Sociology with Global Affairs Politics and International Relations BA Hons

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Course Summary

Discover the world and your place in it with the University of Chester's pioneering degree in Sociology with Global Affairs, Politics, and International Relations. This dynamic degree course is tailored for those who aspire to understand and engage with the complexities of our global society.

Explore the Global Landscape: Dive into the intricate international relations and politics network, gaining insights into the forces shaping our world. From the nuances of diplomatic relations to global governance mechanisms, this course offers a comprehensive understanding of international affairs.

Sociological Perspective: At the heart of this degree is a strong foundation in sociology. You'll explore how societies are constructed, maintained, and transformed. Learn to analyse social behaviours, institutions, and structures, understanding their impact on global affairs. This unique blend equips you with the tools to critically assess how societal issues influence and are influenced by global events.

Real-World Relevance: Our curriculum is designed with an emphasis on current global challenges. Engage with pressing issues such as climate change, human rights, global poverty, and international conflicts. This contemporary focus ensures that your learning is relevant and impactful.

Expert Academic Staff: Learn from experienced academics who are actively engaged in research and international collaborations. The University of Chester offers a vibrant, multicultural environment, providing rich perspectives on global issues.

Join us at the University of Chester and become a part of a new generation of informed, globally-aware individuals ready to make a difference. Apply now for our degree in Sociology with Global Affairs, Politics, and International Relations, and start your journey towards understanding and shaping the global landscape.

Why you’ll Love it

Dynamic and engaging curriculum

A group of students sitting at desks in a classroom

Innovative teaching methods

Supportive academic community

What you'll Study

 In your first year you will develop an understanding of human behaviour, societies, and social identities. You will study the formation of both individual and collective identities within the wider context of social divisions, diversity, and inequality in relation to race, gender, social class, and sexuality. You will consider global inequalities and environmental changes enabling you to participate in debates on topics such as society, ecology, and climate change.  You will explore foundational concepts in global governance, political theory, and international relations.  

In Year Two you will engage in theoretically informed debates on contemporary social issues topics such as mobilities, globalisation, status, social class, and decolonisation. You will study the ideas of race, ethnicity, nationality and citizenship in a historical perspective that takes account of power and inequalities. You will explore how human mobility and the categorisations of groups of people transform societies and these social phenomena can contribute to explain social inequalities. You will delve into intermediate topics in international relations theory, global political economy, comparative politics. You will also explore thematic courses in areas like diplomacy, human rights, and conflict resolution, alongside practical modules in research methods and regional studies. 

You will also have opportunities to learn through real world experience for example work placements and study abroad, to study a language, or engage with a research project to support and develop your career plans.

In your final year, you will deepen your understanding of the sociology of consumption and will be encouraged to engage in critical consideration and reflection on the rise and continued predominance of consumer culture in our everyday lives. You will debate the role of education in wider society and opportunities it can provide within the wider context of neoliberalism, capitalism and postmodern thinking. You will engage in advanced studies of global governance, diplomacy, and international policy analysis.  

You will also undertake a major project on a key social challenge with support and guidance from experienced researchers. 

Theoretical understandings also span across all three levels of study, with students building the ability to apply and appraise theory in reference to a variety of social problems.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

This course is delivered in three terms of ten weeks each. In each term, students study 40 credits comprised of either one or two modules. Scheduled contact hours range between approximately six and ten hours per week, depending upon level of study and the complexity of the material being taught. This course is primarily delivered in-person, with some online learning. You can expect to take part in interactive sessions comprising of lecture content, task-based workshops and peer-led seminar discussions. 

As a student, you will be involved in the design, delivery, and experience of your learning at university, recognising the importance of student agency and co-creation in education. Opportunities to collaborate in you learning process include; student representation; feedback mechanisms; student-led workshops and seminars; collaborative curriculum design; peer teaching; project-based learning (such as negotiated title coursework or dissertations); learning communities (these are groups or cohorts of students who take several modules together, fostering a sense of community and shared learning. You will often have input into how these communities are structured and operate); digital platforms (platforms where students can share resources); inclusive teaching initiatives (such as workshops or discussions around making the curriculum more inclusive, where student input is crucial).

Outside of timetabled teaching, you should expect to spend an average of 30–34 hours per week on independent study, which might include undertaking weekly asynchronous learning, undertaking wider reading, using the University’s library, tutorial time with staff, working with peers, and preparing work for summative assessments. 

There will be a broad range of assessment methods to optimise learning and skill development for a diverse range of learners with unique needs and preferences, and to enable you to build a wide array of skills to thrive in the workplace. These will include formative assessment such as group tasks and discussions where you can receive feedback from lecturers and peers to build your confidence and skills. Summative assessment will include written coursework, such essays (short and long form), summaries and critical reviews of literature and/or policy, case studies/reports, and writing for public as well as academic audiences. In addition, summative assessment will focus on visual, verbal and practical skills, encompassing, for example, posters, presentations and Q&A discussions.

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core - building your subject competence, confidence, and key transferable skills to shape you into a world-ready Chester graduate.

Entry Requirements

112UCAS points

UCAS Tariff	112 points
GCE A Level	Typical offer – BCC-BBC
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM
International Baccalaureate	28 points
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers - H3 H3 H3 H3 H4 Scottish Highers - BBBB
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma, to include 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above
T Level	Merit
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma: DMM
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For more information on our entry requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

72UCAS points

UCAS Tariff	72 points
GCE A level	72 points overall, including grade D in A level
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma: MMP
International Baccalaureate	24 points
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers: H4 H4 H4 H4 H4 Scottish Highers: CCDD
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma – Pass overall
T Level	T Level: Pass (D or E on the core)
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma: MMP
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs. If you are a mature student (21 or over) and have been out of education for a while or do not have experience or qualifications at Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels), then our Foundation Year courses will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you will need to succeed in your chosen degree.

Fees and Funding

£9,250per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2025/26 are £9,250 a year, or £1,540 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

The University may increase these fees at the start of each subsequent year of your course in line with inflation at that time, as measured by the Retail Price Index. These fee levels and increases are subject to any necessary government, and other regulatory, approvals.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

£14,450*per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

The tuition fees for international students studying Undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £14,450 per year for a full-time course.

This fee is set for each year of study. All undergraduate students are eligible for international and merit-based scholarships which are applicable to each year of study.

For courses with a Foundation Year, the tuition fees for Year 1 are £10,750 and £14,200 for Years 2-4 in 2025/26.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials.

Students often elect to purchase a laptop, where students choose to do so, the cost it likely to be around £800-£1000.

Most software specific to your course is available free to students through agreements we have with the software vendors.

Occasional, optional, field trips may be offered, depending on student demand, these are typically within the UK and where chargeable the cost is likely to be under £100. Students are not required to participate in order to successfully complete the course.

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

Who you’ll Learn from

Dr Nancy Evans

Programme Leader, BSc Sociology

Dr Joe Rigby

Senior Lecturer; Sociology

Dr Djordje Sredanovic

Lecturer, Sociology

Dr Kim Ross

Deputy Head, Social and Political Sciences

Dr Suzanne Francis

Associate Professor of Conflict Transformation & Peace Studies; Programme Leader, Global Affairs, Politics and International Relations

Dr Mark Bendall

Senior Lecturer, Global Affairs, Politics and International Relations

Dr Michael Francis

Programme Leader and Senior Lecturer, Global Affairs, Politics and International Relations

Dr Rachel Massey

Senior Lecturer, Global Affairs, Politics and International Relations

Where you'll Study Exton Park, Chester

The location

Modern learning resources and library

Seaborne library, seating and reception area.

Student Services

Fitness facilities

A male student wearing goggles is swimming in the training pool between the red rope lane marker lines.

Chapel, chaplaincy and multi-faith spaces

Accommodation

Catering

Your future Career

Job prospects

A degree such as this equips graduates with a broad understanding of societal structures, political systems, and international affairs. This interdisciplinary foundation can lead to various career opportunities across multiple sectors. Here's a list of potential career paths:

Government and Public Service

Diplomat or Foreign Service Officer
Policy Analyst
Legislative Assistant
City Planner
Immigration Officer

Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and International Organizations:

Programme Coordinator/Manager
Human Rights Advocate
Refugee Support Worker
International Development Worker
Volunteer Service Officer

Research and Academia:

University Professor or Lecturer
Research Analyst
Think Tank Researcher

Media and Journalism:

Political Journalist or Correspondent
Editor for Political or Cultural Publications
Documentary Filmmaker

Business and Industry:

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Specialist
International Business Consultant
Market Research Analyst

Law and Criminal Justice:

Paralegal or Legal Researcher
Human Rights Specialist
Immigration Lawyer (with additional certification)
International Law Specialist

Social Services:

Social Worker (with additional certification)
Community Outreach Coordinator
Advocacy Specialist

Consulting:

Political Consultant
Public Affairs Consultant
International Relations Consultant

Intelligence and Security:

Intelligence Analyst (for agencies like the CIA, MI6, etc.)
Security Consultant
Public Relations and Communications:
Public Relations Specialist for Governmental or International Organisations
Communication Strategist for NGOs or Multinationals
Lobbyist

Non-Profit Sector:

Programme Director
Fundraiser or Grant Writer
Volunteer Coordinator

Think Tanks and Foundations:

Research Associate
Project Manager
Policy Advocate

These career opportunities can vary in terms of requirements, so it's beneficial for graduates to seek internships, network with professionals in their field of interest, and possibly pursue additional certifications or graduate studies to better qualify for specific roles. The diverse skill set from studying this degree can be applied in many contexts, making these graduates valuable in a variety of professional settings.

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

Sociology with Global Affairs, Politics and International Relations BSc (Hons)

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