Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Politics and International Relations

at De Montfort University United Kingdom

Mathematics underpins every technological, scientific and engineering achievement and natural phenomenon we see around us. Mathematics is integral to the applications and technologies we rely on each day.

This course develops your practical skills to solve real life problems and enhances your professional skills, enabling you to effectively communicate mathematics in the work environment. You will develop rigour in your mathematical knowledge and your mathematical abilities/ skills will be stretched and challenged.

There is a shortage of graduates with analytical skills and this course meets the demands of industry. As a De Montfort University Mathematics graduate you will have logical and analytical thought processes, problem-solving abilities and good computing techniques, which will give you the opportunity to pursue highly sought-after careers in a wide range of fields including finance, credit risk, business intelligence, actuarial science, teaching, and research, to name just a few.

Informed by a mix of contemporary methods of performance making, current scholarly thinking and historical theatrical traditions, this course is ideal for those seeking a career in a range of arts-related areas. You will engage both creatively and critically with a range of topics including acting, performing, directing and theatre for social change, while being supported to develop your own artistic vision, personal interests and aspirations.

The course offers you the opportunity to learn about Drama in a rich variety of ways by working with professional researchers, research-active academics and visiting practitioners.

You will benefit from great facilities that have contributed to DMU being recognised as a Centre for Excellence in Performance Arts – an accolade that also reflects our commitment to innovative and excellent teaching and learning.

Real-life experience is offered through undertaking placements and internships, getting involved in professional performances, going on theatre trips at home and abroad, and showcasing your work to a variety of audiences.

You can select a route through this degree in Creative Writing, Education, English Language, English Literature, Film, History, Journalism or Media.

This course is for students with a product, furniture or a directly-related 3D design degree who wish to build on their expertise, specialist knowledge and employability. You will develop an advanced understanding of design practice, learn about research methodologies, explore service design and the ways that emerging digital technologies can enhance your work. The flexibility of the curriculum allows you to create a distinct programme of learning that is focused on your individual interests and ambitions, and equip you with the practical commercial skills for a successful career in the creative industries.

Within the course, you can choose from two specialisms. On the Design Practice specialism, you will explore design innovation and the creation of innovative products that fulfil the users’ wants and needs. Alternatively, our Design and Business specialism focuses on commercial practice, research methods and product design – all valuable skills that you would need to forge a career as a creative entrepreneur.

Your studies will culminate in a self-directed design project, during which you will explore real world product design processes such as external validation, prototyping, testing, technical definition and specification.

In all your designs and processes we will empower you to experiment boldly and encourage you to take risks. We aim to develop independent learners who can take their own personal and critical approach to tackling complex design challenges. Access to our sophisticated facilities, including industry-standard vector-based and three-dimensional modelling packages, will enable you to push design boundaries and realise your creative visions.

Photography is the dominant visual medium of our day. It therefore opens doors to a wide range of exciting career paths, from practicing as a fine artist and freelancing across the commercial sector, to collaborating with the design, marketing and fashion industries.

On this course you’ll discover the full breath of the field of photography. Explore the history of photographic images, moving image, contextual studies and digital media, with professional practice at the heart of your learning. You’ll learn in industry-standard facilities, developing technical skills in various technologies with support from expert tutors. Work on live external client briefs and learn how to curate and exhibit your work to a professional standard.

You’ll create meaningful content that responds to contemporary global concerns and you are encouraged to be incredibly creative and experimental in your approach. Working at the forefront of emerging trends, you’ll develop your skills as a creative problem-solver. And, along with visits to exhibitions and the chance to attend study trips in the UK and overseas, you’ll further enhance your knowledge and passion for your subject.

As a graduate, you’ll have the skills to adapt to this ever-changing field and to create innovative work for careers across the global industries of media, communication and the arts.

Computational Intelligence (CI) encompasses the techniques and methods used to tackle problems that traditional approaches to computing struggle to solve. The four areas of fuzzy logic, neural networks, CI optimisation and knowledge-based systems encompass much of what is considered to be computational (or artificial) intelligence. There are also opportunities to apply what you learn in areas such as robot control and games development, depending on your interests.

You can choose from a number of specialist modules including natural language processing, artificial neural networks and data mining techniques, while developing your skills in our dedicated robotics laboratory, equipped with a variety of mobile robots. The applied computational intelligence module considers knowledge-based systems, as well as the historical, philosophical and future implications of AI, and focuses on current research and applications in the area.  

This stimulating course challenges motivated graduates from fashion and textiles disciplines to explore their chosen specialism and take their development to the next level of creative innovation. Choose from one of the following three areas to specialise in:

• Fashion Design focuses on womenswear, menswear and fashion knitwear.
• Footwear Design and Accessories covers women’s, men’s and children’s footwear and accessories for sport, leisure or fashion.
• Textile Design examines printed, constructed and mixed media in relation to fashion, interiors and lifestyle.

You will focus on building creative, technical and academic knowledge, while developing a critical and contextual understanding of wider issues facing the global fashion industry. Complement your creative practice by selecting from a range of optional modules to tailor your skills to your career aspirations from marketing and business planning to responsible design and manufacture.

This programme provides opportunities to engage in many aspects of education, childhood, and life-long learning. You will engage with a range of academic disciplines to discuss, debate and question educational structures, policy, practice and theory.

Our Education Studies programme enhances personal development and depth of thought. We believe in creative and collaborative approaches to evidence-based teaching and learning. The programme will empower students to see their own career path in education environments as individual, ongoing, multi-faceted and with many routes. With social justice and inclusion at its heart, alongside work-based learning opportunities, the programme inspires its staff and students to engage with local, national, and global issues. The programme aspires to achieve sector recognition for its innovative research, engaging content and modes of delivery which are transformative for its staff, students, and the wider community.

Our students explore how people develop through education and, by taking part in placement and volunteering opportunities from the first year of study and throughout their degree programme, gain a broad range of skills that are transferable to careers in socially-orientated professions.

You will cover modules including Perspectives of Education, Childhood, Social Justice and Education, Ways of Learning and Wellbeing, and Special Educational Needs, Disability and Neurodiversity. The programme will also help you to develop transferable skills and your professional agency through placement opportunities.

The production and utilisation of energy is a key global issue. Governments and industry are becoming increasingly aware of balancing energy production and utilisation with the need to be environmentally conscious and energy efficient.

This course addresses energy production, storage and utilisation. Develop your understanding of the production and efficient use of conventional and renewable energy sources for power generation, and modern energy storage solutions, complemented with elements of energy economics. You will gain a strong understanding of key principles in engineering, mechanics, electricals and electronics, and will explore specialist topics in modules including Sustainable Buildings, Energy for Transport Applications and Low Carbon Energy Technology.

You will have the opportunity to gain industry experience by undertaking an optional work placement. Recent placements have taken place at companies such as Cummins, Network Rail and Caterpillar. We also place a strong focus on employability through industry relevant modules, including Energy Economics and Policy and Project Management.

Graduates of this course go on to a vast range of careers in production, utilisation, energy storage and management, design, research and development, environment control and policy making.

Fashion buying requires both strong commercial understanding as well as theoretical knowledge. This course will prepare you for a diverse range of roles within the global fashion industry by developing in-depth design and buying expertise, and by gaining knowledge of the product lifecycle and critical path, current trends, selection, costing and promotion.

Learn about garment design, pattern cutting, prototyping, construction, and computer-aided design (CAD), while investigating materials, embellishments and technical approaches. We will nurture your professional practice through personal development planning, as well as guided research and critical reasoning.

The shift in fashion retailing from high street to online is driving exciting innovations, and you will develop the resilience and skills to respond to new directions in consumer demand. Our experienced academic team work alongside industry professionals to put your learning into context, ensuring that you are ready to take on the challenges of our rapidly changing industry.

This program focuses on detailed decisions about the design and construction of buildings and their immediate surroundings. Architectural Technology is concerned with new and existing buildings and examines how detail relates to the design concept. This field is also central to the communication of design decisions to members of the construction team and vital to ensuring that work is carried out in the correct manner.  

Our course will help you evolve the knowledge and skills required in understanding, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation relative to design, technology, management, and practice. It will also help advance your architectural management proficiency by bringing together all aspects of the design process, from concept through to completion. 

In addition, this degree examines design strategies to promote and encourage sustainability. You will explore methods of sustainability to inform architectural design, and develop an awareness of ecological footprints, materials, and embodied energy along with processes of achieving sustainable design.