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Full Time: 4 Years
BA War, Peace and International Relations with Placement Year draws on the research strengths of the Department of Politics and International Relations. This course enables you to specialise in war, peace, strategy and the issues that surround conflict.
It will especially appeal to you if you are interested in learning about the role of military strategy and defence policy in conflict resolution.
Whilst studying BA War, Peace and International Relations with Placement Year, most of your contact time will be spent in small seminar groups, allowing you to interact directly with staff and add your own voice to the discussion. You will study war in a historical context and consider challenging questions such as whether war can ever be justified or whether peace should be maintained at all costs. In your final year, you will be able to choose from a wide variety of optional modules and develop interests in other areas of politics.
Through our Model United Nations and Middle East simulations, you can apply what you have learnt to a practical situation and get an insight into the political process. Should you wish to gain real-world experience, you can undertake a work experience module or opt to carry out a year-long placement. The skills and knowledge these opportunities provide will prepare you for your future career, whether it be related to politics or in an entirely different field.
For more information, please visit the Department of Politics and International Relations website.
Placement
As part of this degree, we provide you with the opportunity to go on a one year placement in industry between your second and final year of study, which we encourage students to do.
A successful industry placement can also lead to a job offer with your placement company upon graduation. You will also have plenty of opportunity to develop excellent professional contacts that will stand you in good stead for the future.
For more information about securing and completing a placement for your placement year, please visit our Important Information page.
Typical offer A Level ABB-BBB | IB 32-30 points overall
What will you study?
How much will it cost?
New UK/EU students: £9,250* per year
New international students: £17,320 per year
* UK and EU fee changes
UK undergraduate fees are regulated by the government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK and EU** students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.
From 2020, the UK government may link tuition fees to the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
**EU students
For more information on fees, loans and grants for EU students, see fees and funding for home/EU students.
Additional costs
These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.
Placement Year fees
If you spend a full year on placement – including professional and research placements and industrial experience – you’ll pay a discounted tuition fee for that year.
For Home/EU students, the discounted fee is subject to parliamentary approval and is currently capped at £1,385.
For International students, the discount is 15% of your normal tuition fee.
For more information, please contact placements@reading.ac.uk.
Financial support for your studies
You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK and other EU countries may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.
What career can you have?
Through this course you will develop strong analytical and research skills and become experienced in delivering presentations and working in a group. This makes you suitable for a wide range of careers in politics and further afield.
Past students have put their political analysis skills to direct use in the British and European civil services, the armed forces, think tanks, non-governmental organisations and journalism. Others have gone into advertising, PR, media and banking.