International Relations with a Foundation Year, BA (Hons)

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Key Course Details

4 Year Full Time With a Classroom based Foundation Year

UCAS Code: L251
Mode of Study: Campus Based
Typical Offer (view equivalents): CDD-DDD
Location: Singleton Park Campus

Start Date	Tuition Fees - Year 1
Sep 2025	£ 5,760

4 Year Full Time With a Classroom based Foundation Year

UCAS Code: L251
Mode of Study: Campus Based
Typical Offer: CDD-DDD - More Information
Location: Singleton Park Campus

Start Date	Tuition Fees - Year 1
Sep 2025	£ 19,000

Learn about globalisation with International Relations

Course Overview

As technology, transport, and a complex international economy make our world smaller, the value of peaceful and cooperative relationships between nations is increasingly important.

International relations are a vital aspect of citizenship in a global society and this four-year BA International Relations degree with a Foundation Year is one of the most important degree programmes we offer.

The Foundation Year gives you an exciting introduction to Higher Education, setting you up with the skills, confidence, and knowledge that you’ll need to be successful on your undergraduate degree. It’s ideal if you need a little more support after Further Education or are returning to education after a gap.

This interesting area of study explores globalization and global institutions, development and human rights, International and regional politics, peace and conflict, political economy, security studies and strategic studies and you will learn how power, institutions and laws affect our day-to-day lives.

Why International Relations with a Foundation Year at Swansea?

Based on our stunning Singleton Park campus, in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula, you will have the opportunity to:

Study in one of the select departments in the UK to offer the British Parliamentary Studies modules where you will be taught by our specialist academic staff and members of parliament. You will also visit the House of Commons in London.

Understand the patterns of behaviour between nations, their leaders and corporations, focusing on the interactions and inter-relationships between philosophical, political and economic thought.

Look behind the headlines to the key players in world politics, exploring important ideas and how can we solve conflict or achieve cooperation.

International Relations at Swansea is ranked:

4th in the UK for Teaching Satisfaction (Guardian University Guide 2025)
Top 15 in the UK Overall (Guardian University Guide 2025)
International Relations at Swansea University is ranked in the Top 250 in the World (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025)

Your International Relations with a Foundation Year Experience

During your Foundation Year, you will learn the key skills you’ll need to make your degree a success while developing knowledge of your subject area and how it relates to the humanities and social sciences.

You will start the International Relations degree in your second year, offering you a wide-range of specialist modules that allow you to tailor your future career goals while developing your individual interests.

You will be taught by innovative experts who have strong national and international links.

You will have the competitive option in semester one (available for 20 students) of undertaking an internship module with the National Assembly for Wales, working closely with an AM for one day a week.
You will be able to spend a semester abroad in Hong Kong, Singapore or the USA during the second year of your study to enhance your student experience and career prospects.
In your final year you have the invaluable opportunity to opt for a place on the Welsh Assembly Placement Scheme.

International Relations with a Foundation Year Employment Opportunities

Our graduates are employed all around the world and enter careers including:

Education
Government and politics
Humanitarian organisations
Business
Media and public relations
Law and public services

Our students have also gained employment working for organisations such as:

Westminster Forum Projects
Labour Party
Price Waterhouse Coopers

Modules

In your Foundation Year, you will take a selection of modules that will provide you with key study skills, subject knowledge, and awareness of the importance of the humanities and social sciences.

You will then progress to the degree itself, where your first year will include an introduction to international relations, politics and the people; war and peace in the nuclear age; politics and society; ethics, justice and society.

In the following two years you will cover a wide range of interesting and diverse areas including globalisation; fundamental issues in moral and political philosophy; society and culture; media, gender and sexuality; politics and international development; religion, science and superstition; aftermaths of war; arctic security and parliamentary studies. You will also explore the CIA and covert action; visions of democracy and contemporary security.

You will complete an independent research-based dissertation in your final year, developing the knowledge and skills to become a research-effective practitioner in the field of international relations.

We're currently reviewing our curriculum to enhance your learning experience and embed skills that will benefit your future career. This means that some modules may be subject to change.

Year 0 (Level 3)

Entry Level 3 / Foundation Year

Compulsory Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Academic Writing and Skills Development	September-January (TB1)	20	FY-011
Introduction to Being Human	September-January (TB1)	20	FY-012
Introduction to Research	September-January (TB1)	20	FY-015
Critical Reflection and Problem Solving	January-June (TB2)	20	FY-014
Research Essay	January-June (TB2)	20	FY-016
Social Science	January-June (TB2)	20	FY-019

Year 1 (Level 4)

FHEQ 4 Undergraduate / HECert

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Introduction to International Relations	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-126
Introduction to Politics	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-131
War and Peace in the Nuclear Age	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-118

Optional Modules

Choose Exactly 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Please select one optional module. Students MUST have a 60-60 credit balance between semesters.

Optional Modules - Semester 1
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Europe of Extremes, 1789-1989	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH121
Living Well and Doing Good - An Introduction to Ethics	September-January (TB1)	20	HUP104
Critical Reasoning	September-January (TB1)	20	HUP105
Fundamental Issues in Philosophy	September-January (TB1)	20	HUP127
Politics and the People	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-119

AND

Choose Exactly 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Please select two optional modules. Students MUST have a 60-60 credit balance between semesters.

Optional Modules - Semester 2
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
An Introduction to American History and Politics	January-June (TB2)	20	AM-100
Introduction to Ancient Philosophy and Rhetoric	January-June (TB2)	20	CLC103
Statws y Gymraeg	January-June (TB2)	20	CY-124
Reading Great Works of Philosophy	January-June (TB2)	20	HUP132
Political Philosophy	January-June (TB2)	20	HUP133
Disinformation, Ideology and Bias: Researching and examining political data	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-127

Year 2 (Level 5)

FHEQ 5 Undergraduate / HEDip

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Anarchy and Order: Theories in International Relations	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-203
Globalisation	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-222

Optional Modules

Choose Minimum Of 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select ONE or BOTH of these modules

COMPULSORY MODULES - SELECTIVE
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code	Guidance
Global Justice and Human Rights	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-235
International Security	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-248

AND

Choose Minimum Of 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : If you have selected both modules above, select TWO modules from the list below. If you have selected only one module above, select THREE modules from the list below. Students MUST select a 60-60 credit balance between semesters.

Optional Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Disunited Kingdom? Class, Race, Gender and Social Division in Twentieth-Century Britain	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH284
The Global First World War	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH293
The State and Political Institutions	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-209
America in Crisis: From the Tet Offensive to Trump	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-258
Investigating Gender	September-January (TB1)	20	PPS203
Devolution, Policy Making and Social Change	September-January (TB1)	20	SPC201
A Matter of Life and Death: Exploring Existential Philosophy	January-June (TB2)	20	HUP242
Philosophy of the Enlightenment	January-June (TB2)	20	HUP243
Contemporary Moral Controversies	January-June (TB2)	20	HUP244
The History of Political Thought	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-245
Global Summit Simulation	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-249
The Colour Line: Race and Racism in World Politics	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-253
Contemporary Wars and Conflicts	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-257
British Politics and Public Policy	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-281

Year 3 (Level 6)

FHEQ 6 Undergraduate / Honours

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Researching Politics 1	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-3319
Researching Politics 2	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-3320

Optional Modules

Choose Exactly 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : SELECT either PO-3323 or PO-3317. Students MUST have a 40-40-40 credit balance between semesters.

Dissertation
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code	Guidance
Dissertation	September-June (TB1+2)	40	PO-3317
Senedd Cymru/The Welsh Parliament	September-June (TB1+2)	40	PO-3323

AND

Choose Exactly 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select One module. Students MUST have a 40-40-40 credit balance between semesters.

Optional modules - Semester 1
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
The Russian Civil War	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH3305
The Rise and Fall of Wales? Politics, Culture and Society, 1847-1939	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH3383
Philosophy, Mental Health and Illness	September-January (TB1)	20	HUP308
Parliamentary Studies	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-3121
Capitalism and Justice	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-3325
Genocide	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-3330
Clear and Present Danger: America and Terrorism	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-3333

AND

Choose Exactly 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select ONE module. If you wish to select POA301 in TB2 you must also select PO-3121 in TB1. Students MUST have a 40-40-40 credit balance between semesters.

Optional Modules - Semester 2
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Y Gymraeg, Datganoli a'r Gyfraith	January-June (TB2)	20	CY-358
The Philosophy and Politics of Identity	January-June (TB2)	20	HUP309
Digital Futures	January-June (TB2)	20	MS-306
Shadow Wars: US Presidents and covert action from the Cold War to Trump	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-3316
America and the Bomb	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-3334
Global Environmental Politics	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-3338

Entry Requirements

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications.

Typical A level Offer

CDD-DDD

How You're Taught

At Swansea, you will benefit from a high-quality, research-informed education that combines a range of effective and inclusive teaching methods, carefully tailored to suit the needs of your course. Most courses are taught in person, on campus, giving you the opportunity to actively engage with other students, academic staff, and the wider university community.

You can expect a mix of lectures, seminars, workshops, and practical sessions - including laboratory work, skills training, or studio-based teaching where relevant to your discipline. These sessions are designed to encourage active participation, collaboration, and the development of both subject-specific and transferable skills.

Digital learning tools are also used to enhance your learning experience. These may include:

Recorded lectures to support flexible study and revision.
Virtual labs or simulated environments, particularly in science, healthcare, and technical disciplines.
Online resources on the university’s virtual learning environment (Canvas), including videos, reading materials, quizzes, and discussion forums.

This approach enables you to engage with and review content at your own pace while benefiting from the structure and support of in-person teaching.

This course may offer some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

N.B If you are an international student studying with a Student Route Visa, please note that your timetabled activity, along with any additional supervisory activity (with Swansea University staff present) will take place on campus. In line with UKVI protocol, these sessions will be monitored and data made available on request.

Welsh Provision

No Provision

Unfortunately, there is currently no formal Welsh-medium provision on this course. If you would like to let us know that you are interested in pursuing an element of your course through the medium of Welsh, please email astudio@abertawe.ac.uk to indicate your interest along with your year of entry and we will do our best to see what is possible.

Whilst this course does not offer academic content delivered in Welsh, the University can provide you with the following, and Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support you:

An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.
The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be marked in Welsh.
A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.
One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.
Opportunity to be a member of the Swansea University Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

To learn more about the above and all the opportunities available to you through the medium of Welsh, visit Academi Hywel Teifi's undergraduate pages.

Meet Your Lecturers

Our degrees are taught by experts, who have a wealth of knowledge to pass on to our students.

You can find out more about our academic expertise on our staff pages.

Tuition Fees

Start Date	UK	International
September 2024	£ 9,000	£ 18,100
September 2025	£ 5,760	£ 19,000

Fees for full-time undergraduate UK students on classroom based foundation programmes will increase from Year 1, and in subsequent years, to the maximum regulated fee level set by the Welsh Government.

Fees for full time Undergraduate International students will increase by 3% for each subsequent year of study.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

Funding and Scholarships

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Additional Costs

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

Travel to and from campus
Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
Purchase of books or texts
Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Careers and Employability

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding
Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

Academic Support

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal tutor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

Academic writing
Maths and statistics
Critical thinking
Time management
Digital skills
Presentation skills
Note taking
Revision, memory and exam techniques
English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

We care about our students and our aim is to ensure that you achieve the best degree classification. We have a personal mentoring system where you will be allocated a personal tutor. We also have an “open door” policy where our academic teachers are available to talk to you at any time about any queries or academic concerns you may have.

Study Abroad and Global Opportunities

To learn more about study abroad, visit our Go Global webpages. Enrolment on a programme with a semester/year abroad does not guarantee you a semester/year abroad placement. Spaces are limited and subject to a competitive selection process. In the event you do not secure a semester/year abroad placement, you will be transferred to the standard variant of your degree scheme without a semester or year abroad.

International summer programmes are open to students from all schools. Programmes typically range from 2 to 6 weeks, across destinations such as Sri Lanka, South Korea, Fiji, Bali, the USA and across Europe. For more information about programmes and eligibility visit our Summer Abroad webpages.

How to Apply

Apply now – UK, EU and international students.

For further guidance please visit our how to apply pages.

EU students - visa and immigration information is available and will be regularly updated on our information for EU students page.

Application Deadlines

We recommend that you submit your application to our courses as early as you can in advance of our application deadlines. Courses will close earlier than the application deadlines listed if all available places are filled. You can find further information on our Application Deadlines webpage.