BA in Politics and International Relations
Overview
One of the main goals of the Department of Politics and International Relations at UKH is to educate and train graduates capable of contributing to the future development of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq in the turbulent and complex arena of contemporary world politics.
To this end, the BA in Politics and International Relations creates an exciting and supporting learning environment where students can develop a robust, critical knowledge of the major theoretical and methodological issues related to the study of politics and international relations, while also acquire the competences that will make them competitive in a wide range of professional areas. Special emphasis is placed on equipping students with the necessary skills to start a successful career in the sectors of public management and diplomacy.
Delivered by a cohort of passionate and highly qualified academics coming from internationally re-known universities, theBA in Political Science and International Relations also gives students the opportunity to undertake internships and to gain work experience, thereby increasing their employability. Graduates from the Department of Politics and International Relations have found positions in a number of professional areas including government administration, international organizations, diplomatic representations, no-profit, media, and the business sector.
Admission Requirements
- High School Diploma: High school certificate with a general high school score of 60% or above
- English Language Proficiency: Minimum English Language requirement is 45 in PTE, 5.5 in IELTS, 64 in ibt-TOEFL or 95 in Duolingo.
- School Interview
- Equalised transcript for Public universities is required for students who have graduated from international institutions.
- Application Form: Online application is required
- Official transcripts: Provide a copy of your official transcript (for applicants who graduated from international institutions, an equalized transcript is required).
- Certification Letter from High School: Provide an official letter from your High School Confirming your High School Average.
- A copy of your Passport/ID
Curriculum
| Module Code | Module Title | Credits | Level Offered | AY Offered | Semester |
| PIR191 | Introduction to Political Science & International Relations | 15 | UGI | AY25-26 | Sem I |
| PIR192 | Modern History of the Middle East (1800–Present) | 15 | UGI | AY25-26 | Sem I |
| PIR193 | Principles of Economics (with Political Economy orientation) | 15 | UGI | AY25-26 | Sem I |
| PIR194 | Academic Writing and Critical Thinking | 15 | UGI | AY25-26 | Sem I |
| PIR195 | Modern History of the Kurds and Iraq (19th–21st Century) | 15 | UGI | AY25-26 | Sem II |
| PIR196 | Political Ideologies (Liberalism, Conservatism, Socialism, Nationalism, Islamism) | 15 | UGI | AY25-26 | Sem II |
| PIR197 | Comparative Political Systems | 15 | UGI | AY25-26 | Sem II |
| PIR198 | Research Skills I: Introduction to Social Science Research | 15 | UGI | AY25-26 | Sem II |
| ENG129 | Public Speaking and Debate | 15 | UGI | AY23-24 | Sem II |
| PIR291 | Political Theory: From Hobbes to Marx | 15 | UGII | AY25-26 | Sem I |
| PIR292 | International Relations Theories (Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism) | 15 | UGII | AY25-26 | Sem I |
| PIR293 | Political Economy I: Classical and Contemporary Approaches | 15 | UGII | AY25-26 | Sem I |
| PIR294 | International Law and Organizations (UN, WTO, ICC) | 15 | UGII | AY25-26 | Sem I |
| PIR295 | Comparative Politics: Institutions and Actors | 15 | UGII | AY25-26 | Sem II |
| PIR296 | Political Sociology: Power, Class, and Social Movements | 15 | UGII | AY25-26 | Sem II |
| PIR297 | Political Economy II: Globalisation and Development | 15 | UGII | AY25-26 | Sem II |
| PIR298 | Kurdish Identity, Nationhood, and the Question of Self-Determination | 15 | UGII | AY25-26 | Sem II |
| PIR391 | Politics of Iraq: Federalism and Governance (with a focus on the Kurdistan Region) | 15 | UGIII | AY25-26 | Sem I |
| PIR392 | Politics of the Middle East: Authoritarianism, Islam, and Democratization | 15 | UGIII | AY25-26 | Sem I |
| PIR393 | Security Studies: War, Peace, and Conflict Resolution | 15 | UGIII | AY25-26 | Sem I |
| PIR394 | Constitutionalism and State-Building | 15 | UGIII | AY25-26 | Sem I |
| PIR395 | Kurdish Politics in Regional and Global Context | 15 | UGIII | AY25-26 | Sem II |
| PIR396 | Global Political Economy (Trade, Finance, Energy) | 15 | UGIII | AY25-26 | Sem II |
| PIR397 | Foreign Policy Analysis (Levels of Analysis: Individual, State, Systemic) | 15 | UGIII | AY25-26 | Sem II |
| PIR398 | Internship / Fieldwork in Local Institutions (Government, NGO, Media) | 15 | UGIII | AY25-26 | Sem II |
| PIR491 | Research Skills III: Data Analysis and Writing Research Proposals | 15 | UGIV | AY25-26 | Sem I |
| PIR492 | Oil Politics, Comparative Perspective | 15 | UGIV | AY25-26 | Sem I |
| PIR493 | Contemporary Politics of the Kurdistan Region (with a focus on public policy) | 15 | UGIV | AY25-26 | Sem I |
| PIR494 | Nationalism, Identity, and the Nation-State (Comparative Perspective) | 15 | UGIV | AY25-26 | Sem II |
| PIR495 | Seminars on Contemporary Politics in the Kurdistan Region | 15 | UGIV | AY25-26 | Sem II |
| PIR496 | Capstone Dissertation (10,000–12,000 words, original research) | 15 | UGIV | AY25-26 | Sem II |
International Schools Requirements
American System
GPA: 2.0 and SAT I: 800
British System
5 IGCSE Literary Subjects; 2 A-Level / Full A Level or 1 A-Level + 1 AS-Level (Pass all modules)
International Baccalaureate (IB)
1 High Level (HL) + 1 Standard Level (SL) Both HL and SL must be literary subjects
Skills Development
The BA in Politics and International Relations will give students a distinctive set of key skills, which will enable them to stand out in their future studies and desired career. Upon successful completion of the programme, students will be able to:
Demonstrate critical understanding of the nature and significance of politics at the national and international level.
Show familiarity with the major theoretical and methodological issues associated with the study of politics and international relations.
Make sense of complex texts and nuanced literature pertaining to politics and international relations.
Apply appropriate research methods and conceptual tools to the study of the public management sector.
Develop a solid knowledge of the various dimensions of diplomatic practice.
Examine the functioning of systems of governance at national, regional, and global level.
Use analytical tools relevant to international affairs and diplomatic practice.
Carry out administrative tasks in public and international institutions.
Employ a sophisticated and flexible set of written and verbal communication skills to illustrate critical arguments based on thoroughly vetted information.
Use communication and information technology for the retrieval and presentation of complex information, including, where appropriate, statistical or numerical information.