- 9th in the UK for Social Sciences (The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024)
Language skills are a great asset to have for careers in international relations and international organisations. This course allows you to enhance your language skills alongside gaining an understanding of the role of states, international organisations and non-state actors in our global world.
Learn from experts whose research is making a difference to communities across the world – from human rights and climate change, to food crises and health pandemics. You also get real-world exposure to international relations, from regular events with practitioner speakers.
Choose one language from Arabic, British Sign Language, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish, or you can choose to study English Language Teaching.
We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.
Open Days and virtual visits
Meet us on campus or online
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for this course are currently under review – please check back in early March 2024.
Modules
This is a major/minor course, enabling you to study in depth in a core area (your major subject: taking up 75% of your time), while also exploring an additional area (your minor subject: taking up 25% of your time).
Find out about our types of undergraduate degrees, their structure, modules and credits
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
- Introduction to International Relations
- The International System Today: Powers and Regions
- The Rise of the Modern International Order
Autumn teaching
Spring teaching
Options
Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.
While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
- Arabic Beginners A
- Arabic Intermediate A
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 1A
- Chinese Beginners A
- Chinese Intermediate A
- French Beginners A
- French For Professional Purposes 1A
- French Intermediate A Year 1
- German Beginners A
- German Intermediate A
- Italian Beginners A
- Italian Intermediate A
- Japanese Beginners A
- Japanese Intermediate A
- Spanish Beginners A
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 1A
- Spanish Intermediate A Year 1
- Arabic Beginners B
- Arabic Intermediate B
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 1B
- Chinese Beginners B
- Chinese Intermediate B
- French Beginners B
- French For Professional Purposes 1B
- French Intermediate B Year 1
- German Beginners B
- German Intermediate B
- Italian Beginners B
- Italian Intermediate B
- Japanese Beginners B
- Japanese Intermediate B
- Spanish Beginners B
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 1B
- Spanish Intermediate B Year 1
Autumn teaching
Spring teaching
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
Check back in January 2025 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2025/26.
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
Autumn teaching
Options
Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.
While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
- Arabic Advanced A
- Arabic Intermediate A
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 2A
- Chinese Advanced A
- Chinese Intermediate A
- French Advanced A
- French for Professional Purposes 2A
- French Intermediate A
- German Advanced A
- German Intermediate A
- Italian Advanced A
- Italian Intermediate A
- Japanese Advanced A
- Japanese Intermediate A
- Spanish Advanced A
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 2A
- Spanish Intermediate A
- Arabic Advanced B
- Arabic Intermediate B
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 2B
- Chinese Advanced B
- Chinese Intermediate B
- Development and the State
- French Advanced B
- French for Professional Purposes 2B
- French Intermediate B
- German Advanced B
- German Intermediate B
- Humanitarianism in Theory and Practice
- Italian Advanced B
- Italian Intermediate B
- Japanese Advanced B
- Japanese Intermediate B
- Security and Insecurity in Global Politics
- Spanish Advanced B
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 2B
- Spanish Intermediate B
- The Liberal World Order - in Crisis
- The Politics of Foreign Policy
- The Rise and Fall of Neoliberalism
Autumn teaching
Spring teaching
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
Check back in January 2025 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2025/26.
Study abroad (optional)
Apply to study abroad – you’ll develop an international perspective and gain an edge when it comes to your career. Find out where your course could take you
If your application to study abroad is successful, you’ll have to meet the academic requirements at Sussex and also at the partner university. Find out more about studying abroad as a Sussex student
Placement (optional)
To help you gain experience and increase your employability, you can apply for an optional placement as part of your course. You’ll be responsible for applying for and securing your placement. Our dedicated careers team can provide you with information and advice. If you’re successful in obtaining a placement, this will form part of your course.
Find out more about placements and internships
Please note that if you’re receiving – or applying for – USA federal Direct Loan funds, you can’t transfer to the version of your course with an optional study abroad period in any country or optional placement in the USA if the number of credits for the placement/internship exceeds 25% of the total credits for your course. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
Autumn and spring teaching
Options
Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.
While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
- Arabic Advanced A
- Arabic in Context A
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 3A
- Chinese Advanced A
- Chinese in Context A
- Disease, Diplomacy and Development
- East Asia Rising: Beyond the American Century?
- Environment and Development in World Politics
- Finance and Power
- French For Professional Purposes 3A
- French in Context A
- German Advanced A
- German in Context A
- Global Work Experience
- Italian Advanced A
- Italian in Context A
- Japanese Advanced A
- Japanese in Context A
- Palestine and the International
- Policing Racial Capitalism
- Religions in Global Politics
- Spanish Advanced A (B)
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 3A
- Spanish in Context A
- The Politics of Armed Groups: Rebels, State and Society
- What is War
- Arabic Advanced B
- Arabic in Context B
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 3B
- Chinese Advanced B
- Chinese in Context B
- Colonialism and Modern Social Theory
- French Advanced B (B)
- French For Professional Purposes 3B
- French in Context B
- From Bombs to Algorithms: Science, Technologies, and Global Insecurity
- German Advanced B
- German in Context B
- Global Politics of Food
- Global Resistance: Contesting Capital and Coloniality
- Humanitarianism in Theory and Practice
- International Relations of the Modern Middle East
- Italian Advanced B
- Italian in Context B
- Japanese Advanced B
- Japanese in Context B
- Politics of Terror and Global Histories of Violence
- Putin, Power, Populism: Russia and Eurasia in Global Politics
- Race, Gender and Global Capitalism
- Spanish Advanced B (B)
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 3B
- Spanish in Context B
Autumn teaching
Spring teaching
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
Check back in January 2025 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2025/26.
Silver
The student experience and student outcomes are typically very high quality.
This rating was awarded in 2023, for four years.
(Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)
Find out more about our approach to teaching and supporting you to thrive
Our staff
International Relations
Dr Lara Montesinos Coleman
Reader in International Relations, Law and Development
Languages
Fees
Fees are not yet set for the academic year 2025/26 – please check back in September 2024. Note that your fees, once they’re set, may be subject to an increase on an annual basis.
Find out about typical living costs for studying at Sussex
Find out about our terms and conditions
Scholarships
Details of our scholarships are not yet set for entry in the academic year 2025/26.
Careers
Develop communication, language and cultural awareness skills through an International Relations with a Language degree.
These skills mean you could go into graduate jobs at multinational companies, national and international organisations, or work in translation or interpreting. You can also work for employers such as:
- the Civil Service and UK government
- non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
- charities and voluntary organisations.
You will also benefit from careers-based events where you can meet employers and find out more about graduate jobs in the UK and abroad.
Graduate destinations
Recent International Relations graduates have started jobs as:
- programmes administrator, International Rescue Committee
- consultant, UN Migration Agency
-
project manager, American Express.
(Department of International Relations careers database)
Working while you study
Our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can help you find part-time work while you study. Find out more about career development and part-time work
Studying at Sussex gave me a rounded concept of history that enables me to apply a critical eye to European policy.”Paul Clewett
Junior Research Fellow, Migration Policy Institute