Teaching is at the centre of the activities of the School of Government and International Affairs, where you will enjoy a vibrant and challenging intellectual environment. The School places great importance on research-led teaching, which integrates new and cutting-edge research into the curriculum and will introduce you to a variety of research-oriented skills and research-based projects. Teaching takes the form of lectures and small group seminars, with an emphasis on encouraging our students to become independent thinkers, able to locate, analyse, and question subject material with the skills learned in the course of their studies.
Students on this degree learn through a diversity of assessment methods, including but not limited to examinations and unseen essay questions, essays, group projects, and a dissertation. Modules are assessed during the year of study, with each module offering multiple chances for assessment and feedback on student work. In your final year, you will submit a dissertation, which allows you to explore in depth a topic of your choice. You will be assigned a supervisor to assist you in the design and production of your dissertation.
All of these are supported by a virtual learning environment, Durham University Online (DUO). Seminars provide the opportunity for students to engage in discussion of a particular topic and/or to explore it in more detail than might be covered in a lecture. Student participation is an important part of seminars. This emphasis on small-group teaching reflects a conscious choice to enhance the quality of the learning experience rather than the number of formal sessions.
Small-group teaching and one-to-one attention from the personal academic advisor (provided for all students when they enter the degree) are part of the learning experience throughout, but by the final year classroom time gives way, to some extent, to independent research, including a dissertation – supported by one-on-one supervision – that makes up a third of final year credits.
In this way, the degree systematically transforms you from a consumer of knowledge in the classroom to a generator of knowledge, ready for professional or postgraduate life. These formal teaching arrangements are supported by “drop-in” surgeries with teaching staff and induction sessions that begin in the week before the start of the course and continue at key times throughout each year of the degree.
Our degree, through the diversity of assessments, simulations, independent learning, and various classroom based activities aim to provide you with multiple opportunities to develop a range of important transferable and employability skills including: complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, people management, coordinating work others, time management, judgment and decision making, and cognitive flexibility.
As a student in the School of Government and International Affairs, you can also attend an extensive programme of research-focused seminars where staff, guest speakers, and visiting scholars present their cutting edge research.
Course Details - Modules
Description
Taught by expert staff, undergraduate education in Politics at Durham is structured around the study of International Relations, International Organisations, Security and Theory. In addition to learning research skills, the degree includes the opportunity to study the politics and international relations of specific regions, as well as theoretical examinations that help us to understand how we make sense of a complex and inter-connected world. You will move from general study in these areas in your early years to more specialised options in Years 2 and 3.
Modules in the second and third years reflect the research expertise of the School’s academic staff. Such areas include, but are not limited to: European Politics, Comparative Politics, Political Thought and Political Theory, Theory, Middle East Politics, the Politics of East Asia, International Relations, and International Political Theory.
The School places great importance on research-led teaching, which integrates new and cutting-edge research into the curriculum and introduces you to a variety of research-oriented skills and research-based projects
You will also have the opportunity to apply for a one-year study placement in one of the following institutions: Boston College in the USA; the University of British Columbia in Canada; the University of Hong Kong; and the National University of Singapore.
Year 1
Compulsory modules:
Introduction to International Relations
International Security, Interdependence and Organisation
Global Regions in International Relations
Researching Politics and International Relations.
Plus one of the following:
Democratic Political Systems
Political Theory
Comparative Politics
One module offered by another department OR one module offered by the Centre for Foreign Language Study.
Year 2
Compulsory modules:
Research Project
International Theory OR International Organisations.
Plus four of the following which can include the one above not chosen previously:
International Theory
The Politics of Pacific Asia
Foundations of Western Political Thought
German Politics and Society
International Organisations
Sovereignty, State and Empire
Global Political Economy Middle East in the International System
Democratic Theory
Politics and Identity in Contemporary Germany
Class and Nation in British Politics
Analytical Politics
Crises and Conflict in European Studies
One module offered by another department OR one module offered by the Centre for Foreign Language Study.
Year 3
Compulsory module:
Dissertation (Double).
Examples of Optional modules:
China in Global Political Economy
Elections and British Politics
Israel: Politics and Society
The Theory and Ethics of Political Violence
Women in Politics
One module offered by another department OR one module offered by the Centre for Foreign Language Study.
Study Abroad
Students can apply for a one-year study placement in one of the following institutions: British Columbia in Canada, the University of Hong Kong, and the National University of Singapore. In some cases courses are offered in English, while in others teaching is in the local language. We have an ERASMUS/Year Abroad Co-ordinator who will help you prepare for your year abroad, and who will maintain contact with you while you are away.
Placement Year
You may be able to take a work placement. Find out more on our website
Course Details – Assessment Method
Assessment Methods are not listed for this Course.
Course Details – Professional Bodies
Professional Bodies are not listed for this Course.
How to Apply
26 January This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application Codes
Course code:
L250
Institution code:
D86
Campus Name:
No college preference
Campus code:
Points of Entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
Year 1
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry (Year 2 and Beyond)
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry are not listed for this Course.
International applicants
Standard Qualification Requirements
General information on subjects/grades required for entry:
Grade A in at least one accepted social science or humanities subject.
Specific subjects excluded for entry:
General Studies and Critical Thinking.
Information:
Please see the website for a list of accepted social science and humanities subjects.
Applicants taking Science A-levels that include a practical component will be required to take and pass this as a condition of entry. This refers only to English A Levels.
Departments will normally make offers based on Advanced Highers. In the absence of 3 Advanced Highers, where these are not offered by the applicant’s school, offers comprising of Advanced Highers and Highers or a number of Highers may be made on a case by case basis.
General information on subjects/grades required for entry:
Grade A at AH level in an accepted social science or humanities subject.
We require 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3 (or equivalent). Applicants may be required to meet additional subject-specific requirements for particular courses at Durham.
General information on subjects/grades required for entry:
Sufficient credits in at least one accepted social science or humanities subject. Due to the range of qualifications available we are unable to specify a specific amount of credits to meet this requirement, however if you would like more information please contact us with your application ID, or module list, so that we may advise appropriately.
General information on subjects/grades required for entry:
Grade A at AH level in an accepted social science or humanities subject.
General information on subjects/grades required for entry:
To include 6, 6, 6 at Higher Level, including grade 6 in a Higher Level accepted social science or humanities subject.
General information on subjects/grades required for entry:
Distinction in at least one accepted social science or humanities subject.
General information on subjects/grades required for entry:
Grade H2 at Higher Level in an accepted social science or humanities subject.
Distinction in at least one accepted social science or humanities subject.
General information on subjects/grades required for entry:
Grade D3 in an accepted social science or humanities subject.
Our contextual offer for this programme is A level BBB (or equivalent). To find out if you’re eligible, please visit: www.dur.ac.uk/study/ug/apply/contextualoffers/
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
https://www.dur.ac.uk/study/ug/apply/entry/
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Minimum Further Information are not listed for this Course.
English language requirements
Test
Grade
AdditionalDetails
Durham University welcomes applications from all students irrespective of background. We encourage the recruitment of academically well-qualified and highly motivated students, who are non-native speakers of English, whose full potential can be realised with a limited amount of English Language training either prior to entry or through pre-sessional and/or in-sessional courses.
It is the normal expectation that candidates for admission should be able to demonstrate satisfactory English proficiency before the start of a programme of study, whether via the submission of an appropriate English language qualification or by attendance on an appropriate pre-sessional course.
Acceptable evidence and levels required can be viewed by following the link provided.
