Expand+How and when to Apply
How to Apply
Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained...

Hide-How and when to Apply
How to Apply
Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained from the UCAS website at: www.ucas.com/students.

When to Apply
UCAS will start processing applications for entry in Autumn 2020 from 1 September 2019.

Advisory closing date: 15 January 2020 (18:00).

Late applications are, in practice, accepted by UCAS throughout the remainder of the application cycle, but you should understand that they are considered by institutions at their discretion, and there can be no guarantee that they will be given the same full level of consideration as applications received by the advisory closing date.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as is consistent with having made a careful and considered choice of institutions and courses.

The Institution code name for Queen's is QBELF and the institution code is Q75.

Expand+Entrance requirements
A level requirements
ABB

Irish leaving certificate requirements
H3H3H3H3H3H3/H2H3H3H3H3

Access/Foundation Course
Successful completion of Access Course with an average of 70%.

All applicants
There are no specifi...

Hide-Entrance requirements
A level requirements
ABB

Irish leaving certificate requirements
H3H3H3H3H3H3/H2H3H3H3H3

Access/Foundation Course
Successful completion of Access Course with an average of 70%.

All applicants
There are no specific subject requirements to study International Politics & Conflict Studies.

Selection Criteria
In addition, to the entrance requirements above, it is essential that you read our guidance below on 'How we choose our students' prior to submitting your UCAS application.

Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by individual University Schools. Once your on-line form has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.

Selection is on the basis of the information provided on your UCAS form, which is considered by the Selector for that particular subject or degree programme along with a member of administrative staff from the Admissions Service. Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS.

For entry last year, applicants for this BA programme must have had, or been able to achieve, a minimum of 5 GCSE passes at grade C or better (to include English Language). Performance in any AS or A-level examinations already completed would also have been taken into account and the Selector checks that any specific entry requirements in terms of GCSE and/or A-level subjects can be fulfilled.

Offers are normally made on the basis of 3 A-levels. Two subjects at A-level plus two at AS would also be considered. The offer for repeat applicants is set in terms of 3 A-levels and may be one grade higher than that asked from first time applicants. Grades may be held from the previous year.

Applicants offering two A-Levels and one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent qualification), or one A-Level and a BTEC Diploma/National Diploma (or equivalent qualification) will also be considered. Offers will be made in terms of performance in individual BTEC units rather than the overall BTEC grade(s) awarded. Please note that a maximum of one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent) will be counted as part of an applicant’s portfolio of qualifications. The normal GCSE profile will be expected.

Applicants offering other qualifications, such as BTEC Extended Diplomas, Higher National Certificates and Diplomas, the International Baccalaureate, Irish Leaving Certificate or an Access course, will also be considered.

The same GCSE profile is usually expected of those applicants taking a BTEC Extended Diploma qualification or a Higher National Certificate (HNC).

The current entrance requirements for applicants offering a BTEC Extended Diploma are successful completion of the BTEC Extended Diploma (180 credits at Level 3) with 120 credits at Distinction and 60 credits at Merit.

For applicants offering a HNC, the current requirements are successful completion of the HNC with 2 Distinctions and remainder Merits.

For those offering a Higher National Diploma, some flexibility may be allowed in terms of GCSE profile but, to be eligible for an offer, at least half of the units completed in the first year of the HND must be at Merit level and remainder Passes. Applicants must successfully complete the HND with 2 Distinctions and remainder Merits in all units assessed in the final year. Any consideration would be for stage 1 entry only.

Applicants offering Access/Certificate in Foundation Studies courses will be considered individually on their own merits and for last year, the standard set was an overall average of 70% in Level 3 modules
The information provided in the personal statement section and the academic reference together with predicted grades are noted but, in the case of BA degrees, these are not the final deciding factors in whether or not a conditional offer can be made. However, they may be reconsidered in a tie break situation in August.

A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking would not normally be considered as part of a three A-level offer and, although they may be excluded where an applicant is taking 4 A-level subjects, the grade achieved could be taken into account if necessary in August/September.

Applicants are not normally asked to attend for interview, though there are some exceptions and specific information is provided with the relevant subject areas.

If you are made an offer then you may be invited to an Open Day, which is usually held in the second semester. This will allow you the opportunity to visit the University and to find out more about the degree programme of your choice and the facilities on offer. It also gives you a flavour of the academic and social life at Queen's.

If you cannot find the information you need here, please contact the University Admissions Service (admissions@qub.ac.uk), giving full details of your qualifications and educational background.

International Students
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements
An IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
•Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
•Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

International Students - Foundation and International Year One Programmes
INTO Queen's offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help prepare international students for undergraduate study at Queen's University. You will learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre on campus, and will have full access to the University's world-class facilities.

These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry.

Expand+Overview
The Joint Honours Programme in International Politics and Conflict Studeies provides students with an in-depth, interdisciplinary understanding of contemporary politics, international affairs and conflict situations in their political, hist...

Hide-Overview
The Joint Honours Programme in International Politics and Conflict Studeies provides students with an in-depth, interdisciplinary understanding of contemporary politics, international affairs and conflict situations in their political, historical, cultural, economic and legal dimensions. Dedicated modules introduce students to core concepts and debates in International Relations and the study of conflict, as well as to the particular European experience of regional integration. Students will acquire familiarity with the experiences of differing national polities and societies, facilitating the development of culturally sensitive cross-national comparisons.

International Relations at Queen’s is about more than just armed conflict and insurgency. It also examines such trends as globalisation and considers the challenge from the rise of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the process of European integration, humanitarian issues (such as poverty, development and refugees), and the role of the media in conflict. The academic study of politics is concerned with the sources of conflict, co-operation, power and decision-making within and between societies, how differences are expressed through ideology and organisation, and how, if at all, disagreements and problems are resolved. We look at conflict, co-operation and its origins, dynamics and trajectories, at theories of society, at the value and ethical basis of political ideas and action, and at politics in different national and historical contexts.

International Politics and Conflict Studies Degree highlights

Various serving politicians have studied in the School, including Ian Paisley Jr (MP), the Green Party Leader, Stephen Agnew, and ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive.

Global Opportunities
•All students within this degree programme will have the possibility of opting to study for a semester abroad in their third year at an English-speaking university in mainland Europe.

There is also a possibility for some to spend an additional year in the United States under the Study USA programme.

The School also has links with Queen’s University’s Global Research Centre, The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice. Many of the School’s staff are Fellows in the Mitchell Institute, where they work in collaboration with experts in peace and conflict studies from other disciplines such as law, sociology, and the creative arts.

Professional Accreditations
•The study of politics is not directed towards any one professional pathway, but rather provides the generic skills for success in a number of professional fields including the civil service, media, the charity sector, education, etc.

Industry Links
•Placement: past students have gained work placements with organisations such as the following:
• BBC
• Local Government Staff Commission
• Mencap
• Northern Ireland Electoral Commission
• Northern Ireland Local Government Association
• Northern Ireland political parties
• Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments
• Police Ombudsman‘s Office
• The North/South Ministerial Council
• We regularly consult and develop links with a large number of employers, including NI government departments and the North/
South Ministerial Council, who provide sponsorship for our internships.

In addition, the School offers a range of employment placements where students can gain real world work experience which is invaluable in terms of employment after graduation. Given that Belfast is a regional capital with devolved powers, we can offer
students placements in the high profile political and related institutions on our doorstep - for example in the Department
of Justice, Equality Commission, Police Ombudsman’s Office, or BBC Northern Ireland.

Career Development
•Graduates from this degree at Queen‘s are well regarded by local, national and international employers and over half of all graduate jobs are now open to graduates of any discipline, including International Politics and Conflict Studies. Although the majority of our graduates are interested in pursuing careers in the public and voluntary/community sectors, significant numbers develop careers in the private sector, working in industries from management consultancy to law and journalism.

World Class Facilities
•Centre of Excellence: the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics at Queen‘s has 30 full-time academics, making it the largest institutional centre for the study of these subjects in Ireland and one of the largest in the UK.

The School also boasts the following:
• Centre for Public History
• The Senator George J Mitchell Institute for
Global Peace, Security and Justice
• Institute of Cognition and Culture
• Institute of Irish Studies
• Two International Summer Schools (the Irish
Studies Summer School; and the Conflict
Transformation and Social Justice Summer
School)

Internationally Renowned Experts
•• Professor Beverley Milton Edwards has advised various governments in her role as an expert on the Middle East, and is
currently a Visiting Fellow at the Brooking Institution.
• Professor David Phinnemore is an expert on EU Treaty reform and EU enlargement, which led to his secondment as an advisor to the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
• Prof. John Garry is an internationally recognised expert in the areas of citizens’ political attitudes and voting behaviour. His research has informed governments both in Belfast and Dublin on offering ordinary citizens the chance to have greater input on policymaking.

Student Experience
•Our vibrant Politics Society (Polysoc) provides a welcome and stimulating environment for new students. Diversity of Students: we have students from around the UK, Ireland, Europe and the wider world, ensuring a rich mix of students with different experiences and backgrounds.

Expand+Year 1
Students are introduced to the study of politics, political ideology, comparative politics, the state of world politics, international history and contemporary Europe.

Year 2
In their second year, students focus on the political, econo...

Hide-Year 1
Students are introduced to the study of politics, political ideology, comparative politics, the state of world politics, international history and contemporary Europe.

Year 2
In their second year, students focus on the political, economic and social transformations of the 20th century and beyond, and will be able to advance their conceptual understanding of the field of international relations and conflict by studying modules such as:
• International Relations
• Security and Terrorism
• Deeply Divided Societies
• Politics and Policies of the EU
• International Organisations

Year 3
In the final year, students can select more specific areas and specialist-based modules on, for example, the Middle East, US foreign policy, migration, the Far Right, political extremism, politics of the global economy, and modules on identity politics, international ethics, war and visual culture, conflict and conflict resolution.

Dissertations: in their final year, students can to write a dissertation based on a research topic of their choice and under one-to-one supervision by an academic with specialist knowledge in the chosen field.

Stage 1 Optional Courses
Students may choose two additional courses from throughout the University

Stage 2
In their second year, students focus on the political, economic and social transformations of the 20th century and beyond. To develop a broad understanding of international relations and conflict, students take a core module examining the major theoretical approaches to the study of International Politics and Conflict Studies. Students, and will be able to advance their conceptual understanding of the field of international relations and conflict by studying the applying these theories in the several optional modules available in year two.

Stage 2 Optional Courses
The Politics of Deeply Divided Societies
Security and Terrorism
Studying Politics
International Organisations
Politics and Policy of the European Union
Politics of Conflict Transform

Stage 3
In the final year, students can select more specific areas and specialist-based modules on, for example, the Middle East, US foreign policy, migration, the Far Right, political extremism, politics of the global economy, and modules on identity politics, international ethics, war and visual culture, conflict and conflict resolution.

In their final year, students can to write a dissertation based on a research topic of their choice and under one-to-one supervision by an academic with specialist knowledge in the chosen field. This provides a unique opportunity for students to marshal all the research and writing skills they have learned through the course of their degree to produce an original piece of research which reflects the particular interests that they have acquired in their time studying at Queen’s.

Stage 3 Course are outlined below:

Dissertation (Politics and International Studies)
Internship
Middle Eastern Politics
Women and Politics
Ethics, Power and International Politics
National and Ethnic Minorities
Northern Ireland: A Case Study
War and Visual Culture
US Foreign Policy
Arms Control
The Far Right in Western Europe and North America
Asylum and Migration in Global Politics
National and Ethnic Minorities
Security and Technology
War and Visual Culture

Note: Modules at Stage 2 and 3 are subject to change based on availability.

Expand+Assessments associated with this course are outlined below:
•A variety of assessment methods are used, depending on the learning objectives of each module, including coursework essays, written examinations, oral presentations, weekly assignments, ...

Hide-Assessments associated with this course are outlined below:
•A variety of assessment methods are used, depending on the learning objectives of each module, including coursework essays, written examinations, oral presentations, weekly assignments, learning logs, group projects, and dissertations.

Feedback
Formal written comments and marks relating to work that students, as individuals or as part of a group, have submitted. The vast majority of our written feedback is provided electronically to your personal online account.
•General comments or question and answer opportunities during or at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.
•Immediate, on-the-spot feedback from your teacher during language classes.
•Individual consultations addressing specific queries with lecturers during designated consultation hours.
•Online or emailed comment to specific queries
•Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid. In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which students can review in their own time.
•Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service
•Once students have reviewed their feedback, they are encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of their work.

Expand+Career Prospects
Introduction
Studying for an International Politics and Conflict Studies degree at Queen‘s will assist students in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers and academic institutio...

Hide-Career Prospects
Introduction
Studying for an International Politics and Conflict Studies degree at Queen‘s will assist students in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers and academic institutions.

Graduates from this degree at Queen‘s are well regarded by local, national and international employers and over half of all graduate jobs are now open to graduates of any discipline, including International Politics and Conflict Studies. Although the majority of our graduates are interested in pursuing careers in the public and voluntary/community sectors, significant numbers develop careers in the private sector, working in industries from management consultancy to law and journalism.

Employment after the Course
Recent career destinations of graduates have found employment:

• In government and civil service
• As researchers
• As mediators/negotiators
• In public affairs and/or public relations
• In media, journalism, and communications
• Conducting advocacy
• In marketing
• In teaching

Employment Links
Close links with employers
We regularly consult and develop links with a large number of employers, including NI government departments and the North/South Ministerial Council, who provide sponsorship for our internships.

In addition, the School offers a range of employment placements where students can gain real world work experience which is invaluable in terms of employment after graduation. Given that Belfast is a regional capital with devolved powers, we can offer students placements in the high profile political and related institutions on our doorstep - for example in the Department of Justice, Equality Commission, Police Ombudsman’s Office, or BBC Northern Ireland.

Degree plus award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.