Welcome to your History and International Relations course

Welcome to History and International Relations! We know that starting university can be both exciting and a little daunting, but you will have a team of dedicated lecturers to help you settle in. We will cover everything when you arrive during our welcome week, but here are some things you can do to get a head start on preparing for your course so you can hit the ground running. If you do need anything, your course leader is only an email message away. We are looking forward to you joining us in September and we are here to help you every step of the way!

Your staff team

We want to make sure you know some of our team before you arrive. Hopefully this will help you recognise us and ensure you know who you can contact if you need any additional help and guidance.

Dr Tony Craig

Associate Professor

Dr Tony Craig is Associate Professor in Modern History. His research primarily focuses on the contemporary security history of Britain and Ireland.

Tony's profile

Dr Fiona Robertson-Snape

Senior Lecturer

Fiona's expertise is in international relations theory and international ethics. Her research interests cover international society, human rights and international criminal justice.

Fiona's profile

Alun Thomas

Associate Professor

Dr Alun Thomas is Associate Professor of Eurasian Studies, specialising in the modern history and contemporary politics of Russia and Central Asia. His research interests include border-making, state-building, and economic change.

Alun's profile

Dr Anthony Mckeown

Lecturer

Anthony teaches International Relations in the Modern Era; Global Policy Analysis and Money, Trade and Development.

Anthony's profile

Dr Sarah Irving

Lecturer

Dr Sarah Irving is a Lecturer in modern Middle Eastern history, specialising in the social and cultural history of Late Ottoman and Mandate Palestine and the broader Levant region.

Sarah's profile

First activity

During Welcome Week you will meet your Course Leader, your lecturers and your new course mates. We will go through your timetable with you, explain what you will cover during the first year of your degree and outline what extra-curricular activities you can get involved in.

You'll start on your first three modules of the programme at Level 4, where our modules in Introduction to International Relations, International History in the 20th Century and History of Political Thought will introduce you to key contexts, concepts and idea crucial to your further study in later modules.

Foundation Year semester one activities

Are you studying History and International Relations with a Foundation year?

Your Foundation Year provides a wonderful opportunity to develop the skills needed for the successful completion of your degree. The foundation course for this degree is attached to the Foundation in Law offered at Level 3. The topic areas covered include an introduction to academic study skills, as well as an introduction to critical thinking and argument, and Crime in Context.

Course Delivery

Studying History and International Relations at Staffordshire University is an exciting and engaging experience. The course relates aspects of international history and the academic study of international relations to real world problems that both exist today and which are likely to become more relevant in the future.

Your teaching is delivered in person through lectures and seminars with additional study materials available online via the Blackboard website for each module. Our seminars are very small, allowing for more contact with lecturers, with occasional visiting exchange students and students from allied courses on some shared modules.

Assessments are by coursework and include a diverse range of essays, secondary source reviews, primary source appraisals and policy critiques. In addition to the module teaching we provide employability support throughout the three years of the course that gets you to consider your potential career paths and prepares you to make the first steps on the professional job market when you leave.

Before You Arrive

We don’t require the purchase of mandatory textbooks on our courses, though you will need to become familiar with our library. A couple of books that are, however, worth purchasing, because of their links to multiple modules include:

Baylis and Smith (2019), Globalization of World Politics, 8th edition, Oxford University Press.

Andrew Heywood (2021), Political Ideologies: An Introduction, 7th edition, Bloomsbury.

Reading trustworthy news websites and newspapers, keeping up with current affairs as well as reading about world affairs since the 1770s will also be a useful start.

The World History series from ‘Crash Course’ on YouTube is an entertaining but largely good quality introduction and particularly relevant from episode 23 to the end. World History - YouTube

Just For You

We want to ensure you feel part of the School of Justice, Security and Sustainability community (JSS) from the very start of your degree, so we will be providing you with your very own JSS Hoodie when you arrive – it won’t cost you anything and we hope you will wear it with pride #ProudToBeStaffs

Trips and Activities

In semester 1 we hope to offer a day trip to RAF Museum at Cosford where we will be looking at the Cold War and the impact of technology on global conflict. Level 4s are also welcome to join our trip to Bletchley Park to explore Intelligence history with our final-year students as well.

Groups and Societies

Being a member of a Student Society or Sports Team is a great way to meet other students and our Students' Union have a wide range of societies you can join. Students in the School of Justice, Security and Sustainability often join the following societies:

The Debating Society

The Law Society

Students' Union

Student Stories

Our students produce a peer-reviewed research journal entitled ‘Set in Clay’. Reading this might give you an idea of the topics you will cover studying with us as well as the high standards our students achieve in the coursework essays.

You also read stories and watch videos about our current students and graduates on the JSS Blog and YouTube playlist. There is also a International Studies and History Facebook page and Twitter account.

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Equipment and Software

There are a multitude of resources available online for students at Staffordshire University, such as Microsoft Office 365.

Software for students

Academic skills

Whether you're joining us from school or college, or you're returning to education after some time away, everyone can benefit from the Academic Study Skills resources provided by the University library.

The Academic Skills team is here to support you throughout your academic journey and to help you gain the skills you need to reach your full potential. They can assist with academic reading and writing skills, give advice on how best to plan assignments, and help improve your time management.

The library's Academic Skills Guides offer the key information to make studying easier and give a comprehensive guide to the learning resources and services we offer.

Staffs CampusConnect

Staffs CampusConnect is our student-led community app for new students. Connect with other people from your course, hometown or country, and even those with similar interests.

To register, please ensure you use your Applicant ID (Student Number) that you received in your offer letter, and the email address you used in your application to us.

Register for CampusConnect

Welcome website

Our welcome website will provide you the link to your new student life. It's all about how you find your place at university, including everything from how to meet friends, feel confident in doing your academic work, being a member of your Student Union and getting involved in Union Societies, Academic Societies, Sports, Volunteering or representing your peers in your School.

Part of this Welcome Week - we have an exciting program of University and course level activities planned for you for your first week in September. We are also building an extended program for you to join a series of events throughout the first half of the autumn term. Further details will be shared with you via the Welcome website and Students' Union pages over the coming weeks.

Welcome website

Campus map

Use our campus map to familiarise yourself with our campus before you arrive.

Campus map (PDF)

Check your email

Please make sure you check your personal email account regularly over the next few weeks. We will be sending you lots of information about Welcome Week.

We are really looking forward to welcoming you to our campus in September. If you have any questions in the meantime, please get in touch with your Course Leader, Dr Tony Craig on T.Craig@Staffs.ac.uk.