Information for Prospective Undergraduates

This degree in International Politics and International History is concerned with the events, ideas, and individuals that have shaped the modern world. It is about beginnings and ends of great eras, such as the Russian revolution, the First and Second World Wars, the invention of nuclear weapons, and the Cold War. As a student of the Aberystwyth International Politics and International History degree, you will learn about these great events and the influential individuals who have shaped them, such as Churchill, Kennedy and Gorbachev. No less important, however, is the historical experience of ordinary people, both in normal times and in times of great international upheaval. This degree in International Politics and International History focuses on especially on 20th century international history with a view to understanding its impact and shaping of contemporary international politics.

International Politics and International History degree structure

Year 1

In the first year of your International Politics and International History degree, you will take the following core modules, which are the foundation for all your further studies:

• Introduction To International Politics
• Revolution And Continuity In Political Philosophy
• World Politics In The Age Of The Two World Wars
• War, Strategy And Intelligence
• Introduction To The Third World In International Politics
• Politics In Europe

Years 2+3

During either their second or third year students are required to take the core module for their degree scheme. In the case of International Politics and International History this is:

• The Cold War

Other modules primarily dedicated to the study of International History include:

• Medieval Political Theory
• Religion And Politics In The Middle East
• Power And Domination: International Relations And Social Theory

In your final year you will complete a 12,000-word dissertation on a topic related to your particular interests.

In addition to these core elements, Single Honours students take up to nine optional modules from the Department of International Politics over years two and three.

Oliver Housley BScEcon International Politics & International History
Nottingham

“I chose to study at Aberystwyth because of the Department's reputation and the recommendations of former and current students. The atmosphere at Aberystwyth is fantastic and there's something here for everyone. Settling in wasn't a problem, and there's plenty of personal and academic support available if needed. The Department is great. The academic facilities are top quality. You have full access to documents/scholarly resources and the National Library of Wales is nearby. The cultural facilities here are brilliant! I'm going to see Marcus Brigstock at the Arts Centre soon. The social life is amazing too. There's always loads going on at the Union, like Reload and Cashback. There's also some very nice pubs with extremely reasonable prices in the town. I like the amount of personal and academic independence you get here, combined with the general atmosphere (especially nightlife). I would definitely recommend Aberystwyth to others, it's a great uni.”