The Politics BA (Hons) degree provides a thorough grounding in the concept and nature of politics, and the institutions and structures engaged in political decision-making. You’ll determine and explore the decision makers and how policies are made at a variety of levels including the local, regional, national, European and international.
Study a variety of issues including citizenship and cyberspace, authority, ethics, equality, political economy and political ideologies that have shaped and are shaping the contemporary world. There are also excellent opportunities to specialise in particular areas such as public policy, political philosophy, or a particular region including Africa, the Middle East, China and Asia, or the United States.
Our dynamic expert staff have extensive research and teaching experience and many are leading figures in the academic world in professional organisations such as the Political Studies Association and the British International Studies Association.
Employability is central to every module and we have links with many political institutions and organisations in London and beyond. In your final year, you’ll be able to choose between a research project, work placement or to study abroad. Our students have gained new skills working with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), MPs, local and national government, embassies, the United Nations and Amnesty International.
Assessment
What our students say
„I really like the fact that we have a wide choice of modules and can combine studying other subjects. The teaching is very well structured. The first year introductory subjects give us the basis for study in future years. I liked doing a report which is very useful in real life and seminars have given me confidence to speak in public. I love everything about London, the different cultures and the many international students. I get to meet people from all over the world and learn about their experiences. I love the social life and clubs. I joined the University United Nations Society and helped run an event with the Bulgarian Ambassador that went really well.”
Plamena Solakova, former student
After the course
By the end of the degree you’ll be ready for careers in organisations ranging from local government, central government departments, diplomatic services, the United Nations and the European Union, to domestic and international businesses, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the media.
Recent graduates have embarked on careers in the Civil Service, UK Department for International Development, as a local government officer, political researcher or undertaken postgraduate study.
Some of our graduates have become Members of Parliament and famous public relations spin doctors.
You’ll be assessed through essays, reports, exams, seminar performance, seminar presentations (both individual and group), portfolios, blogs, policy documents, dissertations, learning logs and book reviews. The majority will be tutor assessed, but a number will be peer-reviewed in seminars.
The strategy is designed to maximise the development of subject specific skills and employability skills appropriate to each level of the degree.
