Bachelor of International Relations (BIntRel)

Program Code
BINTR

Program Faculty
Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Academic Year
2025

These Program Rules should be read in conjunction with the University's policies (https://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies).

Overview

The program allows students to develop diverse analytical and practical skills to navigate complex international relations and the domestic-global nexus. It provides students with the necessary conceptual tools and empirical knowledge to acquire intercultural competency and build the capacity to critically explore key issues central to global politics and interstate relations from competing perspectives, including great power rivalry, international security, global justice and citizenship. By facilitating students’ understanding of the international challenges affecting Australia’s interests in the Indo-Pacific and beyond, the program prepares them for employment opportunities in the Australian federal and state government departments, non-governmental organizations and businesses, and international organizations. In addition to core courses and closed electives in International Relations, students have the opportunity to complete a minor in History, International Development, International Business, Geography, or a foreign language. The program incorporates a foreign language component and a range of international experiences, including international study tours and an international relations internship. Outstanding students can also join the South Australian Parliamentary Internship.

The Bachelor of International Relations is an AQF Level 7 qualification with a standard full-time duration of 3 years.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Understand a broad and coherent body of knowledge in the field of International Relations, with in-depth knowledge of relevant concepts, theories, skills, debates, emerging issues and methods of inquiry within these disciplines, as well as to communicate effectively in a language other than English.
  2. Apply creative and critical thinking to identify and solve problems within complex social, political, economic and cultural contexts, both local, national, regional and global, using rigorous techniques of inquiry involving a variety of primary and secondary sources.
  3. Communicate effectively in a range of spoken and written modes and formats within the relevant disciplines and professional contexts in a variety of social, cultural and linguistic situations and contribute productively to group-based outcomes.
  4. Demonstrate career readiness and leadership skills appropriate for beginning professional practice, including: 4.1 information technology skills to access, store, manage, analyse and present discipline-based information and data, and to communicate effectively with others 4.2 lifelong learning skills characterised by academic rigour, self-direction and intellectual independence.
  5. Identify social, political, economic and cultural global issues and their ethical implications, and demonstrate the capacity to operate with personal and professional integrity in a range of social, cultural and linguistic contexts.
  6. Appreciate and manage their own personal capabilities through processes of self-appraisal, and demonstrate respect and mutual responsibility in sustaining productive relationships.

Conditions

Interruption of program: Students must apply for permission from the Executive Dean or delegate before taking a Leave of Absence. Any extension of the leave without approval will result in the loss of place in the program but an application may be made to be re-admitted to the program subject to the admission procedures in place at the time.

Program Maximum Duration: As specified in Table 1 of the Coursework Academic Programs Policy, this program must be completed within a Maximum Duration which includes any periods of non-enrolment, leave of absence or approved study at other institutions for credit towards a Program.

Academic Program Rules for Bachelor of International Relations

There shall be a Bachelor of International Relations.

Qualification Requirements

To qualify for the degree of Bachelor of International Relations, the student must complete satisfactorily a program of study consisting of the following requirements with a combined total of not less than 72 units, comprising:

  1. Core courses to the value of 18 units including a course chosen from the Core Competency List to the value of 3 units
  2. Closed Electives to the value of 18 units
  3. At least one minor to the value of 18 units, with no more than 6 units at Level I, at least 6 units at Level II and 6 units at Level III:
    • Geography, Environment and Population
    • History
    • International Business
    • International Development
  4. Language studies courses to the value of at least 9 units, with not more than 6 units at Level I and at least 3 units at Level II. (Exemption: International students and/or students studying a Diploma in Languages or a language major or minor in another degree are exempt from completing the mandatory language component, although may complete language units in a different language if they wish.) Languages can be chosen from the following disciplines:
    • Chinese Studies
    • French Studies
    • German Studies
    • Indonesian Studies
    • Italian Studies
    • Japanese Studies
    • Modern Greek Studies
    • Spanish Studies
  5. Open electives to the value of 9 units or an additional 9 units of language studies courses to complete a minor of 18 units in the chosen language.
  6. Not more than 24 units at Level I
  7. Level II and III courses to the value of at least 48 units, with at least 24 units at Level III
  8. Level II courses to the value of 6 units must be completed before commencing Level III courses.

Core Courses

Minor

Electives