Overview
Introduction
This BSc International Relations and History allows you to study two complementary subjects. You’ll look at the nature of the changing dynamics between different countries and the impact of the uneven distribution of power, money, welfare and knowledge on foreign policies and international order.
For the history elements, you’ll analyse the political, economic, social and cultural developments that have shaped states and their relationships with other countries. Our history courses are distinctive for their international perspective – covering Asia, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, Europe and Britain.
The programme draws on the combined expertise of two internationally renowned departments. As you progress, you’ll develop your analytical powers, analyse complex evidence from a variety of sources and learn how to present your findings clearly – all highly transferable skills for your future career.
This programme provides an excellent springboard for a future career in politics, government, NGOs, journalism and research.
Preliminary readings
History
- M Abbott History Skills (Routledge, 1996)
- A Best et al An International History of the Twentieth Century and Beyond (Routledge, 2014)
- D Cannadine What is History Now? (Palgrave, 2002)
- R Evans In Defence of History (Granta, 1997)
- D Reynolds One World Divisible (Norton, 2000)
- D Stevenson 1914-1918: the history of the First World War (Allen Lane, 2004)
- O A Westad The Global Cold War: Third World interventions and the making of our times (Cambridge University Press, 2007)
International relations
- C Alden and A Aron Foreign Policy Analysis: new approaches (Routledge, 2011)
- J Baylis, S Smith and P Owens (eds) The Globalization of World Politics: an introduction to international relations (6th edition, Oxford University Press, 2013)
- C Brown, with K Ainley Understanding International Relations (Macmillan, 2009)
- B Buzan and R Little International Systems in World History: remaking the study of international relations (Oxford University Press, 2000)
- R Jackson and G Sorensen An Introduction to International Relations: theories and approaches (5th edition, Oxford University Press, 2012)
- R Shilliam International Relations and Non-Western Thought: imperialism, colonialism and investigations of global modernity (Routledge, 2010)
- J Steans Gender & International Relations (Polity Press, 2013)
- T G Weiss and R Wilkinson (eds) International Organization and Global Governance (Routledge, 2014)
- J Young and J Kent International Relations since 1945: a global history (2nd ed, Oxford University Press, 2013)
Why study with us
Discover more about our students and department.
Meet the department
History is a wide ranging and challenging subject to study. It seeks to understand the past and to make sense of the present, adding an important dimension to the understanding of many aspects of human society. The department is world renowned in its field, offering a unique perspective on the history of relations between states, peoples and cultures. We pride ourselves on giving students the benefit of ground-breaking research throughout our teaching programmes.
Our degrees will give you a broad international perspective on the past. We give attention both to domestic and international issues and many of the courses we offer deal with major events in the history of international relations.
Since the behaviour of countries in the international arena cannot be understood without a knowledge of their distinct social, political, economic and cultural characteristics, we provide courses covering major aspects of the history of ideas and mentalities.
LSE was founded in 1895 originally as an institute of higher education for graduate students. The department reflects this tradition and takes its responsibility for undergraduate teaching and supervision very seriously. We admit nearly as many undergraduate students as master's students. We have one of the most cosmopolitan undergraduate communities in London and one of the most vibrant and dynamic.
Learn more about our programmes, research, public events and people.
Who's who
Why LSE
University of the Year 2025 and 1st in the UK in 2025 and 2026
Times and The Sunday Times - Good University Guide 2025 and 20261st in London for the 14th year running
The Complete University Guide - University League Tables 20265th in the world for the study of social sciences and management
QS World University Rankings by Subject 20266th in the world for leading the way in social and environmental sustainability
QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026Fees and funding
The table of fees shows the latest tuition fees for all programmes.
You're charged a fee for each year of your programme. Your tuition fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It doesn't cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.
Your tuition fees, and eligibility for any financial support, depend on whether you’re classified as a home or an overseas student – known as your fee status. We assess your fee using The Higher education (Fee Limit Condition) (England) Regulations 2017.
Learn more about fee status classification.
We recognise that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country. LSE offers a range of financial support to help eligible students with the cost of studying.
For UK Home fee status students, this includes the LSE Bursary, LSE Scholarships, the LSE Accommodation Bursary, and the Care-Experienced and Estranged Student Bursary. UK students may also be eligible for government student loans.
For Overseas fee status students, the School provides a range of bursaries and scholarships, including the LSE Access to Education Scholarships, to support your undergraduate study. These awards are funded by philanthropic donations to LSE and vary each year in number, value and eligibility criteria.
Learning and assessment
How you learn
Format: you’ll have weekly lectures and classes in small groups, totalling around eight hours per week. Hours vary depending on the course. Get a broad idea of the study time involved in the Calendar within the Teaching section of each course guide.
Contact hours: you’ll need to spend around 15 to 20 hours each week on independent study during term time and holidays. This will involve reading extensively and writing between three to five essays and/or class papers per course.
LSE teaching: LSE is internationally recognised for teaching and research and you’ll be taught by academic staff and PhD students. Learn more about the teacher responsible for each course in the relevant course guide.
Academic mentor: you’ll meet with your academic mentor regularly to discuss your work. Your mentor can provide advice and guidance on academic issues and, where appropriate, personal concerns.
Other academic support: at LSE, we offer lots of opportunities to extend your learning outside the classroom.
The Learning Lab is the place to discover and develop the skills you’ll need to reach your academic goals at LSE.
Through the Learning Lab, you can:
- attend practical workshops and one-to-one sessions on essay writing, conducting research, and on managing your reading lists, workloads, and deadlines
- develop your academic writing, reading, and critical-thinking skills to meet degree-level expectations
- work in study groups to strengthen collaboration, cross-cultural communication, and teamwork skills in a supportive environment.
Disability and Mental Health Service: we want all LSE students to achieve their full potential. Students can access free, confidential advice through our Disability and Mental Health Service. This is the first point of contact for students.
- The standard teaching day runs from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Undergraduate teaching is not normally scheduled for Wednesdays after 12 noon to allow for sports, volunteering and other extra-curricular activities.
- The lecture and seminar timetable is published in mid-August and the full academic timetable (with information on classes) is published by mid-September via the LSE timetables web pages.
- All personal undergraduate timetables are published in LSE for You (LFY). For personal timetables to appear, you must be registered at LSE, be signed up for courses in LFY and ensured that there are no unauthorised clashes in your course selections. We try our best to minimise changes once personal timetables have been published. However, you’ll be notified about any changes by email.
How you're assessed
Formative coursework
All taught courses include formative coursework, which is not assessed. This helps prepare you for summative assessment. We use a wide range of formative assessment methods, such as essays, case studies, reports, quizzes and mock exams.
Feedback on coursework is an essential part of the learning experience. Class teachers mark formative coursework and feedback is normally given within two weeks – provided the work is submitted on time.
Some history courses include written assessments and many include continuous summative assessment.
Summative assessment
This assessment counts towards your final course mark and degree award.
You’ll receive feedback on any summative coursework as part of the assessment for individual courses (except for final submitted dissertations). Feedback will normally be provided before the examination period.
Assessment on individual courses can change from year to year. Read about the current formative coursework and summative assessment for each course in the relevant course guide.
Graduate destinations
Overview
Through studying history you will learn how to analyse complex evidence from a variety of sources, to develop your analytical powers and to present your findings effectively. These skills and a broad knowledge of the development of the world around us are valued by many employers.
Past students have followed a range of careers in politics, journalism, media and publishing, advertising, marketing, and public relations, public administration, the foreign service, industry, the charity and development sector, finance, consulting and the legal profession, as well as in research, teaching, libraries and archives.
Further information on graduate destinations for this programme
Top 5 sectors our students work in:
Career support
We're committed to supporting students' options after graduation in the world of work or futher studies by organising a careers programme tailored specifically to International History students with the help of LSE Careers. Also, many leading organisations give careers presentations at the School during the year, and LSE Careers has a wide range of resources available to assist students in their job search.
Find out more about the support available to students through LSE Careers.
Discover Uni
Every undergraduate programme of more than one year duration will have Discover Uni data. The data allows you to compare information about individual programmes at different higher education institutions.
Programmes offered by different institutions with similar names can vary quite significantly. We recommend researching the programmes you're interested in and taking into account the programme structure, teaching and assessment methods, and support services available.
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