The BSc International Relations programme from the University of London helps you understand how diverse forces, actors and events shape our global community. This online programme is designed by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), ranked #2 in the world for Social Sciences and Management.

Programme Structure

All courses are designed by LSE academics – globally renowned thought leaders who seek to understand the causes of things for the betterment of society through critical thinking and interdisciplinary education.

The LSE Department of International Relations – one of the largest and most esteemed in the world – continues that tradition. Its leading academics collaborate to solve pressing global issues through world-leading research. They are continually examining the sources of global conflict, analysing the behaviours of state and non-state actors, and asking important questions about ethics and morality on the global stage. 

The maximum period of registration is six years, but we suggest you aim to complete your programme within three to four years. To complete the programme in as few as three years, students must take four full courses (or equivalent) each year.

The table below shows the suggested course sequence for a three-year completion timeline. All full courses are 30 credits and take 20 weeks of learning. Half courses are 15 credits and include 10 weeks of learning.

* Open choice courses: Choose a) one 100-, 200- or 300-level course (or two half courses) from the course selection list (PDF 1.5 MB)External link:open_in_new or b) two LSE summer school courses.

Deadlines and Start Dates

Deadlines and start dates are the same for all programmes. No matter which programme or start date you choose, we encourage you to submit your application by the priority deadline. 

The University of London offers four start dates per year. The table below displays upcoming start dates (and corresponding deadlines) for all programmes.

If you submit your application before the priority deadline for your preferred start date, you'll be invited to an exclusive webinar – an excellent opportunity to learn more about the online learning environment and admissions process – and be able to get a head start on planning your education.

General Entrance Requirements

Applicants must be at least 17 years of age by the registration deadline. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.

Mathematics Requirements

You will be required to demonstrate competence at least equivalent to mathematics at UK GCE A-level (grade A–E).

You may also meet the mathematics requirement by having earned 15 UK credits, 6 US college-level credits or 7.5 ECTS in one or more of the following subjects (or acceptable equivalents from around the world):

• mathematics

• engineering mathematics

• computing mathematics

• algebra

• geometry

• trigonometry

• quantitative techniques/methods

• statistics

• business statistics

• business mathematics

• calculus

• differentials

• algorithms

English Language Requirements

You are required to demonstrate English proficiency to be admitted to the programmes. The University of London accepts a range of evidence, including proficiency tests. If you don't have evidence but believe you can meet the standard, the university may consider your case.

This list represents a sample of accepted qualifications. The University of London accepts many qualifications from around the world that are not listed here, including school qualifications, diplomas and professional awards. 

If you have any questions about the entry qualifications or application requirements outlined here, please contact us.

The programme fees below refer to the February 2022 and May 2022 sessions only.

The indicative total programme fees above reflect average annual fee increases and assume you complete your programme within the minimum time, without resits. Please note that the indicative total programme fees have been calculated based on February 2022 and May 2022 intakes only, and that the indicative total programme fees will increase for programmes starting after May 2022.

Please note that the programme fees above exclude:

Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Sales Tax
All student fees shown are net of any local value-added tax (VAT), Goods and Services Tax (GST) or any other sales tax payable by the student in their country of residence. Where the University is required to add VAT, GST or any other sales tax at the local statutory rate, this will be added to the fees shown during the payment process. For students residing in the UK, our fees are exempt from VAT.

Textbooks
You may also need to budget for textbooks (which could extend to around £300 per year).

Examination centre fees
You will be required to pay an examination centrefee directly to the venue each time you sit an exam. Examination centre fees are not included in the fees set out above. This fee will vary from centre to centre and you should contact your proposed examination centre(s) for details of their fees to factor them in to the overall cost of completing the programme. In these unprecedented times, the University has and continues to respond quickly to the impact of COVID-19, which has resulted in changes to our assessment processes. In line with our General Regulations, the University may offer you alternative assessments where necessary. This includes holding online timed assessments in place of written examinations, which are usually held at examination centres. You can find contact details for all our examination centres on the website. The University of London is only responsible for the examination centre fee charged at London centres. You will be charged £81 per sitting when using London examination centres.

Examination resit fees
If you need to resit a module/course, you must pay a resit fee. The current resit fee for full courses is £346 for a full course, and £173 for a half course.