of areas, from roles within marketing and communications, to working for NATO and becoming an MP.
- Diplomat
- International Charity Worker
- Government Consultant
- Journalist
Beckett Careers Team
Our careers service is not just there for undergraduates, we support our postgraduate taught and research students too.
Your postgraduate degree will boost your CV and help you stand out from the crowd. Whether you're just starting out on your chosen career path, changing careers or moving to the next level, we can provide you with expert advice and resources to help you take the next steps to achieving your goals.
Your Beckett experience
At Leeds Beckett your experience is important to us, find out more about what to expect from your time on this course and life at uni.
Experience Leeds Beckett
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