Political Science

Description

A knowledge of politics helps you to understand and explain what governments do. It also teaches you a great deal about human nature. Politics is not only what political scientists study, but also an activity in which professional politicians, civil servants and ordinary citizens take part.

This degree programme helps you acquire important analytical skills. You learn to find your way among different arguments, rival theories and alternative explanations. You also learn about campaigns, elections, protest movements, policy issues and political ideals.

Careers opportunities

Employers are well aware of the value of our politics degrees. Our students have little difficulty in finding interesting jobs in a variety of fields; some in local government and the Civil Service, others in commerce, finance and the law. There are also opportunities in specialist journalism and the media.

Detailed Course Facts

• EUR 3844 Year (EEA)
• EUR 12916 Year (Non-EEA)

UK / EU students £3,375 International students £11,340

• English

Course Content

In the first year you are provided with the basic knowledge and skills to study politics. You also have the opportunity to take other introductory social science courses.In the second year you now have the opportunity to develop specialised knowledge in areas that you find of greatest interest, such as political theory and analysis, European integration, British politics, American politics, comparative European politics, and political economy. In the third year In addition to choosing modules from a wide range of options, students undertake an independent research project on a topic of their own choosing.

Modules in the first year

You are provided with the basic knowledge and skills to study politics. You also have the opportunity to take other introductory social science courses.

Compulsory core modules

• 20 credits - Classical Political Thought
• 20 credits - Foundations of Politics
• 20 credits - Introduction to International Relations
• 20 credits - Introduction to Methods (I)
• 20 credits - Introduction to Political Economy

Optional modules

Choose one of the following 20 credit lists of modules

• 10 credits - Twentieth Century Russian Politics A
• 10 credits - Twentieth Century Russian Politics B

Or

• 20 credits - Introduction to the European Union: History, Politics and Institutions

Or

• 20 credits - Social Worlds and the Sociological Imagination

Or

• 10 credits - Introduction to Media, Culture and Society A
• 10 credits - Introduction to Media, Culture and Society B

Modules must total 120 credits

Modules in the second year

You now have the opportunity to develop specialised knowledge in areas that you find of greatest interest, such as political theory and analysis, European integration, British politics, American politics, comparative European politics, and political economy.

Compulsory core modules

• 20 credits - British Politics
• 20 credits - Foundations of Modern Political and Social Theory
• 20 credits - Methods (II)
• 20 credits - Political Analysis

Optional modules

Choose 40 credits from the following, or choose 20 credits from the following and 20 credits of Modules outside the main discipline:

• 20 credits - Comparative European Government
• 20 credits - International Political Economy
• 20 credits - Institutions, Politics and Policies of the EU
• 20 credits - Modern Political Ideologies
• 20 credits - International Politics of East Asia
• 20 credits - The American Presidency
• 20 credits - International Security
• 20 credits - Political Economy of EU Enlargement
• 20 credits - Politics and Policy
• 20 credits - Public Choice theory
• 20 credits - International Politics and Security in Russian and Eurasia
• 10 credits - The Cultural Politics of Russian and Eastern Europe A10 credits - The Cultural Politics of Russian and Eastern Europe B
• 10 credits - Contemporary Russian and East European Politics A10 credits - Contemporary Russian and East European Politics B
• 10 credits - The Defence and Security Policies of the Soviet Union and the Successor States A10 credits - The Defence and Security Policies of the Soviet Union and the Successor States B

Modules must total 120 credits

Modules in the third year

In addition to choosing modules from a wide range of options, students undertake an independent research project on a topic of their own choosing.

Compulsory core modules

• 40 credits - Dissertation

Optional modules

Choose 80 credits from the following

Or choose 60 credits from the following and 20 credits of Modules outside the main discipline . Any module not listed below but is available in the Department or as an 'Modules outside the main discipline' will need approval from POLSIS.

• 20 credits - Twentieth Century Political Though
• 20 credits - Power in Britain
• 20 credits - Contemporary US Foreign & Security Policy
• 20 credits - International Ethics
• 20 credits - Contemporary IPE
• 20 credits - Topics in British Politics
• 20 credits - Modern European Political Thought
• 20 credits - Controversies in Contemporary Democracies: Comparative Perspectives
• 20 credits - European Security
• 20 credits - Democracy and Democratization in Contemporary Europe
• 20 credits - International Organisations
• 20 credits - War Torn States and Post-Conflict Reconstruction in the South
• 20 credits - Critical Approaches to Security
• 20 credits - Advanced Modern Asia
• 20 credits - Politics and the Media
• 20 credits - Immigration and Citizenship in Western Europe
• 20 credits - Devolution, Territorial Politics and Multilevel Governance
• 20 credits - Europe in a Globalised World
• 20 credits - Politics and Sport
• 20 credits - Left Parties and Protest Movements
• 20 credits - Diplomatic History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
• 20 credits - The Political Economy of Germany in a European Context
• 20 credits - Gender in World Politics
• 10 credits - Advanced Cultural Politics of Russian and Eastern Europe A10 credits - Advanced Cultural Politics of Russian and Eastern Europe B
• 10 credits - Political History of Central & Eastern Europe in the 20th C. A10 credits - Returning to Europe: Nation, State & Europe in Post-Communist Central and Eastern Europe B

Modules must total 120 credits

English Language Requirements

CAE score : 80(Grade A)

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

• Number of A levels required: 3
• Typical offer: AAB - ABB
• General Studies: not accepted
• International Baccalaureate Diploma: 32 - 36 points
• Standard English language requirements apply.
• Other qualifications are considered: Students with other qualifications are advised to speak to Undergraduate admissions.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Birmingham.