Politics BA Honours
Newcastle University Undergraduate programs
Key Information
Campus location
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
GBP 21,000 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
* international students; GBP 9,250 - home students
Introduction
Train your mind to recognise, analyse, understand and apply the theories, mechanisms and forces that drive political decision-making.
This flexible degree will give you the opportunity to study a dynamic and diverse subject area. From exploring the pressing issues of international crisis to analysing the latest domestic political developments, you will develop key skills in critical thinking, research, and communication.
You'll gain the knowledge and skills to look beyond the headlines to analyse the key dynamics of political events and join a close-knit community of students and staff that creates an environment in which you can flourish.
Our academic staff will bring political issues alive for you. Our expertise covers all aspects of politics as a discipline, so you can study a range of topics taught by acknowledged experts in their field.
Through a combination of core and optional modules, you can tailor your degree to your interests. You'll study topics that include a mix of global politics, political philosophy, international relations, and political systems and institutions.
We have a long tradition of excellence in teaching, recognised in many external surveys and assessments, but also by our own students. Our commitment to teaching quality and an excellent student experience is reflected in our results in national and international student satisfaction surveys.
Work placement
Get career ready with work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, and receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.
You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.
If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year, and your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year. A work placement is not available if you're spending a year studying abroad. Placements are subject to availability.
Study abroad
Experience life in another country by choosing to study abroad as part of your degree. You’ll be encouraged to embrace fun and challenging experiences, make connections with new communities and graduate as a globally aware professional, ready for your future.
You may choose to spend semester 2 of Stage 2 or semester 1 of Stage 3 on an international exchange at a partner institution.
Rankings
- Global Top 125 University - QS World University Rankings 2023
- Top 150 for Politics and International Studies - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022
- Top 185 for Social Sciences and Management - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022
- Top 100 for Developmental Studies - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 1st in the UK and 8th in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022
- Top 150 for Social Sciences – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2022
- Global Top 140 University - Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023
Curriculum
Stage 1
You will be given a foundation in the core discipline of politics and gain an understanding of politics at the national level and a thorough grounding in political theory.
A mix of compulsory and optional modules will help you to become an informed and engaged global citizen.
You will start to relate your studies to historical, global, national, and ideological contexts.
Compulsory Modules
- The Westminster System: Politics of the UK 20
- Becoming a Political Analyst 20
- Power and Inequality 20
- Politics of Happiness 20
Optional Modules
- Interconnected World 20
- Key Concepts in International Politics 20
- Order and Disorder: The Shaping of the 21st Century 20
- Comparing Cultures 20
Stage 2
During your second year, you will build on your critical thinking, research, and communication skills as you cover key political actors, issues and organisations, including political parties, in more depth.
You’ll develop critical insight into the relationship between theory and practice and how research methods used in the social sciences shape our understanding of both fields.
You will deepen your knowledge of political theory and be able to choose from optional modules to broaden your understanding of key issues and of politics in differing national contexts.
Compulsory Modules
- Becoming a Political Researcher 20
- Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: Social Issues in Contemporary Political Philosophy 20
Optional Modules
- Political Geography 20
- Career Development for second-year students 20
- International Institutions: Who Governs the Globe? 20
- Foreign Policy Analysis: Theories and Approaches 20
- Government and Politics of the USA 20
- The Politics and Policy of the European Union 20
- Power and Poverty in the Global Economy 20
- British Politics: State and Society 20
- Student Exchange: Semester 2 60
- Political Violence and the Modern State 20
- The Politics of Africa: Africa's place in Global Politics 20
- Politics Work Placement 20
- Security Studies 20
- Democracy or Dictatorship? What are the differences and how do we analyse them 20
- Sex, Gender and Power 20
- The Politics of Race 20
Study abroad
If you are studying abroad in Semester 2 you take the following module:
- Student Exchange: Semester 2
Stage 3
You will begin to specialise in the political topics that are of interest to you. As a part of this, you will undertake a significant piece of independent research that harnesses your subject knowledge and the research skills you’ve developed throughout your degree.
You’ll complete your studies with optional modules covering topics across politics and its subfields.
Optional Modules
- Geopolitics 20
- Career Development for final year students 20
- Final Year Dissertation 40
- Final Year Project: Semester 1 20
- Final Year Project: Semester 2 20
- The Ethics of Killing 20
- Political Leadership in Britain 20
- Applied Political Research with Quantitative Methods 20
- Student Exchange: Semester 1 60
- Student Exchange (Dissertation students) 40
- Political Parties and Elections in the UK 20
- Community-based Research in Politics 40
- Gender, Campaigns and Media 20
- UK Parliamentary Studies 20
- Politics of Immigration 20
- Mexican Politics: Authoritarianism & Democracy 20
- Politics of Citizenship 20
- Global Apartheid Regimes 20
- Global Justice: Global Issues in Contemporary Political Philosophy 20
- Public Policy: Theories, Cases, Skills 20
- Politics as a Way of Life 20
Career Opportunities
You will graduate with the specific skills and knowledge to pursue a career in politics. You will also have the ability to think critically, assess evidence, carry out research, construct an argument and articulate it.
These skills have seen our political graduates enjoy successful careers in the media, non-governmental bodies, inter-governmental organisations, finance, management consultancy and business.
Some choose to pursue vocational training to become lawyers or teachers; and others undertake further postgraduate study in fields such as politics, business and finance.
Admissions
Gallery
Scholarships and Funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the university website for more information.
Program Tuition Fee
Program delivery
You will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, group-work and research projects, and benefit from our strong focus on teaching.