Politics, International Studies and Global Sustainable Development BASc (UCAS L2L8)

UCAS code

L2L8

Start date

28 September 2026

Duration

3 years full-time, 4 years full-time with intercalated year

Qualification

Bachelor of Arts and Sciences (BASc)

Led by

Global Sustainable Development

Location

University of Warwick

Explore our Politics, International Studies and Global Sustainable Development degree at Warwick

Studying BASc Politics, International Studies (PAIS) and Global Sustainable Development (GSD) enables you to take part in the critical analysis of political ideas in an international context. This degree will equip you with the theoretical foundations upon which you can build analysis of issue-based problems.

Course overview

Global sustainable development requires a global political dialogue.

Understanding key political concepts, ideologies, and practices of national and international governments is essential for providing solutions for sustainable development. This course considers testing questions such as:

Why do states marginalise human rights in place of geopolitical aims?
Why has water and food security become a critical foreign policy concern for governments?
Why does political gridlock frequently emerge in discussions on climate change?

You will seek to answer these questions, combining theoretical and analytical approaches from Politics with the transdisciplinary approach of GSD.

By studying GSD, you will confront issues from a diverse array of perspectives. You will need to be ready to think creatively and embrace new opinions from your peers from across the world. We will challenge you to become an active participant in your own learning.

You can enhance your skills and studies through optional work placements, study abroad, and certificates.

Our Global Sustainable Development courses are fully accredited with the Institute for Environmental Management and Assessment.

This means that upon graduation from the courses, our students receive a professionally recognised level of knowledge, skills and tools for working in sustainability practice.

Study abroad

Although it is not compulsory, we encourage you to study abroad during your degree.

Option 1: Part of your second year abroad

Spend part of your second year at Monash University, home to the Monash Sustainable Development Institute. You will learn to appreciate different concerns and priorities for sustainable development, including different approaches to tackling global issues.

Your academic achievements abroad will count towards your degree awarded by Warwick.

Find out more about studying abroad for part of your second year.

https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/schoolforcross-facultystudies/gsd/prospectivestudents/undergraduate/studyabroad

Option 2: Year abroad

You may choose to apply for an intercalated year spent either studying abroad or on a work placement (subject to you meeting departmental academic requirements). This will mean extending your course to four years.

Warwick has partnerships with universities across the world. You will spend your first and second years at Warwick, studying abroad in your third year before returning for final year.

Your year abroad will not count towards your overall final mark, giving you the freedom to choose modules outside of your comfort zone.

Learn more about spending a year abroad.

https://warwick.ac.uk/study/studyabroad

Core modules

Teaching on this course is equally split between the GSD Department and the PAIS Department.

In the first year, you will study core GSD modules designed to provide a critical understanding of the 'three pillars of sustainable development':

Economic Principles of Global Sustainable Development
Environmental Principles of Global Sustainable Development
Social Principles of Global Sustainable Development

You will also study the core Global Sustainable Development Project module, giving you the chance to see how the principles of GSD apply to a real case affecting a local community. For the PAIS half of the workload, you will study two core modules, Introduction to Politics and World Politics. These modules will introduce you to a toolkit of ideologies, concepts, and political theories.

In the second year, in GSD you will have the opportunity to engage with a key issue in sustainability, studying one optional core module from the following:

Health and Sustainable Development
Security, Sovereignty and Sustainability in the Global Food System
Inequalities and Sustainable Development: Inclusion and Dignity for All

You will also choose optional modules with a GSD focus from within GSD or from other departments across the University. For the PAIS half of the workload, you will take two core modules: Foundations of Political Theory and Topics in Political Theory. You will also choose optional modules offered by the PAIS Department.

You may choose to study abroad for part of your second year at Monash University. In Term One at Warwick, you will study an optional core GSD module, an optional module with a GSD focus, a core PAIS module, and optional module(s) offered by the PAIS Department. The remaining study will consist of pre-approved modules at Monash University.

In the final year, you will take the core GSD Dissertation module. You will also study optional modules with a GSD focus from within or outside of the School for Cross-faculty Studies. For the PAIS half of the workload, you will choose optional modules offered by the PAIS Department.

Year OneGSD

Module title (select the arrow to see more)

Credits

Economic Principles of Global Sustainable Development (GD104-15)

15

Why and how can economics address issues of global sustainable development? In this module, you will learn about the relationship between economic activity, social inclusion and environmental sustainability, and critically analyse the economic theories that underpin sustainable development policy interventions and how those theories impact upon policy design.

Information correct as of 2025-26 academic year.

Environmental Principles of Global Sustainable Development (GD105-15)

15

This module focuses on the natural science of the world’s most pressing environmental issues. We will cover well-known topics like climate change and biodiversity loss and less prominent problems like biogeochemical flows. You will receive training in scientific methods and will investigate environmental systems first hand through experimental approaches. You will evaluate existing governance and management efforts and develop innovative responses of your own. You will learn how to write a policy briefing and create a policy briefing paper and policy pitch, aimed at a specific decision-making audience.

Information correct as of 2025-26 academic year.

Social Principles of Global Sustainable Development (GD106-15)

15

This module examines concepts that enable you to analyse and interpret social and political issues related to global sustainable development. You will learn to understand and evaluate pressing social and political dimensions of sustainability at national and international levels.

Information correct as of 2025-26 academic year.

Global Sustainable Development (GSD) Project (GD107-15)

15

This is an exciting, innovative, and practical module. It is designed to give you research and analysis skills and to enable you to apply the theories from your other first-year core modules. You will learn how to research sustainability by designing and developing a group project on the topic of sustainable transport, under the guidance of an academic supervisor. Staff from across the GSD Department with expertise in transport policy as well as research methods teach this module.

Information correct as of 2025-26 academic year.