International Relations with a Language

The International Relations with a Language programme at the University of Birmingham offers students a comprehensive understanding of global political dynamics, international institutions, and diplomatic relations, combined with the opportunity to develop advanced language skills relevant to international contexts. This interdisciplinary course equips students with critical analytical abilities to examine international events, policies, and conflicts, fostering a nuanced understanding of global issues. Throughout the programme, students gain insights into key areas such as international security, global governance, human rights, environmental challenges, and economic development.

A distinctive feature of this degree is the integration of language studies with international relations, allowing students to enhance their proficiency in a foreign language, which is studied intensively alongside their core modules. The language component is tailored to facilitate effective communication and cultural understanding, preparing graduates for careers in diplomacy, international NGOs, governmental agencies, or multinational corporations. The course is designed with an emphasis on practical skills, including diplomatic negotiation, policy analysis, and intercultural communication.

Students have access to a variety of enriching opportunities such as internships, study abroad placements, and engagement with international organizations, which provide valuable real-world experience. The programme benefits from the University of Birmingham’s strong links with global institutions and a dedicated faculty of academics and practitioners renowned in the fields of international politics and languages. Graduates of this programme are well-equipped to pursue further academic research or to enter the workforce in roles that require a sophisticated understanding of international issues and proficiency in a foreign language. The University’s vibrant campus environment and extensive support services ensure an engaging and supportive educational experience, fostering both academic excellence and personal growth.

Detailed Course Facts

• EUR 3844 Year (EEA)
• EUR 12916 Year (Non-EEA)

UK / EU students £3,375 International students £11,340

• English

Course Content

First year: This year consists of introductory modules in international relations and your chosen language. You either continue to study a language in which you have an A level or, in some cases, you can begin a new language. In addition, there is the opportunity to take one optional course.

Second year: The second year is designed to permit specialisation in areas of particular interest while deepening your language skills.

Third year: The third year is spent studying at a European university. You spend about half your time in language studies and half taking courses either in the history and politics of the country or in international relations.

Fourth year: When you return to Birmingham for your fourth year you study advanced courses in your language and in international affairs.

• French BA (UCAS code: L2R1)

Modules in the first year

This year consists of introductory modules in international relations and your chosen language.

Compulsory core modules

• 20 credits - Foundations of Politics
• 20 credits - Introduction to Methods (I)
• 20 credits - Introduction to International Relations
• 20 credits - Introduction to Political Economy
• 10 credits - Introduction to Problems of World History in the Twentieth Century
• 10 credits - End of Empire: Problems of International History
• 10 credits - Contemporary French: Language and Society A
  10 credits - Contemporary French: Language and Society B

Modules must total 120 credits

Modules in the second year

The second year is designed to permit specialisation in areas of particular interest while deepening your language skills.

Compulsory core modules

• 20 credits - Methods (II)
• 20 credits - International Political Economy
• 20 credits - Diplomatic History post-1945
• 20 credits - International Relations Theory
• 20 credits - French Language (for the College of Social Sciences)

Optional modules

Choose 20 credits from the following modules: Where modules are linked, both elements must be chosen

OR: Choose 20 credits from Modules outside the main discipline. Any module not listed above but is available in the Department or as an Modules outside the main discipline will need approval from POLSIS.

• 20 credits - Political Analysis
• 20 credits - Foundations of Modern Political and Social Theory
• 20 credits - Comparative European Government
• 20 credits - Institutions, Politics and Policies of the EU
• 20 credits - British Politics
• 20 credits - Modern Political Ideologies
• 20 credits - International Politics of East Asia
• 20 credits - The American Presidency A
• 20 credits - International Security A
• 20 credits - Political Economy of EU Enlargement
• 20 credits - Politics and Policy
• 20 credits - Public Choice Theory
• 20 credits - International Politics and Security in Russia and Eurasia
• 10 credits - Cultural Politics of Russia and Eastern Europe A
  10 credits - Cultural Politics of Russia and Eastern Europe B
• 10 credits - Contemporary Russian and East European Politics A
  10 credits - Contemporary Russian and East European Politics B

Modules must total 120 credits

Modules in the final year

When you return to Birmingham for your fourth year you study advanced courses in your language and in international affairs.

Compulsory core modules

• 40 credits - Dissertation
• 10 credits - Core Language 3 A
• 10 credits - Core Language 3 B

Optional modules

Choose courses totalling 60 credits from the following LINKED modules

OR: Choose 40 credits from this section plus 20 credits from Modules outside the main discipline. Any module not listed below but available in the Department or as an Modules outside the main discipline will need approval from POLSIS.

• 20 credits - La Press et son discours:analyse et ecriture
• 10 credits - Interpreting
• 10 credits - Dissertation Française
• 20 credits - Twentieth Century Political Though
• 20 credits - Power in Britain
• 20 credits - Contemporary US Foreign and Security Policy
• 20 credits - International Ethics
• 20 credits - Contemporary IPE
• 20 credits - Topics in British Politics
• 20 credits - Modern European Political Thought
• 20 credits - Controversies in Contemporary Democracies: Comparative Perspectives
• 20 credits - European Security
• 20 credits - Democracy and Democratization in Contemporary Europe
• 20 credits - International Organisations
• 20 credits - War Torn States and Post-Conflict Reconstruction in the South
• 20 credits - Critical Approaches to Security
• 20 credits - Advanced Modern Asia
• 20 credits - Politics and the Media
• 20 credits - Immigration and Citizenship in Western Europe
• 20 credits - Devolution, Territorial Politics and Multilevel Governance
• 20 credits - Europe in a Globalised World
• 20 credits - Politics and Sport
• 20 credits - Left Parties and Protest Movements
• 20 credits - Diplomatic History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
• 20 credits - The Political Economy of Germany in a European Context
• 20 credits - Gender in World Politics
• 20 credits - Advanced International Politics and Security in Russia and Eurasia
• 10 credits - Advanced Cultural Politics of Russian and Eastern Europe A
  10 credits - Advanced Cultural Politics of Russian and Eastern Europe B
• 10 credits - Political History of Central and Eastern Europe in the 20th C. A
  10 credits - Returning to Europe: Nation, State and Europe in Post-Communist Central and Eastern Europe B

Modules must total 120 credits

• German BA (UCAS code: L2R2)

Modules in the first year

This year consists of introductory modules in international Relations and your chosen language.

Compulsory core modules

• 20 credits - Intensive Ab Initio German I and II
• 20 credits - Foundations of Politics
• 20 credits - Introduction to Methods (I)
• 20 credits - Introduction to International Relations
• 20 credits - Introduction to Political Economy
• 10 credits - Introduction to Problems of World History in the Twentieth Century
• 10 credits - End of Empire: Problems of International History

Modules must total 120 credits

Modules in the second year

The second year is designed to permit specialisation in areas of particular interest while deepening your language skills.

Compulsory core modules

• 20 credits - Methods (II)
• 20 credits - International Political Economy
• 20 credits - Diplomatic History post-1945
• 20 credits - International Relations Theory
• 10 credits - German Language II A
  10 credits - German Language II B

Optional modules

Choose 20 credits from the following modules: Where modules are linked, both elements must be chosen

OR: Choose 20 credits from Modules outside the main discipline. Any module not listed above but is available in the Department or as an Modules outside the main discipline will need approval from POLSIS.

• 20 credits - Political Analysis
• 20 credits - Foundations of Modern Political and Social Theory
• 20 credits - Comparative European Government
• 20 credits - Institutions, Politics and Policies of the EU
• 20 credits - British Politics
• 20 credits - Modern Political Ideologies
• 20 credits - International Politics of East Asia
• 20 credits - The American Presidency A
• 20 credits - International Security A
• 20 credits - Political Economy of EU Enlargement
• 20 credits - Politics and Policy
• 20 credits - Public Choice Theory
• 20 credits - International Politics and Security in Russia and Eurasia
• 10 credits - Cultural Politics of Russia and Eastern Europe A
  10 credits - Cultural Politics of Russia and Eastern Europe B
• 10 credits - Contemporary Russian and East European Politics A
  10 credits - Contemporary Russian and East European Politics B

Modules must total 120 credits

Modules in the final year

When you return to Birmingham for your fourth year you study advanced courses in your language and in international affairs.

Compulsory core modules

• 40 credits - Dissertation
• 10 credits - German IV A
• 10 credits - German IV B

Optional modules

Choose courses totalling 60 credits from the following LINKED modules

OR: Choose 40 credits from the above section plus 20 credits from Modules outside the main discipline. Any module not listed below but available in the Department or as an Modules outside the main discipline will need approval from POLSIS.

• 20 credits - Twentieth Century Political Though
• 20 credits - Power in Britain
• 20 credits - Contemporary US Foreign and Security Policy
• 20 credits - International Ethics
• 20 credits - Contemporary IPE
• 20 credits - Topics in British Politics
• 20 credits - Poverty Welfare and the State
• 20 credits - Modern European Political Thought
• 20 credits - Controversies in Contemporary Democracies: Comparative Perspectives
• 20 credits - European Security
• 20 credits - Democracy and Democratization in Contemporary Europe
• 20 credits - International Organisations
• 20 credits - War Torn States and Post-Conflict Reconstruction in the South
• 20 credits - Critical Approaches to Security
• 20 credits - Advanced Modern Asia
• 20 credits - Politics and the Media
• 20 credits - Immigration and Citizenship in Western Europe
• 20 credits - Devolution, Territorial Politics and Multilevel Governance
• 20 credits - Europe in a Globalised World
• 20 credits - Politics and Sport
• 20 credits - Left Parties and Protest Movements
• 20 credits - The Political Economy of Germany in a European Context
• 20 credits - Gender in World Politics
• 20 credits - Advanced International Politics and Security in Russia and Eurasia
• 10 credits - Advanced Cultural Politics of Russian and Eastern Europe A
  10 credits - Advanced Cultural Politics of Russian and Eastern Europe B
• 10 credits - Political History of Central and Eastern Europe in the 20th C. A
  10 credits - Returning to Europe: Nation, State and Europe in Post-Communist Central and Eastern Europe B

Modules must total 120 credits

• Spanish BA (UCAS code: L2R4)

Modules in the first year

This year consists of introductory modules in international relations and your chosen language.

Compulsory core modules

• 20 credits - Foundations of Politics
• 20 credits - Introduction to Methods (I)
• 20 credits - Introduction to International Relations
• 20 credits - Introduction to Political Economy
• 10 credits - Introduction to Problems of World History in the Twentieth Century
• 10 credits - End of Empire: Problems of International History

Optional modules

Choose 20 credits of language modules from the list below based upon your level of language proficiency

• 10 credits - Spanish Language IA (B.Com)
• 10 credits - Spanish Language IB (B.Com)

• 20 credits - Spanish Language Project

Modules must total 120 credits

Modules in the second year

The second year is designed to permit specialisation in areas of particular interest while deepening your language skills.

Compulsory core modules

• 20 credits - Methods (II)
• 20 credits - International Political Economy
• 20 credits - Diplomatic History post-1945
• 20 credits - International Relations Theory
• 10 credits - Spanish Language II A
  10 credits - Spanish Language II B

Optional modules

Choose 20 credits from the following modules: Where modules are linked, both elements must be chosen

OR: Choose 20 credits from Modules outside the main discipline. Any module not listed above but is available in the Department or as an Modules outside the main discipline will need approval from POLSIS.

• 20 credits - Political Analysis
• 20 credits - Foundations of Modern Political & Social Theory
• 20 credits - Comparative European Government
• 20 credits - Institutions, Politics and Policies of the EU
• 20 credits - British Politics
• 20 credits - Modern Political Ideologies
• 20 credits - International Politics of East Asia
• 20 credits - The American Presidency A
• 20 credits - International Security A
• 20 credits - Political Economy of EU Enlargement
• 20 credits - Politics and Policy
• 20 credits - Public Choice Theory
• 20 credits - International Politics and Security in Russia and Eurasia
• 10 credits - Cultural Politics of Russia and Eastern Europe A
  10 credits - Cultural Politics of Russia and Eastern Europe B
• 10 credits - Contemporary Russian and East European Politics A
  10 credits - Contemporary Russian and East European Politics B

Modules must total 120 credits

Modules in the final year

When you return to Birmingham for your fourth year you study advanced courses in your language and in international affairs.

Compulsory core modules

• 40 credits - Dissertation
• 10 credits - Spanish Language for Commerce IV A
• 10 credits - Spanish Language for Commerce IV B

Optional modules

Choose courses totalling 60 credits from the following LINKED modules

OR: Choose 40 credits from this section plus 20 credits from Modules outside the main discipline. Any module not listed below but available in the Department or as an Modules outside the main discipline will need approval from POLSIS.

• 20 credits - Twentieth Century Political Though
• 20 credits - Power in Britain
• 20 credits - Contemporary US Foreign and Security Policy
• 20 credits - International Ethics
• 20 credits - Contemporary IPE
• 20 credits - Topics in British Politics
• 20 credits - Poverty Welfare and the State
• 20 credits - Modern European Political Thought
• 20 credits - Controversies in Contemporary Democracies: Comparative Perspectives
• 20 credits - European Security
• 20 credits - Democracy and Democratization in Contemporary Europe
• 20 credits - International Organisations
• 20 credits - War Torn States and Post-Conflict Reconstruction in the South
• 20 credits - Critical Approaches to Security
• 20 credits - Advanced Modern Asia
• 20 credits - Politics and the Media
• 20 credits - Immigration and Citizenship in Western Europe
• 20 credits - Devolution, Territorial Politics and Multilevel Governance
• 20 credits - Europe in a Globalised World
• 20 credits - Politics and Sport
• 20 credits - Left Parties and Protest Movements
• 20 credits - The Political Economy of Germany in a European Context
• 20 credits - Gender in World Politics
• 20 credits - Advanced International Politics and Security in Russia and Eurasia
• 10 credits - Advanced Cultural Politics of Russian and Eastern Europe A
  10 credits - Advanced Cultural Politics of Russian and Eastern Europe B
• 10 credits - Political History of Central and Eastern Europe in the 20th C. A
  10 credits - Returning to Europe: Nation, State and Europe in Post-Communist Central and Eastern Europe B

Modules must total 120 credits

English Language Requirements

CAE score : 80(Grade A)

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

Number of A levels required: 3

Typical offer: AAB - ABB
Required subjects and grades: A level French grade B (L2R1); A level German grade B (L2R2); evidence of language ability at A level for L2R4
General Studies: not accepted
International Baccalaureate Diploma: 32 - 36 points including an appropriate language at HL
Standard English language requirements apply. For further information you can find information about qualifications from your country or regionOther qualifications are considered: Students with other qualifications are advised to speak to Undergraduate admissions.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Birmingham.

The International Relations with a Language program at the University of Birmingham offers students a comprehensive education in global politics, international organizations, foreign policy, and diplomatic studies, combined with advanced language skills. This program is designed to develop students' understanding of international issues through a multidisciplinary approach that includes political science, history, economics, and cultural studies, complemented by proficiency in a foreign language. The language component typically involves intensive study of the chosen language, which could range from European languages such as French, German, or Spanish to others depending on student interests and course availability. Throughout the course, students engage with contemporary international challenges, including security, humanitarian concerns, trade, and international law, preparing them for careers in diplomacy, international NGOs, governmental agencies, and multinational corporations. The program emphasizes practical skills such as negotiation, communication, and critical analysis, alongside theoretical knowledge. Students benefit from various opportunities for immersive learning, including study abroad placements and internships, fostering cross-cultural competence and professional experience. The university provides specialist modules in International Relations theory and practice, opportunities for research projects, and interaction with leading academics and practitioners. The program aims to produce graduates who are well-equipped to understand the complexities of the international system and to communicate effectively in a second language, enhancing their employability in an increasingly interconnected world. Entry requirements typically include a strong academic background and proficiency in the language chosen for study. The program duration is usually three or four years, depending on whether students opt for a year abroad or an integrated year of work placement. Overall, Birmingham’s International Relations with a Language program offers a blend of rigorous academic study and practical language application to prepare students for international careers.