Politics and International Relations with a Foundation Year (BA)

You’ll mostly be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops.

Lectures take a range of forms, but generally provide a broad structure for each subject, introduce key concepts, and convey relevant up-to-date information.

Seminars provide an opportunity to ask questions and discuss key ideas in a small group environment. This helps you to integrate the information and ideas you receive from lectures and readings and to explore issues critically and in depth. Set questions and readings form the basis for discussion by directing your attention to relevant aspects of the subject matter and to various types of sources of information. Giving presentations develops your capacity to gather, organise and synthesise relevant information and ideas and to communicate these in a logical and concise manner. Tutor-led and student-led discussion hones logical skills and gives you practice in applying different concepts, theories and methods to the subject-matter at hand. It also exposes you to different interpretations of political ideas and events. Group problem-solving will help to develop collaborative skills. Workshops are like seminars, but they tend to involve more structured activities and the involvement of more students and staff.

Our in-person, face-to-face teaching and learning is supported and complemented by various digital tools. Each module makes extensive use of Learning Central, which is the university’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). On Learning Central, you’ll find discussion forums, pre-recorded videos, links to relevant web-based resources, multimedia materials and course materials.

How will I be assessed?

The programme structure is intended to progressively develop skills of academic study and independent research. This is delivered through a carefully designed teaching programme which is supported by bespoke study skills sessions within first year provision, specific research training in the second year, and longer research essays, primary research exercises and, if selected, a dissertation at third year.  

Forms of teaching and assessment across the 3 years of the programme include a wide range of methods and approaches. These include essays, group work, written examinations, portfolios, primary document analysis, presentations, writing briefings, and learning diaries.

The optional final-year dissertation provides you with the opportunity to investigate a specific topic of interest to you in depth and to acquire detailed knowledge about a particular field of study, to use your initiative in the collection and presentation of material and present a clear, cogent argument and draw appropriate conclusions. There is also the opportunity to undertake more group-focused extended research projects.

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will achieve by the end of your programme at Cardiff University and identify the knowledge and skills that you will develop. They will also help you to understand what is expected of you.

On successful completion of your Programme you will be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:

• Demonstrate a critical understanding of core concepts and theories in both politics and international relations. Examples of these concepts and theories include sovereignty, power, governance, justice, human rights, and diplomacy.
• Analyse the evolution and functions of various political institutions across a range of settings.
• Examine how globalisation and transnational issues (e.g., climate change, migration, terrorism) influence both domestic and international political agendas.
• Demonstrate an understanding of political and policy-making processes and their impacts both within individual states and/or the international relations between states and non-state actors.

Intellectual Skills:

• Evaluate international relations theories and apply them to real-world global political issues.
• Apply the appropriate methods of analysis to examine the political systems, ideologies, and institutions across different regions of the world.
• Interpret complex global political events and trends by synthesising diverse political, economic, and cultural perspectives.
• Assess the impact and legacy of historical events and processes on contemporary politics and international relations.
• Select political and international relations-related information and data in a critical and discerning manner, and use, manage, synthesise that information and data effectively and ethically.

Professional Practical Skills:

• Design and conduct independent research projects, using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, to investigate complex international and political issues and present them in a dissertation or project.
• Effectively communicate complex international and political concepts and analyses to both specialist and non-specialist audiences through presentations, reports, and/or policy briefs.
• Collaborate with peers to simulate domestic issues, international negotiations, diplomatic strategies, or crisis management, drawing on practical knowledge of politics and/or international relations.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the ethical considerations and challenges faced in political and international relations research and practice, such as human rights and global justice.

Transferable/Key Skills:

• Exhibit effective leadership and teamwork skills by participating in group projects, including the negotiation of complex political and international challenges.
• Develop intercultural awareness and communication skills by engaging with diverse political viewpoints and perspectives from around the world.
• Utilise appropriate digital and IT skills, including data visualisation and online collaborative tools, to support political and international relations-related research projects.
• Demonstrate adaptability and resilience by responding to changing national and international political environments, and the evolving nature of domestic and global challenges.