Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in International Politics and Modern Languages with Year Abroad

at University of Bath United Kingdom

Develop theoretical and practical abilities in software design, development and experimentation, to become an innovative computing professional.

This course is for you if you’re interested in studying computer science but want to wait until later in your degree before deciding what area to specialise in. It's a broad-ranging course giving you the knowledge to apply computer science methods to the latest industry challenges and learn skills highly valued by employers.

Tailor to your interests

In the first year, you’ll learn core skills in mathematics and programming and the foundations of artificial intelligence, software design and development, interaction design, computer graphics and vision. More advanced and specialised units follow in the second and final years. In the second year, you'll complete a group project with other students to design and build an interactive application.

In the final year, you'll choose optional units alongside an individual project combining your interests in a specific area of computer science. You’ll regularly meet with an academic who specialises in your chosen field.

Placement Year

Going on placement gives you the opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge during a year working in industry. You’ll be employed full-time in a role to match your future career ambitions, broadening your experience and transferable skills. This could give you a competitive edge when applying for graduate jobs.

We have links with some of the industry’s leading companies. Recent placement employers include Accenture, Imagination Technologies, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft and Google.

Combine electronic engineering expertise with advanced knowledge of computer hardware and software skills to develop the computer systems of the future.

Our course prepares you for a career in an advancing field at the interface of engineering and computing. You'll gain in-depth knowledge of modern computer systems, software engineering, computer graphics and embedded programming to become a systems-level expert.

Learning the foundations of electronic, electrical and computer principles gives you a broad understanding of the subject. Later in your degree, you can specialise with a choice of units including embedded electronic systems, computational intelligence or electronic design.

Working with the latest digital technology, you'll design systems such as embedded microprocessors, programmable integrated circuits or high-performance computers. You'll learn how to use industry-standard programming and hardware design languages, operating systems and applications.

Gain a solid grounding in core management areas. You’ll develop the knowledge and skills needed to open career opportunities in accounting, finance and a range of other sectors.

Accounting and finance professionals are important to almost all functions of business. Learn to use your numerical abilities in a practical way.

Placement Year

Apply your skills and knowledge in a practical business environment with a placement year. Placements are real jobs and usually paid. You will gain a distinct advantage in the graduate job market with this valuable experience.

The average UK salary of an accounting and finance placement student in 2019 was £21,660. The highest salary was £50,000. Recent employers include Goldman Sachs, UBS and PwC.

The average salary is based on data provided to us by all 64 students who went on placement in the UK in 2019.

Design, operate and build electronic systems for the space environment. Gain the engineering skills needed for a career in the space industry.

Our course takes you beyond the conventional engineering difficulties of designing equipment for use on Earth’s surface. Instead, you’ll develop the skills needed to design and build systems and platforms for the hostile environment of space.

Your first two years develop your understanding of electrical engineering science before specialising in electronics and communications technologies with elements of space and planetary science. Your learning will be supported by the latest theory and practice in spacecraft engineering, space electronics, Earth observation, the space environment and weather.

Prepare for an international career. Achieve fluency in your A-level language and pick up a new one. Deepen your knowledge and understanding of political and cultural issues.

Studying Modern Languages enables you to read, write and speak two foreign languages with proficiency, as well as understand the social, political, economic and cultural evolution of the principal countries in which these languages are spoken. This degree combines the study of two languages, one at advanced level and a second at either advanced level or at beginner (ab-initio) level.

You’ll gain a deep understanding of contemporary culture in these societies, providing you with a genuine international perspective. You will develop highly valuable work-related skills enabling you to conduct research and analysis with confidence. You’ll be able to communicate, debate and interact in your chosen languages at an advanced level.

You will have intensive language tuition in both languages throughout the course. Your ab initio language allows you to quickly learn the language in your first two years at Bath in order to achieve the ability to study abroad in the third year. Your advanced language will enable you to engage with cultural and political issues in the target language and achieve high levels of fluency.

You’ll gain skills in research, analysis, communication and argument, and experience direct exposure to the cultures you study.

Year abroad

A year abroad in your third year is an exciting part of the degree. On your year abroad you will spend time in the countries of your chosen languages, in Europe or beyond. You can choose to study at a foreign university, to work as a language assistant in a school abroad, or to undertake a work placement abroad. You also have the flexibility of a combination of any of these options.

Explore issues facing us in the 21st century relating to crime and criminal justice. Develop research and data handling skills relevant to a range of careers.

This degree has a strong global focus. You’ll explore crime and related topics from around the world, including human rights and terrorism, social justice, contemporary social problems, and the globalisation of crime.

You’ll develop an in-depth knowledge of how the various components of the criminal justice system work, from the police through to prison and probation. As well as a strong theoretical grounding, the course is designed to equip you with practical skills in critical enquiry, research and data generation.

Studying at Bath means you’ll get to work with a leading team of criminal justice researchers and criminologists, with significant global expertise. There’s also the chance to hone your skills further by doing a placement year in a relevant setting.

The modern world needs thoughtful, politically-conscious, questioning economists. Become a professional who understands how economics and politics intertwine.

In this course, you’ll examine the challenges facing individuals, countries and the international community. You will develop an understanding of government and society through core concepts such as power, justice, conflict, accountability, obligation, sovereignty and decision making. You will develop strong analytical skills which will aid your understanding of the institutional, UK and global context within which economic decisions and policy formation takes place.

In your first year you'll study key concepts in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. You'll explore political theory and analysis, introducing central subjects such as power and the state, democracy and the climate crisis.

In your second year you'll continue with more advanced study of political and economic theory. You'll study the exercise of power in societies and economies through an engagement with themes such as democratic theory, populist and nationalist politics, and the politics of race and gender.

In your final year you'll explore your interests through a range of optional units in both economics and politics.

By the end of the course, you will have an appreciation of the interface between economics and political science.

Year abroad

You can broaden your horizons with a year studying at a university abroad. You’ll experience another culture whilst studying a course that complements your studies at Bath. You could combine study abroad with an international work placement.

The study abroad option is available at the National University of Singapore, The University of Hong Kong and Stellenbosch University (South Africa), as well as others. We seek to further expand on these. Study abroad opportunities are limited and are subject to availability at our partner institutions.

Make sense of issues underpinning contemporary global challenges such as the impact of climate change and international inequalities.

On this degree you’ll combine the study of politics with an engagement in economic theory and practice. It will appeal if you’re interested in issues of global power, decision-making, democracy and inequality.

You’ll cover topics such as international politics, political ideologies and economic thought. You will explore a range of contemporary economic and political challenges facing national and international society, such as terrorism and climate change.

In your first year you'll focus on concepts and theories relating to both politics and international relations. You'll study economic theory and methodology, and explore contemporary political and economic systems.

In your second year you'll advance your knowledge in political and economic theory. You can focus your studies through optional units covering areas from global responses to international environmental crises, to the nature of UK Parliamentary politics. You'll also develop your skills in research design and methods.

You’ll carry out a year-long dissertation and select optional units relating to your interests in politics and economics, with themes such as financialisation, inter-state relations, and gender politics.

Placement Year

The placement year is an opportunity for you to use the theory you have learnt in a practical context. You will learn about an organization and its area of work. This is an excellent opportunity to test potential career paths. Sometimes permanent jobs are offered to our students.

You’ll develop skills such as teamwork, planning, problem-solving, decision making and project management. Employers value a year of professional work and you’ll gain an advantage in the job market.

Over the years we have built contacts with a large number of organizations that can provide the high standard of training we expect.

Become an innovative computing professional with the skills needed for a career in the fast-growing field of AI.

This course is for you if you’re keen to learn about current Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, specialising in this field from the start of your degree whilst still gaining a broad grounding in computer science. AI is becoming an ever more important part of a wide range of sectors from medicine to marketing, so this course will help prepare you for continued demand in the job market.

You'll gain the skills and knowledge to apply the latest AI technologies and methods to a wide range of problems, studying topics such as machine learning, algorithms and complexity, and visual computing.

Tailor to your interests

In the first year, you’ll learn the basics of computer science, including mathematics and programming skills, along with an introduction to the theory and practice of AI. In the second year, you’ll continue to develop your AI skills, with a focus on machine learning. In the final year, you’ll choose optional units alongside an individual project in a specific area of AI. You can specialise in areas such as robotics, natural language processing, intelligent agents or computer vision. You’ll regularly meet with an academic who’s an expert in your chosen field.

Critically explore how young children and adolescents learn and develop. You’ll focus on contemporary society, both globally and in the UK.

Education with Psychology is a social science degree that bridges the disciplines of education, psychology and sociology. You’ll be offered a blend of social science units that relate to the study of children and young people.

You’ll study in-depth the social and developmental contexts of childhood and youth. You’ll explore government priorities relating to children’s lives and wellbeing, and the role of education. You’ll also develop skills in evaluating policy and practice, from both an academic and work-practice perspective.

In your first year you’ll study core introductory units in education, psychology and research methods. You’ll examine philosophical, sociological or psychological perspectives of education, learning, policy, families, social justice and deviance.

In your second year you'll continue to study research methods and advanced topics in education and psychology. You’ll examine contemporary issues and challenges that affect children, families and young people.

In your final year you'll learn about contemporary issues in childhood and youth, educational psychology, and developmental psychopathology. You can specialise according to your interests by writing a dissertation on a topic of your choice.