BSc (Hons) International Political Economy degree • City, University of London

This course is for 2023/24 entry. Details for 2024/25 entry are also available.

Key information

International Political Economy examines the interaction of states and markets in a global context. It combines the study of economics, politics and international relations to understand real-life issues, such as financial crises, tax havens, and climate change. Developing sought-after analytical skills, our first-of-its-kind degree prepares you for careers in the public and private sector.

Start date

September 2023

UCAS code

4J80

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years with placement year

Institution

City, University of London

Location

Northampton Square

Entry requirements

Below is a list of countries with information on each about which qualifications we accept.

English language requirements

If your first language is not English, we will require evidence of English language proficiency. Minimum requirements are:

IELTS:

6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component

EFL requirements grade B in GCSE (or International GCSE)

PTE Academic: 59 overall with a minimum of 59 in each component.

English language programmes

Don’t meet the English language requirements? INTO City, University of London offers English language programmes to help prepare you for study at university. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to degree courses.

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Prospectus

International Political Economy BSc (Hons) degree Course overview

Our International Political Economy BSc is designed to meet increasing demand for an interdisciplinary course that prepares students for both the public and private job markets.

This bespoke programme – the first degree in IPE in the UK – provides training in a range of conceptual and analytical skills. These will help you analyse the challenges facing decision-makers in business and politics in the global age.

You will be able to analyse complex dynamics of the global markets, financial systems and national political structures. You’ll have the skills and knowledge to draw connections between economic, political and social processes driving major changes on the global scene.

Study politics, the economy and society as a whole, developing a fully integrated understanding of the world’s changing economic and political topography
Receive interdisciplinary training from the largest concentration of world-renowned experts in IPE and related fields
Benefit from our close links to business, the financial sector, policy-makers and think tanks

Develop data literacy, analytical skills and in-depth understanding of micro- and macro-economic theory that are sought-after a wide range of careers.

Structure

Course content

During the three years of this International Political Economy BSc degree, you will take an integrated approach to studying politics, the economy and society, with interdisciplinary teaching from across the social sciences.

Year 1
Year 2
Year 3

Year 1

Year 2

Theories of International Political Economy (15 credits)

This module will introduce you to the main theories and concepts of international political economy (IPE). It provides in-depth knowledge of the rich intellectual history of IPE as it has developed over time.
States and Markets in the Era of Globalization (15 credits)

This module discusses the forces that are currently shaping the world economy, with specific emphasis on the diverging political and social responses to globalisation.
Comparative Political Economy (15 credits)

The purpose of this course is to provide a survey of the key political economy concepts, issues, and theories that shape democratic and non-democratic systems.
Practical Politics (15 credits)
Transnational Social Movements (15 credits)

Provides you with a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of transnational social movements, and to enable you to assess their nature and impact in respect of a wide range of contemporary global political issues.
Advanced Theories of Global Politics (15 credits)

The course covers the latest debates within the rationalist sphere. In addition, the module explores institutionalist approaches and contemporary critical theory.
Security Studies: Conceptual Approaches (15 credits)

Provides an overview of the main conceptual approaches to the study of international security, and their contribution to the analysis of a number of contemporary international security threats, challenges and conflicts.
Security Studies: Contemporary and Emerging Issues (15 credits)

This course provides you with the opportunity to critically engage with some of the more pressing international security issues in today’s world and will also explore existing solutions to contemporary international security issues.
Foreign Policy Analysis: Theories and Issues (15 credits)

This module is designed to provide you with a comprehensive review of a variety of issues and problems in the study of foreign policy by engagement with the theoretical and practical dimensions of Foreign Policy Analysis.
Foreign Policy Analysis: Instruments and Practice (15 credits)

This module provides you with a comprehensive review of the dynamics, processes and implications of foreign policy implementation, and gives you the opportunity to assess how foreign policy tools are employed and their impact.
Religion and Politics in the Age of Global Change (15 credits)

This unit, far from being a course on comparative religion or on the sociology of religion, will address the interplay between religion and politics throughout history with a focus on the 20th and 21st centuries.
Advanced Topics in Comparative Politics (15 credits)

In this module you will engage with several contemporary debates in the field of comparative politics. Some examples of topics that might be covered in this module include state formation; democracy, authoritarianism, and democratisation.
Politics of the USA (15 credits)

This module provides you with a comprehensive overview of the American political system, focusing on the intersection between the main actors and ideas that shape political outcomes.
Comparative Asian Politics (15 credits)

The module will comparatively examine the historical origins and outcomes of systems of government, strategies of economic development as well as the sources and impact of corruption across Asian states.
Analysing Political and Economic Data in the Real World (15 credits)

This module focuses on the ways in which we can understand major issues in political economy through real world data.
Advanced Principles of Economics: Financial Markets and Corporate Systems (15 credits)

This module continues to analyse key concepts and approaches to economic theory, and focuses on two major areas of international politics economy: the firm/corporation and the financial market.
Political Risk Analysis (15 credits)

The module explores the ways in which political risk is analysed and managed by different political organizations and decision-makers.
Political Psychology: Reason & Emotion in Politics (15 credits)

The module will introduce you to the growing field of political psychology. It will explore how insights from psychology can help us understand important political phenomena, such as decision-making, political ideology and voting behaviour.
Authoritarianism and Democracy in the 21st Century (15 credits)

The module will comparatively examine changes in authoritarian and democratic politics over time, paying attention to manifestations of authoritarianism and democracy, as well as differences and commonalities between these systems of government.
The Global Political Economy of Development (15 credits)

This module bridges international politics and political economy to demonstrate the role of international organizations in promoting domestic political institutions and social welfare policies needed for promoting development.
Fifty Shades of Red – Russia in the Twentieth Century (15 credits)

This module introduces you to political, social, and cultural developments in modern Russian history, and encourages you to consider how the Soviet experiment influenced the history of Russia and the world, and how we should relate to it today.
The American Century: The United States in the Twentieth Century (15 credits)

This module will help you understand and assess the evolving role of the United States as a world power.
Cultures of Benevolence: Philanthropy and Civil Society from 1601 to the Present (15 credits)

The module will examine the many political, economic and social functions of philanthropy and voluntary action from the early modern period to the present day.
The Making of Modern Japan (15 credits)

This module considers how the politics, economics, society, and culture of Japan developed from the mid-nineteenth century to the present, with a particular emphasis on modernisation, diplomacy, conflict, and culture.
Slavery, Colonialism and Revolution in the Caribbean (15 credits)

This module will introduce you to the history of the Caribbean, from the middle of the eighteenth century to the end of the Cold War. It will encourage you to consider how histories of colonialism, slavery, and revolution have shaped the development of the region and continue to shape it today.
New Media Challenges (15 credits)

A sociological analysis of major spheres shaping and shaped by the development of ICTs and the Internet.
Understanding Social Change (15 credits)

Introduces you to a range of debates about the ways in which social change is affecting us today, including the emergence of modernity and how this brought about new forms of social inequality, new identities and new patterns of social conflict.
Contemporary Social Theory (15 credits)

This module focuses on the development of social theory in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.
Sociology of Race and Racism (15 credits)

This module will allow you to develop an understanding of sociological theories about race and racism and their application to the analysis of specific social phenomena.
Humanitarian Reporting (15 credits)

This is a module which examines how we understand and explain faraway disasters.
Language modules (15 credits)

Only one of the following language modules can be chosen during Year 2:
- Any Language breadth module at level 1 (beginner level)
- Any Language for specific purposes module at level 1 (beginner level)
- Any Language for specific purposes module at Level 2 (intermediate level)
- Any Language breadth module at Level 3 (upper intermediate level or higher)
- Any Language for specific purposes module at Level 3 (upper intermediate level or higher)
- Any Language breadth module at level 1 (beginner level)
- Any Language for specific purposes module at level 1 (beginner level)
Micro-Placement (15 credits)

The module seeks to enhance career exploration and will provide you with professional level experience in the form of a self-contained project with one of City’s external employer partners. Completing the Micro-Placement module at level 5 will preclude you having the option to take the Micro-Placement elective module at level 6.

Year 3

Final Year Dissertation Project (45 credits)

The first part of the module aims to guide you through the process of choosing a thesis project and developing a thesis proposal. The second part of the module aims to guide you through the process of finishing a thesis project.
The Global Politics of Forced Migration (15 credits)

The module addresses key themes in international politics (governance, globalisation, security, international (non)cooperation, regionalism and the global political economy).
Advanced Topics in International Political Economy (15 credits)

The module aims to cover a variety of issues and problems in international political economy. Potential topics may include: the offshore world and globalization, theories of money, economic historiography and climate change.
Global Governance (15 credits)

This module examines the mechanisms by which collective problems and global issues are managed at the global level in the absence of global government.
American Foreign Policy (15 credits)

This module will introduce you to American power in the world and its foreign policy through a combination of theory, institutions, and case studies.
Political Change in Europe (15 credits)

The module examines a broad range of social and political developments and changes taking place in contemporary Europe, with a focus on the process of European integration and a range of political actors and institutions involved.
Global Money and Finance (15 credits)

You will address many topics, such as the problems of money and the financial system in the global economy, the origins and different meanings of ‘money’ and the approaches to financial instability and regulation.
Global Ethics: Power and Principle in World Politics (15 credits)

This module seeks to introduce you to the traditions of ethical thought in international politics by looking at pressing issues faced in today’s world, such as state and non-state violence that exceeds territorial boundaries.
The Theory and Practice of Conflict and Peace (15 credits)

This module provides an introduction to how national decision-makers and diplomats have pursued war and peace since the early twentieth century with the aim of applying theory to illuminate key historical cases.
Political Economy of Global Inequality (15 credits)

This module explores wealth and income inequality from a historical and global perspective. In particular, the module examines inequality within countries, between countries and among citizens of the world.
Ethnicity and nationalism: Global comparisons (15 credits)

This course provides an introduction to the major theoretical approaches and problems in the study of ethnicity and nationalism.
Geopolitical Macroeconomy (15 credits)

By taking this module you will expand your research skill-set, and learn how to analyse and compare existing policy tools of macroeconomic strategy and planning, fiscal and monetary interventions.
The Multinational Corporation: Governance, Politics, Ethics (15 credits)

This course will apply your knowledge of economics and politics to the multinational corporation, helping you to understand the real world of the corporation and its social, political, ecological and economic influence.
Sexuality and Gender in World Politics (15 credits)

This module provides tools to analyse how the power dynamics of world politics are closely intertwined with and draw on the dynamics that shape the gendered and sexual hierarchies.
Digital Politics (15 credits)

The module draws on insights from political science, political economy, and other disciplines to understand the complex and rapidly-evolving relationships between digital technologies and politics in the 21st century. The module examines the political and economic impacts of the internet and digital technologies on society.
Global Health Policy (15 credits)

This module introduces you to some of the key political and economic dimensions of contemporary global health issues. It gives you the tools to critically evaluate the governance of health, global health policies, and the stakeholders involved in governing health.
Radicals and Reformers: LeftWing Politics and Activism in Britain and the World since 1945 (15 credits)

This module will introduce you to left-wing politics, political parties and protest movements in Britain since 1945.
Revolution: Rebels and Riots in Modern History (15 credits)

Provides an overview of the history of the major revolutionary moments that occurred between the Atlantic Revolutions and WWI, and examines the history of revolutionary movements.
Comparative Empires in the Modern Era (15 credits)

This module explores the history of modern imperialism, focusing on the development of the European, Japanese, and American empires in the 19th and 20th century.
Genocide and the Holocaust in History and Memory (15 credits)

This module examines the origins, implementation, and aftermath of the Holocaust as it unfolded across the European continent, paying particular attention to the divergent perspectives of perpetrators and victims.
Disruptive Divas. Riot Grrrls and Bad Sistas: A History of Women in Popular Music (15 credits)

The module will introduce you to concepts of gender history and politics as well as to the historical study of popular culture.
Poverty: What Counts? (15 credits)

Introduces: the conceptualisation of UK poverty, how to understand and critically evaluate the different approaches to the quantitative measurement of UK poverty, the practical measurement of approaches using SPSS, and, social surveys.
Reporting Conflict

The module will consider ways in which politics and technology shape and influence the reporting of conflicts. It will analyse in particular the coverage of conflicts which followed global events such as the collapse of the USSR and the attacks of September 11th, 2001.
Reporting Business (15 credits)

This module provides you with an opportunity to explore the role and practices of finance and business specialist journalists.
Micro-Placement (15 credits)

The module seeks to enhance career exploration and will provide you with professional level experience in the form of a self-contained project with one of City’s external employer partners. Completing the Micro-Placement module at level 5 will preclude you having the option to take the Micro-Placement elective module at level 6.
Industry Projects (15 credits)

Using knowledge and skills gained through your degree, you will work in small multi-disciplinary groups on real-life professional level practical projects for employers, choosing between 5 sector streams, such as policy, finance, community, business and arts and culture.
Year Placement: Integrated Professional Training (15 credits)

This module aims to consolidate the learning and development you have gained through professional level experience in the form of a substantial work placement.
Language modules (15 modules)

Only one of the following language modules can be chosen during Year 3:
- Any Language breadth module at level 2 (intermediate level)
- Any Language for specific purposes module at level 2 (intermediate level)
- Any Language for specific purposes module at Level 3 (upper intermediate level or higher)
- Any Language breadth module at Level 3 (upper intermediate level or higher)
- Any Language for specific purposes module at Level 4 (advanced)
- Any Language for Media (Advanced - Portfolio)

Download course specification:

USIPEC - BSc International Political Economy

Teaching and assessment

Our educational aims are achieved through a combination of:

Lectures
Practical workshops and small group classes (tutorials)
Personal tutoring.

Lectures and Tutorials

Lectures are used to provide commentary on and explanation of key content areas. Small group classes are used to develop understanding by inviting students to raise questions and participate in the debate and by providing guidance for further study.

Personal tutoring

Lecturing and teaching is supported by personal tutoring, which is a one-on-one mentoring system. You will have access to talks, conferences, and events that are open to our students.

These include workshops and conferences hosted by City Political Economy Research Centre (CITYPERC) and other research centres at City, University of London.

Independent study

In order to understand the topics covered in lectures and classes and to broaden and deepen your knowledge, you are required to undertake extensive reading and independent study.

This course will include an average of ten contact hours per week (eight teaching face-to-face hours and two consultation and feedback hours with module leaders and tutors).

This amounts to around 200 contact hours during the academic year. In addition, you will be expected to undertake 20 independent study hours per week (around 400 per year).

Academic staff

The staff in the Department of International Politics are research active, enthusiastic and passionate about their work. Often this research leads to policy change and media appearances. Find out more about International Politics staff.

You can follow our staff’s activity through their Twitter feed: @cityintpolitics

Assessment methods

Assessment is by coursework (assessed essays and assignments), team projects, presentations, and the final year dissertation.

Percentage of the course assessed by coursework

The approximate percentage of the course assessment, based on 2019/20 entry is as follows:

Assessment

Year 1

Written examination: 27%

Coursework: 73%

Year 2

Written examination: 19%

Coursework: 81%

Overall workload

The BSc in IPE will include an average of 10-12 contact hours per week (8-10 teaching face to face hours and two office hours with module leaders and tutors). This amounts to around 200 contact hours during the academic year.

In addition, you will be expected to guided under take independent study hours. Some of these hours will include use of online learning tools such as Moodle.

The approximate percentage of the course assessment, based on 2019/20 entry is as follows:

Workload

Year 1

Scheduled learning: 15%

Independent learning: 85%

Year 2

Scheduled learning: 14%

Independent learning: 86%

Year 3

Scheduled learning: 11%

Independent learning: 89%

Fees and funding

Fees for year 2023/24

£9,250

Overseas/EU

£18,410

The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2023/24 academic year only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase in the region of 5%.

Funding options

Explore up-to-date information about funding options, available financial support and typical living costs.

Fee waivers are available for this course.
Means tested support is available for 2023/24 entry.

Additional expenses

Some of our degrees may involve additional expenses which are not covered by your tuition fees. Find out more about additional expenses.

Career

A degree in International Political Economy is designed to prepare graduates for a career in the public or private sector.

You will develop highly sought-after analytical skills and a nuanced understanding of politics and economics. You will be able to analyse complex dynamics of the global markets, financial systems and national political structures.

As a result, graduates will be suited to a wide range of career options including:

Academia
Banking
The Civil Service
Finance
Global corporate sector
Global media
International diplomatic corps
International organisations
NGOs and think tanks.

How to apply

Applications for degree courses must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Apply Now

You can apply through your school or college using the Apply system, which enables you to submit your application directly to the UCAS website.

You can apply to up to five universities or institutions on the form. The UCAS code for City, University of London is C60.

Please take care to enter the correct course code when applying, particularly for subjects with a Foundation year or with BEng (Hons) and MEng (Hons) or BSc (Hons) and MSci (Hons) options.

UCAS has implemented an 'invisibility of choices' policy so that, on the initial application and while you are receiving decisions, each institution can see only their entry and not those of other institutions you have chosen. This ensures that your application for a course at City is considered solely on your academic and personal qualities.

You should submit your completed application form to UCAS with a £23 application fee. If you want to apply to City, University of London only, you can make a single choice application at a reduced rate of £12.

For enquiries about the admissions process at City, please contact our Admissions Office

Complete the Admissions enquiry form.

Call: +44 (0)20 7040 8716.

When to apply

Your application for entry in September 2023 should arrive at UCAS between September 2022 and 25^th January 2023. Applications that arrive after 25^th January 2023 will be considered only at City's discretion.

Contacting UCAS

Website: www.ucas.com

Address: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 3LZ

Telephone:

from inside the UK 0871 468 0468
from outside the UK +44 (0)871 468 0468

For callers with hearing difficulties:

from inside the UK use the Text Relay service on 18001 0871 468 0468
from outside the UK dial +44 151 494 1260 (text phone) and then ask the operator to dial 0871 468 0468.

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Academics

Your studies are supported by a team of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field. On occasion we also work with external professionals to enhance your learning and appreciation of the wider subject.