International Relations and Economics

This module introduces you to comparative politics, helping you systematically examine political systems around the world. You'll explore the diverse structures of governments, how states are organized, and different party systems. By comparing diverse political systems worldwide, you'll gain crucial insights into their commonalities and differences, enabling you to apply comparative methods and critically analyse political institutions and processes globally. 

This module allows you to extend and develop an understanding of the standard approach to decisions based on optimisation: utility maximisation amongst individuals and profit maximisation among firms. The module shows you how this approach can be embedded in formal models of equilibrium exploring a variety of competitive situations, including strategic interactions among businesses and intertemporal choice. Moreover, building on the foundations of standard (neoclassical) economics, you will learn to apply behavioural economics concepts and findings to predict economic actors' seemingly irrational behaviour. 

In these uncertain times, new global challenges are constantly emerging. This module confronts the critical issues shaping our world, from escalating wars and cybersecurity threats to the climate crisis. You'll explore the persistent tension between national sovereignty and global cooperation, examine various global security frameworks, and scrutinise the role of diverse actors on the world stage. Get equipped with advanced IR theories to critically analyse efforts for global peace and security. 

You will gain insights on the determination of macroeconomic variables and the effects of policy decisions. The module looks at these features of the economy distinguishing between short, medium, and long run. You will expand your understanding of general macroeconomic dynamics by also looking at the functioning of international trade and how globalisation affects the impact of macroeconomic policies.  

The module looks at diverse perspectives in economic theories, focusing on case studies from various cultures, and contributions from economists of different backgrounds. It also highlights how macroeconomic policies affect various demographics differently. 

You will look at concepts like sustainable growth, green economics, and the role of government and markets in promoting environmental sustainability. Alongside exploring the macroeconomic policies' impacts on ecological sustainability, such as carbon taxation, renewable energy investment, and regulatory frameworks. 

You will look at practical projects, case studies, and simulations that mimic professional economic analysis and decision-making processes. These will develop skills that are valuable in the job market, such as data analysis, data manipulation, and policy evaluation.  

Geopolitics examines how states, regions, and organizations leverage their geography to acquire and wield global power. This module will allow you to explore the relationship between geography, politics, and power, examining how power is asserted and contested across different spaces, with a focus on both the Global North and Global South. You will engage in debates on contemporary geopolitical issues, ranging from the development of new technologies and the growing influence of multinational corporations to political instability and climate change, to understand how power manifests in real-world scenarios. 

This module applies economic analysis to current trends and key challenges in the global economy.  

The topics covered include economic growth and inequality across nations, climate change, demography, health, labour, artificial intelligence, institutions and development, and the macroeconomic conditions that have emerged in the aftermath of the great recession and the COVID-19 pandemic.  

By studying this module, you will gain a fundamental understanding of the factual context surrounding today's challenges and how economics can be used to both illuminate major global problems and aid in designing effective policies. Additionally, you will benefit from opportunities for group work, which will enhance your collaborative and discussion skills. 

You will examine economic inequalities, labour market disparities, and institutional responses to demographic shifts. Through case studies, you will assess how policies shape opportunities and explore solutions for fostering more inclusive economic systems. 

You will explore the economic impact of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental policies, emphasising sustainable growth strategies. You will analyse policies such as carbon taxation and green innovation, gaining insights into balancing economic development with environmental responsibility. 

Teaching and learning 

You will be taught through lectures and workshops that involve a range of learning and teaching approaches, which includes online support and employability-related activities. 

Lectures will cover core material, and in workshops you will engage in solving practical exercises aimed at supporting and consolidating your learning. 

You will be equipped with practical skills for careers in economics, policy, and finance. Through data analysis, case studies, and group projects, you will apply economic theories to real-world challenges, enhancing your analytical and problem-solving abilities. 

By integrating digital tools, economic simulations, and AI-driven analysis, the module will enhance your ability to engage with complex economic data. It also explores the impact of automation and AI on labor markets and education, preparing you for a tech-driven economy. 

Assessment 

This module will be assessed by a group presentation (30%) and an essay (70%)

This intensive six-week taught module is designed to equip you with the essential competencies needed for professional consultancy practice.  

This module serves as the skills-based foundation for the concurrent Roehampton Live Project, providing you with theoretical frameworks, practical tools, and professional capabilities required to deliver high-quality consultancy services to real clients. 

Delivered as a professional bootcamp in a blocked format, this module creates an immersive learning environment where you will develop expertise in consultancy methodologies, client relationship management, strategic problem-solving, and professional communication. The intensive structure enables you to build confidence and competence before engaging with live client projects. 

You will learn to integrate ethical considerations, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability into your consultancy approach, ensuring that your professional practice contributes to broader societal wellbeing. 

Key areas of focus include consultancy frameworks and methodologies, client engagement and relationship management, evidence-based research and analysis techniques, strategic thinking and recommendation development, professional communication and presentation skills, and ethical consultancy practice and sustainability integration. 

You will engage in real case studies and simulated client scenarios, working individually and in teams to apply learned concepts. The module incorporates guest speakers from industry, practical workshops, and reflective exercises to bridge theory and practice effectively.  

This module prepares you for immediate application of skills in your concurrent Live Project module, where you will work with real clients as part of the ‘Roehampton Business Advice Centre’. 

Teaching and learning 

The module employs intensive blocked delivery with high contact hours to create an immersive professional development experience. Teaching methods include interactive workshops, case study analysis, simulation exercises, guest speaker sessions, and peer learning activities.  

You will have 22 hours of lectures and 33 hours of workshops over six weeks. Lectures and workshops will be interactive in nature providing an environment for sharing business ideas, problem space mapping and evaluation opportunities and carrying business scoping exercise. 

Assessment 

This module will be assessed through a consultancy toolkit portfolio (50%) and a consultancy bid presentation (50%). 

This transformative capstone module is designed to bridge the gap between academic study and professional practice. You will have the opportunity to apply your academic knowledge in a real-world setting, developing strategic solutions to real-world business challenges. 

You will work in consultancy teams as part of the Roehampton Business Advice Service, collaborating with a diverse range of external clients, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), non-profit organisations, social enterprises, and larger companies. Global engagement projects will also be sought with partners outside of the UK, or projects that can have an influence on communities globally. 

Each team will engage with a client to diagnose business problems, conduct in-depth research, and formulate evidence-based recommendations. By making an impact through real-world projects, you will enhance your ability to navigate complexity, synthesise information, and communicate your insights effectively to senior stakeholders. 

While teamwork is a core aspect of this module, you will also undertake substantial individual work, ensuring that your personal contributions are critically assessed and aligned with your professional aspirations. The module is structured to simulate a professional consultancy environment, equipping you with the practical skills, commercial awareness, and adaptability needed for leadership roles in business and beyond. 

You will be encouraged to develop ethical, socially responsible, and sustainable business solutions, ensuring that your recommendations contribute not only to organisational success but also to broader societal and environmental wellbeing. 

Through a combination of practical experience, academic rigor, and reflective work-based learning, you will be empowered to become a strategic thinker, problem solver, and an influential professional. The module is designed to be a stepping stone into a range of career paths, with projects aligned with your own career goals. By the end of this module, you will have built a portfolio of high-quality work that demonstrates your analytical, decision-making, and communication skills. 

Teaching and learning 

Each consultancy team will be assigned an academic supervisor who will provide structured guidance, feedback, and oversight throughout the project.  

You will have scheduled supervision meetings, including meetings with your supervisor at key milestones during the project to discuss progress, challenges, and next steps. Supervisors will support you in managing client relationships and ensure professionalism in communications. 

Assessment 

This module will be assessed by a consultancy report (50%) and a live presentation (50%). 

30 credits

You will develop your core academic and integrated English language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. You will become familiar with key academic skills and concepts, such as referencing methods and awareness of academic integrity and tone. You will apply these skills and knowledge to both broad topics and also your chosen subject pathway.

Teaching and learning

You will be required to actively engage in on-campus learning for up to 10 hours a week.

You will be taught through a full range of teaching and learning methods, which include lectures, seminars, workshops, discussion groups, group directed tasks and presentations. This will enable you to learn from your peers and tutors in both structured and information settings.

You will be encouraged to think creatively about your approach to learning and discussions with your peers. You will also have access to recordings, resources, links and signposting through Moodle to enrich your learning.

Assessment

You will be assessed through group and individual presentations, comparative and reflective essays, multiple choice exams, coursework and reports, oral exams, portfolios, case studies and blogs.

30 credits

You will develop your core academic and integrated English language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. You will become familiar with key academic skills and concepts, such as referencing methods and awareness of academic integrity and tone. You will apply these skills and knowledge to both broad topics and also your chosen subject pathway.

Teaching and Learning

You will be required to actively engage in on-campus learning for up to 10 hours a week.

You will be taught through a full range of teaching and learning methods, which include lectures, seminars, workshops, discussion groups, group directed tasks and presentations. This will enable you to learn from your peers and tutors in both structured and information settings.

You will be encouraged to think creatively about your approach to learning and discussions with your peers. You will also have access to recordings, resources, links and signposting through Moodle to enrich your learning.

Assessment

You will be assessed through group and individual presentations, comparative and reflective essays, multiple choice exams, coursework and reports, oral exams, portfolios, case studies and blogs. 

30 credits

You will develop your research, numeracy and information technology skills. You will investigate the difference between primary and secondary research, conduct your own research project and demonstrate your findings through data analysis. You will also develop your awareness of equality, diversion and inclusion in the UK, through a real-world issue; discrimination in the workplace.

Teaching and learning

You will be required to actively engage in on-campus learning for up to 10 hours a week.

You will be taught through a full range of teaching and learning methods, which include lectures, seminars, workshops, discussion groups, group directed tasks and presentations. This will enable you to learn from your peers and tutors in both structured and information settings.

You will be encouraged to think creatively about your approach to learning and discussions with your peers. You will also have access to recordings, resources, links and signposting through Moodle to enrich your learning.

Assessment

You will be assessed through group and individual presentations, comparative and reflective essays, multiple choice exams, coursework and reports, oral exams, portfolios, case studies and blogs. 

30 credits

This module supports a broad exploration of crime and law and its integration within society across various sources, which includes diverse cultural, social, and political representations. By analysing a wide range of topics, you are encouraged to critically engage with how disability, gender and race are represented and viewed in relation to crime and law.

This course integrates sustainability by looking at the sustainability of social interactions and your results and consequences in relation to crime and law. Social responsibility, legal injustice across the globe and inequality are all featured. Social Responsibility is embedded through topics such as social identity, prejudice and exclusion. Social Cognitive Theory and Rational Choice Theory helps you understand challenges and question accountability for individuals and communities.

This course fosters global engagement by examining the inequalities experienced in other cultures, particularly in relation to race, gender and exclusion. Global challenges are addressed at every step equipping you with the skills to navigate a globalised world in a variety of ways. By analysing data and text concerning diverse cultures and contexts, you will develop an understanding of how individuals and cultures operate amongst injustices in a globalised world, preparing you to engage thoughtfully with diverse audiences.

Teaching and learning

Through lectures, workshops, group work, and structured academic writing, you will have the opportunity to practice the core academic skills needed for your future studies. Critical thinking will be developed through tasks such as text analysis, group discussions, and the ability to create well-structured academic assignments, including essays and presentations.

The teaching delivery for each module consists of one, one-three-hour lecture and one, two-hour workshop per week. You will get a diverse learning experience through case studies and active learning workshops and microteaches.

You will also have an additional 30 minutes of online support each week, consisting of activities to develop your presentation skills and to provide you with opportunities to explore wider policy implementation in diverse/comparative transnational examples.

Assessment

This module will be assessed using a video presentation and summative essay.

30% - video presentation, working in groups, you will produce a video on a topic taught on the curriculum and explain its impact on UK society, using a real-world example.

70% - summative essay, you will identify an issue, either historical or contemporary, that has had an impact on UK society and connect it to at least one of the key topics covered in the course.

30 credits

This module supports a broad exploration of social understanding across various sources, which includes diverse cultural, social, and political representations. By analysing a wide range of topics, you are encouraged to critically engage with how disability, gender and race are represented and viewed. This ensures that your projects and research can reflect a variation of perspectives, fostering a more inclusive and holistic learning environment.

This course integrates sustainability by looking at the sustainability of social interactions and your results and consequences. Social responsibility, globalisation and inequality are all featured. Social Responsibility is embedded through topics such as social identity, prejudice and exclusion. Social Cognitive Theory and Rational Choice Theory help you understand challenges and question accountability for individuals and communities.

This course fosters global engagement by examining the inequalities experienced in other cultures, particularly in relation to race, gender and class. Global challenges are addressed at every step, equipping you to navigate a globalised world in a variety of ways. By analysing data and text concerning diverse cultures and contexts, you develop an understanding of how individuals and cultures operate in a globalised world, preparing you to engage thoughtfully with diverse audiences.

Teaching and learning

The teaching delivery for each module consists of one, one-three-hour lecture and one, two-hour seminar per week. Lecturers will cover core indicative content, while seminars will consist of research workshops, as well as forming small groups and learning on relevant case studies.

You will also have an additional 30 minutes of online support each week, consisting of activities to develop your presentation skills and to provide you with opportunities to explore wider policy implementation in diverse/comparative transnational examples.

Assessment

This module will be assessed using an academic poster and a summative essay.

40% - academic poster, you will design a poster that provides key information and sociological analysis of your selected story or issue chosen from key weekly topics.

60% - summative essay, you will conduct a sociological analysis of a story or issue you have encountered in the media.