Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £9,535 per year
International/EU: £17,155 per year (£1,200 for placement year) -
How long will I study?
3 / 4 Years
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Where will I study?
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What are the entry requirements?
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What is the UCAS code?
AA26
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When do I start?
September 2025
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Placement year available?
Yes
Where will I study?
Course summary
- Advance your knowledge of politics, international relations and policy making.
- Gain a critical understanding of a wide range of institutions, ideologies and theories.
- Explore today’s issues in social justice, climate change and decolonisation.
- Learn in a global context, travel abroad, visit embassies and interact with policymakers.
- Join an active student community – debating, influencing and publishing articles to drive social change.
By studying Politics and International Relations at Sheffield Hallam University, you will develop the skills to formulate and defend complex ideas – and the ability to think clearly and objectively. From local councils to the United Nations, you’ll learn from well-connected, global experts – preparing yourself to make a difference to local, national and international policy.
How you learn
On this course you’ll gain the skills you need for your political career. Your classwork is supplemented by guest speakers from the public, academic, non-governmental and campaign sectors. Not only do they provide different perspectives on real-world issues, they also offer an insight into the knowledge and skills you’ll need to work in their sectors.
You’ll be taught by experts who help to build a friendly, interactive community where you can become the best you can possibly be. Our staff are recognised nationally – for example, one of our experts was recently invited to participate in EU research for the UK government. We also have great links locally with media outlets, Sheffield City Council and the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce – all really useful networking opportunities if you’re completing a placement during your studies.
You learn through:
- Lectures and seminars
- Expert teaching
- Guest speakers
- Away days
- Workshops
- E-learning
- Placement opportunities
- An international field trip
- Debates
Key themes
This course covers a broad spectrum, giving you the opportunity to explore your interests through a wide range of pathways. You’ll travel, learn about policy-making environments and talk to practitioners and advocacy groups – as well as having the chance to practise your skills in a model UN setting, work on live projects with local authorities, and interact with real policymakers.
You can choose from a range of elective modules such as gender, peace & (in)security, understanding human rights, terrorism and counterterrorism, and international political economy.
From Brexit, COVID and climate change, to the human issues of social justice, gender and decolonisation, you’ll delve into the big hot-button issues. You’ll leave Sheffield Hallam University able to form political arguments, debate effectively and influence decision makers – ready to start your career.
Course support
You’ll be supported by staff every step of the way. This might be by working with others in small groups, or developing your own independent learning style.
You’ll also be supported towards highly-skilled, graduate-level employment through a number of key areas. These include:
- Access to specialist support services to help with your personal, academic and career development
- Access to our Skills Centre with one-to-ones, webinars, and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments
- Industry-specific employability activities such as live projects, learning in simulated environments and networking opportunities
- Internationalisation and employability training with policy actors, locally as well as during our field trip to Brussels
Course leaders and tutors
Applied learning
Live projects
You’ll undertake live projects as part of your degree, getting a taste of how to use the skills you learn on the course in the real world. For example, you could be undertaking research for the local council to help them with contemporary issues – on a project which also feeds into your assessments and enhances your CV.
You can also choose from a range of elective modules such as gender, peace & (in)security, understanding human rights, terrorism and counterterrorism, and international political economy. You’ll undertake a more demanding commissioned project, working in a team to meet the needs of local and international organisations.
Field trips
During the course, you can join a five-day field trip, at no additional cost, to Brussels to learn first-hand about the EU’s policy-making environment. You can also attend conferences in your first and final years.
These are superb opportunities to put what you learn in lectures, seminars and projects into context in the real world. You’ll have the chance to be inspired by political leaders, and interact and learn from experts.
And there are opportunities to study abroad at one of ourpartner universities– withthe possibility of funding through theTuring Scheme.
Work placements
During the second year, there’s the opportunity to undertake an eight-week structured work placement. This gives you real-world experience to prepare you for your future career.
Previous students have worked on projects under the direction of a supervisor in workplaces such as local MPs offices, the police service, schools, council departments, the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and community associations.
Alternatively, you can study abroad for 12 weeks at a university in Europe, Australia, the USA or Canada. This is a great chance to learn about different cultures and learning styles, as well as being able to travel to new places and meet new people.
Networking opportunities
As a Politics and IR student, you’ll have the opportunity to take part in Model United Nations (MUN) simulations. This is a fantastic, hands-on experience that has been undertaken by many of today's leaders in law, government and business. You’ll train as the representative of a country – perhaps in crisis – and learn to debate, think critically, speak publicly, and negotiate with other delegates from around the world.
Networking is a key feature of this course. You’ll engage with guest lecturers – who can include local MPs be part of an active student-run Politics and Debating societies, and you can even get your ideas published as articles in Hallam’s renowned Politics Review Magazine.
All this will help you grow into becoming part of a diverse, supportive learning community that offers you access to extensive networks to support your studies and career development.
Future careers
From a fantastic student community, this course produces impressive alumni. From writing workshops and away days to weekly debates and quizzes, you’ll be surrounded by an excellent network of like-minded peers to prepare you for your future.
This course prepares you for a comprehensive range of potential career paths, including:
- Government and public sector
- Think tanks
- Third sector and non-governmental organisations
- Police, prison, and probation
- Business and human resource management
- Policy and social research positions
- Civil service
- Trade unionism
- International consultancy
- Media and journalism
- Health and related areas
- International aid development
- Public affairs
- Education
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:
- EUK Consulting
- The Civil Service
- Local government
- Fluent Futures
- Middlesex University Students' Union
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students.
We’re currently situated in the Heart of the Campus, with plans to move to a new state-of-the-art building in the city centre soon.
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 112 -120
This must include at least 64 points from two A levels, or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example:
- BBC-BBB at A Level.
- DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma.
- Merit overall from a T Level Qualification
- A combination of qualifications, which may include AS Levels, EPQ and general studies.
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
- English Language at grade C or 4 or equivalent
- Mathematics at grade C or 4 or equivalent
• Access - at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits from level 2 from a relevant Open College Network accredited course.
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent
We consider other qualifications from the UCAS tariff. Applicants with alternative qualifications or a combination of qualifications and work experience are also considered. We welcome applications from people of any age. Please contact us for further advice.
Meeting the qualifications on the entry criteria does not guarantee you a place. You should ensure that you submit a personal statement and reference as these are considered as part of the selection process. Guidelines on personal statements and references can be found on the UCAS website.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Planetary Politics And International Relations
Post-War British Politics & Foreign Policy
Researching Politics, International Relations And Society
Social & Political Thought
Year 2
Compulsory modules
Europe, The European Union And Applied Advocacy
Globalisation & Militarism
Elective modules
Applied Politics - Work Project
Divided Societies
Society And Nature: The Politics Of The Environment
Study Abroad - Social Sciences
World Politics Of The Usa
Year 3
Optional modules
Placement Year
Final year
Compulsory modules
Dissertation (Politics And International Relations)
Elective modules
Gender, Peace And (In)Security
International Political Economy
Terrorism And Counter-Terrorism
Understanding Human Rights: Disrupting Universalism
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year). These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sheffield Institute of Social Sciences (PDF, 154.4KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
