How long does the BA in International Relations take to complete?

The BA in International Relations is a three-year full-time honours programme with an integrated placement year, or a longer part-time route across online and distance modes. Accelerated study is available on the BA in International Relations for qualified applicants.

Can I study the BA in International Relations online?

Yes. The BA in International Relations is delivered on-campus in central London, online and by distance learning, and each mode shares the same seminar structure and named tutor support.

Is the BA in International Relations UK recognised?

The BA in International Relations is a UK Level 6 honours degree taught to standards aligned with BISA, PSA and Chatham House-adjacent research frameworks.

What are the entry requirements for the BA in International Relations?

Applicants need A-levels at BBB, a UK Access to HE Diploma or equivalent international qualification, GCSE English and Maths at grade 4/C, and IELTS 6.5 where required. International applicants for the BA in International Relations receive full visa support.

How much does the BA in International Relations cost and is funding available?

Tuition varies by mode and intake. LSLPE admissions publishes current fees at offer stage and discusses instalment plans and scholarships for the BA in International Relations on request.

BA in International Relations | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The BA in International Relations at LSLPE is a three-year UK Level 6 honours degree with part-time and accelerated routes available. It reads international relations as the study of how states, international organisations, transnational actors and firms interact under conditions of anarchy and interdependence. The programme is aligned with the guidance of the British International Studies Association, the Political Studies Association and the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House).

By graduation you will have produced country and regional political-risk assessments, drafted diplomatic-style cables for hypothetical FCDO clients, contributed to Model UN and negotiation simulations, completed a placement year in an embassy, international body or think tank, and defended a final-year dissertation on an international-relations question.

Key Features

Placement year at the FCDO, an embassy, an international body, an NGO or a think tank.
Curriculum benchmarked to BISA, PSA and Chatham House-adjacent research standards.
Modules covering IR theory, security studies, international political economy and area studies.
Language options for diplomatic careers, subject to availability.
Dissertation supervised by a practising researcher or diplomat.
Careers days linking students to the Diplomatic Academy pipeline, international bodies and think tanks.

What You Will Learn

Realist, liberal, constructivist and critical IR theory.
International security studies including deterrence, arms control and hybrid threats.
International political economy and the multilateral system.
Area studies across at least two world regions.
Diplomacy, negotiation and Track One and Track Two practice.
International law fundamentals for IR practitioners.
Research methods for IR: comparative case, process tracing and quantitative analysis.
Dissertation research and defence on an IR question.

Who This Course Is For

School-leavers targeting careers at the FCDO, international bodies or global NGOs.
International applicants comparing their own foreign policies against contemporary IR.
Career changers moving into diplomacy, development or international consulting.
Working professionals studying part-time through the distance route.
Applicants planning postgraduate progression to an MA in Security and Global Politics or MA in International Relations.

Career Pathways

Diplomat pipeline at the FCDO or a foreign ministry.
Foreign Policy Adviser at a think tank or embassy.
International Relations Analyst at Chatham House or an equivalent research institute.
International Affairs Officer at a UN agency or regional body.
Political Analyst covering international affairs for a research house or newsroom.
Development Diplomat pipeline at the FCDO.
Public Affairs Officer with international portfolio.

The LSLPE careers service coordinates the placement year and runs at least one careers day each academic year connecting BA students with diplomatic-service recruiters, international-body hiring managers and think-tank principals.

Entry Requirements

A-levels (or equivalent) at BBB or above, OR a UK Access to HE Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3.
GCSE English at grade 4/C and Mathematics at grade 4/C (or equivalent).
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Two academic references and a personal statement demonstrating IR interests.
International applicants receive dedicated visa and accommodation support from LSLPE admissions.

Why Study at LSLPE

LSLPE is a specialist division of Harold International College of London that reads international relations in permanent conversation with international law and international economics. The BA in International Relations is delivered in small, tutor-visible cohorts using the case-room and select-committee tradition, so evidence is argued in public against theory.

Central London places the FCDO, Chatham House, the leading embassies and the LSE-adjacent international research ecosystem within a short tube ride of every classroom. The LSLPE careers service links students to diplomatic-service pipelines and international-body recruiters, and three parallel study modes let progressors and working professionals complete the BA without leaving employment.

Apply for BA in International Relations

Apply for the LSLPE Bachelor's programme with a placement year at the FCDO, an embassy, an international body or a think tank. Admissions responds within one working day. Enrol Now