BSc International Political Economy is designed to meet increasing demand for an interdisciplinary course that prepares students for both the public and private job markets. At City, you will benefit from our competitive advantage in this field and the department’s close links to businesses, the financial industry, policy-makers and think-tanks.
Upon graduating from City, you will be able to analyse complex dynamics of the global markets, financial systems and national political structures, and draw connections between economic, political and social processes driving major changes on the global scene.
Our graduates have found they are well suited for a wide range of career opportunities in the global corporate sector, banking and finance, civil service, international diplomatic corps, global media and international institutions.
IPE is an interdisciplinary field which combines the study of economics, politics, international relations and other social sciences in a unique way. At City, you will find the largest concentration of world-renowned experts in IPE and related fields. Together, we have designed this bespoke programme - the first degree in IPE in the UK – to offer you training in a range of conceptual and analytical skills that will help you analyse the challenges facing decision-makers in business and politics in the global age.
For help with the new UCAS tariff please visit the UCAS Tariff Calculator
We welcome Access course applications from 'mature' students. These applicants will be considered on the basis of their own merits. Please be aware that Access students are often asked for further information to supplement their application, this is normally in the form of a questionnaire.
A typical offer for an Access applicant would be: Pass 60 credits, 45 Level 3 including at least 27 at distinction and the remaining 18 at merit. The Access qualification should be supplemented by at least a grade 4 (C) in Mathematics and English Language at GCSE.
INTO City, University of London offers pathway programmes in a range of academic subjects and English language to help you prepare for degree-level study at City. You’ll learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre.
Learn more about the International Foundation in Humanities and Law. and the International Foundation programme in Business and Economics with Society and Culture
INTO City courses are validated by City, University of London providing assurance of the quality and standards of education.
City works in partnership with KIC London to provide a range of preparatory courses for international students. KIC London courses offer comprehensive support to students - including regular one-to-one tuition. Students who successfully complete the KIC London Foundation course at the required level have a guaranteed progression route to City, University of London degree courses.
EFL requirements grade B in GCSE (or International GCSE)
IELTS: 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
PTE Academic: 59 overall with a minimum of 59 in each component.
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.
International Students (EEA and Non EEA) coming to study in the UK, may need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study. The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course. There are different rules for:
For more information see our main Visa page.
Applications for degree courses must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). 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 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.
Your application for entry in September 2021 should arrive at UCAS between September 2020 and 29th January 2021. Applications that arrive after 29th January 2021 will be considered only at City’s discretion.
When your application is acknowledged by UCAS, you will be sent a personal identification number so that you can access your records via Track on the UCAS website.
For general enquiries about the admissions process at City, please contact our Admissions Office:
Email: ugadmissions@city.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7040 8716.
If your enquiry is about admission to a particular course, please use the contact details provided on the course page.
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.
* The fee for this course in 2020/21 was £9,250 for each year of study. Fees for students commencing study in 2021/22 are to be confirmed.
** In 2020/21 the fee was £15,390 for the first year of study. Fees for students commencing study in 2021/22 are to be confirmed. The institution reserves the right to increase your tuition fees annually to take account of the institution's increased costs of delivering educational services. The increase will normally be 2% but this is kept under review with reference to the RPI. If the institution intends to increase your tuition fees you will be advised of this alongside the published entry fee.
Future Finance offers students loans of between £2,500 and £40,000 to help cover tuition fees and living expenses. All students and courses are considered. All loans are subject to credit checks and approval for further details please visit the City Finance website.
Find out how UK/EU students can receive £2,000 in their first year of study.
Italian Alumna Lara shares her experiences of studying at City, University of London and how she has progressed onto her postgraduate degree at London School of Economics.
You can choose to undertake a work placement for one year between years two and three. The degree awarded is a BSc (Hons) International Political Economy with Integrated Professional Training.
We operate a Guarantee Scheme for first year undergraduates which means you will be offered place in one of City's affiliated Halls if you meet the Scheme's criteria.
Read more about our undergraduate halls.
Our Accommodation Service can also help you find private accommodation.
We offer a free language course for City, University of London students.
Course timetables are normally available from July and can be accessed from our timetabling pages. These pages also provide timetables for the current academic year, though this information should be viewed as indicative and details may vary from year to year.
Please note that all academic timetables are subject to change.
We offer an extensive support network during your time here at City, University of London – from Learning Support (including disability support) and counselling to financial and career advice – leaving you free to enjoy every opportunity campus life has to offer.
Find out more about the different types of student support available.
Chat to our current students and read their blogs to gain an insight into studying at City and learn more about our undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
To make sure that you can begin or continue your studies with us during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have reviewed and adapted our courses to ensure a safe learning environment for our students and staff. We have modified the way some of our courses are delivered, with many programmes being made available online.
Contact us to find out more about how our programmes will be delivered.
Our educational aims are achieved through a combination of:
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.
Lecturing and teaching is supported by a personal tutorial, mentoring and supervision system, and from your second year of study, with an organised research seminar series with outside speakers, both professional and academic. Third year UG students are also invited to attend PhD workshops organised by doctoral students in the Department of International Politics and specialised events (e.g. workshops, conferences) hosted by City Political Economy Research Centre (CITYPERC).
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 (eoght 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 undertake 20 independent study hours per week (around 400 per year). Some of these hours will include use of online learning tools such as Moodle.
Watch our academics talk about China's future on Al Jazeera.
You can follow our staff’s activity through their Twitter feed: @cityintpolitics
Assessment is by coursework (assessed essays and assignments), team projects, presentations, unseen examinations and the final year dissertation. The approximate percentage of the course assessment, based on 2018/19 entry is as follows:
From the very first week of study, this course introduces academic approaches that treat politics, the economy and society as an integrated whole. Rigorous education in analytical and research skills helps students gain a full sense of the world's changing economic and political topography.
In your first year, you are introduced to the key issues in Economics and Political Economy. The core modules cover the history of the world economy, the key concepts in political economy and the basic tools of micro- and macro-economics.
All modules are 15 credits.
The purpose of the second year is to give you the opportunity to develop the skills of political economists. You will become familiar with key approaches to economic analysis and learn to apply an analysis to real-world phenomena of political-economic interest.
All modules are 15 credits
*prereq for SG3071.
During the final year of study, you have the opportunity to engage in independent research on topics of special interest. Third-year modules and research projects bring the analytical competencies developed in the first two years to bear on a wide range of theoretical and empirical issues in international politics and political economy.
Assessment is by coursework, unseen examinations and a final year project.
All modules are 15 credits.
*prereq. SG2045
The programme specification contains more information on how the course is organised, the requirements for progression for each part and credits required for awards.
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 2018/19 entry is as follows:
A degree in International Political Economy is designed to meet increasing student demand for an interdisciplinary programme that prepares graduates for both the public and the private job markets.
As a student on this programme you will benefit from City's competitive advantage in the area of International Political Economy and the Department's close links to businesses, institutions and think tanks.
Graduates will be suited to a wide range of career options:
Find out more about City and all our undergraduate degree programmes.