International Relations and Law

Do you want to understand and influence what is happening in the world? From the climate crisis, habitat loss, the COVID-19 pandemic, and threats to free speech - the world has never been in such a state of change. This rapid change also brings about new opportunity areas. New and sustainable technologies promise a future with clean energy and zero-emissions vehicles, while social media enables people to work together to challenge prevailing orthodoxies, prejudices and governments. There’s also youth activism and widespread movements for racial and societal justice. 

If you want to play a role in shaping some of these crucial global issues this course is for you. You’ll explore a range of modules spanning politics and international affairs to cultural studies, economics, data science, sociology, geography, history, law, international development, to broaden your horizons and giving you a host of skills to boost your employability. 

Academic expertise 

Our Law teaching team includes barristers, solicitors, criminal psychologists, sociologists and experienced police officers. Several are still actively engaged with practice, which helps you keep up to date with contemporary issues in justice. Our teaching is also enriched by research covering some of the most pressing issues confronting society today, from slavery to digital privacy. 

Our International Relations team draws on expertise from a wide variety of areas and covers a range of different geographical areas and thematic approaches, including the history and politics of modern China and India, Eastern European economies, the green transition, and European integration.  

Student Legal Advice Centre and Pro Bono work 

Students studying Law at Derby may have access to our Student Legal Advice Centre - our dedicated space for real-world learning. Volunteering in the Centre provides you the opportunity to develop transferable skills that will assist you in gaining the skills required once you graduate.  

The Centre offers assistance in the following areas:  

• Family law  
• Criminal injuries compensation authority claims  
• Immigration family reunion (in partnership with British Red Cross and Paragon Law)  

The Centre also offers support to Litigants in Person in Family Law matters at the Family Court at Derby. In Autumn 2022, a Business Clinic and Legal Triage Clinic exclusively for University of Derby students was launched.  

The Centre also has a Policy Clinic and Justice Project. The Justice Project promotes the teaching of law to all members of the community, including school children, by informing them of their legal rights and responsibilities.   

The Centre was shortlisted for Best Contribution by a Law School at the LawWorks and Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards 2022, and was highly commended at the LawWorks Pro Bono Awards 2021 for Best contribution in relation to the Centre’s Immigration Family Reunion Clinic. 

Boost your employability with a placement year

Take an optional placement year to put your skills into practice in a real-world setting. We’ll support you in finding a placement and throughout your time in industry. It’s a great way to gain valuable experience for your CV, build contacts, and explore career options before you graduate.

What is a Joint Honours degree?

A Joint Honours degree offers students the opportunity to study two subjects.

A Joint Honours degree is a great option if:

• You want to study two subjects you’re passionate about
• You’ve got a specific career in mind and want to create a tailored degree to prepare you for the future
• You want to study a new subject alongside one you’re already familiar with

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

You'll be taught through a variety of methods, such as:   

• lectures 
• seminars 
• workshops and tutorials 
• student presentations 
• debates 
• one-to-one sessions with a tutor 
• work projects    
• self-directed study    
• video discussions with overseas partner institutions 
• case preparation 
• mooting - where you present a legal issue against opposing counsel in a mock court case 
• interviewing 
• negotiation 

Engaging in real or simulated legal practice, you will build a range of the key skills required to succeed in the legal sector at every stage of the course.  

You will also develop skills in legal scholarship, with the chance to undertake problem-based research and original academic enquiry. If our teaching team consider the work you produce to be of sufficient quality, it could be published in the Derby Law School Journal.  

Through our peer assisted mentoring scheme, students from later years of the course also give helpful guidance and support to first year students. 

Showcasing your skills 

Mooting forms part of certain modules and you can develop your expertise further through regional and national competitions. We have an excellent record of success in these challenges.  

We also help run a schools’ debating competition in partnership with Derby & District Law Society and Enterprise for Education where you can mentor local secondary school pupils. 

How you are assessed 

For Law modules, assessments include:  

• group work 
• oral presentations 
• written coursework 
• examinations 
• seminar debates 
• group presentations  
• conference papers 

For International Relations modules, you will be assessed through a range of coursework, including essays, research reports, presentations, and participation in debates. Some modules will also assess your ability to develop teamwork and research skills in an applied, real-world context, and your ability to reflect on how these prepare you for your chosen career.   

When you have completed this degree, you will be well-informed about the major global issues of our time as well as legal theory and practice, and have a range of skills that employers really value, particularly: 

• negotiation and conflict resolution 
• being able to analyse evidence objectively, including using basic data science techniques 
• communication 
• problem-solving 
• cultural awareness

You can put these skills to good use in a range of high-level careers, such as in politics, journalism, campaigning, think-tanks, NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations), charities, the civil or diplomatic services, and inter-governmental institutions.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to

Additional costs and optional extras

Additional information about your studies

You will typically study your two subjects equally at stage one, before choosing whether you want to major in one subject at stages two and three.

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.