Economics, Politics and International Relations

BA Hons

  • UCAS code LL22
  • Entry year 2025
  • A level requirements AAB
  • Duration Full time 3 years

We welcome applications from the United States of America

We've put together information and resources to guide your application journey as a student from the United States of America.

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • 9

    9th for graduate prospects: Economics

    The Guardian University Guide (2025)

  • 10

    10th for Economics

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

  • 11

    11th for Research Quality for Economics

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

Introduction

What makes some countries richer than others? How can we measure inequality or the impact of climate change, and what should we do about it? What impact does war have on the global economy? Are education or healthcare investments like the others? How do you measure the success of a political voting system?

BA Economics, Politics and International Relations provides you with the analytical skills and intellectual toolbox to help answer these pressing economics questions and many more. You will learn how to interpret data, understand (and quantify) the decisions made by individuals, organisations, and governments and evaluate public policy both nationally and globally.

Course overview

The course begins by introducing the foundational principles of economic theory, international relations and politics. This degree connects the analytical skills of economics with insights and ways of thinking from politics and international relations. This is an incredibly flexible course allowing you to weight your studies to any and all of the three main subject areas.

Year one will cover the fundamentals of economic theory and practice, Politics in the modern world, and the fundamentals of international relations.

Years two and three allow you to choose modules from across economics, politics and international relations. As your degree progresses and you discover more about both the subjects and about yourself, you have the opportunity to flex this course in ways that speak to your changing interests and strengths. This might lead you to choose modules in:

  • Development economics
  • Economic inequality
  • Political ideas
  • International relations, security and sustainability

amongst many other specialisations

Key facts

An incredibly flexible degree course with opportunities to study across the full spectrum of our economics, politics and international relations undergraduate modules.

You do not need an A level in Economics or Mathematics to enrol in this course.

Throughout your degree, we’ll supply training in CV writing, interview assessment centres and telephone interviews. We are proud of our aspiring economists and aim to nurture the potential in every one of them.

This course is also available as a four-year degree with a year in industry.

Course outcomes

You will graduate with a thorough grounding in economics, and an understanding of how a complex world functions and the dynamics of international relations and policy. Graduates have gone on to work for a wide variety of international Non-governmental organisations, think tanks, consultancies and multinational corporations.

Careers

Graduates of this course develop a wide range of skills, which are highly valued by employers both in the UK and abroad. Together with a thorough understanding of global economics and politics, you’ll develop well-rounded communication, analytical and IT skills, all of which are increasingly sought after in the workplace.

Typical career paths for our graduates include the civil service and local government, with a large number opting for positions in the private sector, in industries such as finance, accountancy and law.

Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, you also graduate with relevant life and work-based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability awareness, career development, campus community and social development. Visit our employability section for more details.

The Management School has an award-winning careers team to provide a dedicated careers and placement service, offering a range of innovative services for LUMS. Our high reputation means we attract a wide range of leading global employers to campus, offering you the opportunity to interact with graduate recruiters from day one of your degree.

Entry requirements

Grade requirements

A level AAB

GCSE Mathematics grade B or 6, English Language grade C or 4

IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements web pages.

Other qualifications

International Baccalaureate 35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects

BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Distinction

We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualifications. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions web pages.

Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

Course structure

Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

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Fees and funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.

Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2025/26 are:

Home International
£9,535 £25,075

Fees and funding information

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Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Alumni profiles

Link: click to see Charlotte Burt
portrait photograph of Charlotte Burt

Charlotte Burt

BA Economics and Politics, 2019

Many aspects of the Lancaster experience prepared me for my job. In terms of the degree itself, some of the modules I completed such as macro and microeconomics gave me a great understanding of business.
Link: click to see Finn Farthing
portrait photograph of Finn Farthing

Finn Farthing

BA Economics and Politics, 2020

The best thing about my course was the real world application of learning.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

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