BSc (Hons) Politics

Where could your degree take you?

Discover employment and further study opportunities that you could consider once you graduate with a degree in international relations or politics and learn how you can stand out to graduate employers.

Careers and further study

• Close working with experienced and engaging staff across politics and international relations.

• Opportunities to study abroad, gain practical experience or work in your chosen field.

• Opportunities to specialise in a variety of fields across politics and international relations.

• Varied and innovative assessment with practical applicability to your future career or involvement in local and/or national politics.

• Year 1

• In your first year, you will get to meet and work with all members of staff in the politics and international relations group. You will develop the skills to thrive at Plymouth as an undergraduate, and be provided with opportunities to make friends with your peers on the course.

  You will find out what some key political thinkers have argued about democracy and its many rivals. You will study the politics behind some of the most urgent environmental problems faced by humanity. You will compare different democratic systems across the world, and learn about how they cooperate and co-exist with other states.
  

• Year 2

• In your second year, you get a chance to look at the comparative politics of the global south. You will study British politics as it moves into an uncertain future, and take a ringside seat as it faces increasing pressures from Scottish, Irish and Welsh nationalism. You will distinguish between different types of non-democratic regimes, learn how they develop and how they hold onto power. You will find out how the European Union works, and how it intends to deal with the UK as its new neighbour.

  You have the options to study how lobby, protest and pressure groups do politics in civil society, how political debate and opinion is changing with new developments in the public sphere via traditional and social media, and how the forces of globalization are influencing our understanding of national sovereignty.

  Alternatively, you can dip your toes in up two modules offered by other disciplines across our school, including history and international relations. If you like, you can even choose to study abroad with one of our partner institutions overseas.
  

• Final year

• In your third year, you will get an opportunity to do research on a political question of your own choice, with the support and advice of a dissertation tutor.

  You also choose four electives from a range of modules delivered by scholars with research expertise in subjects such as the politics of the Middle East, Africa, the United States, Europe, the environment, and/or learn how to develop, plan and coordinate political campaigns and elections.

  There is also an opportunity in your third year to develop your employability skills with our work-based learning in politics and international relations module, or you can choose to study one of our specialism modules offered by other disciplines across our school.
  

UCAS tariff

104

A levels
104 points including a minimum of 2 A levels. General studies considered.

BTEC
18 Unit BTEC Extended Diploma: MMM–DMM in any subject.

BTEC National Diploma modules
If you hold a BTEC qualification it is vital that you provide our Admissions team with details of the exact modules you have studied as part of the BTEC. Without this information we may be unable to process your application quickly and you could experience significant delays in the progress of your application to study with us. Please explicitly state the full list of modules within your qualification at the time of application.

Access
Pass a named Access to HE Diploma in any subject with at least 33 credits at merit/distinction.

International Baccalaureate24-26 overall to include 4 at any subject at Higher Level. English and Maths accepted within: Higher Level = 4 Standard Level = 5.

GCSE
All applicants must have GCSE (or equivalent) mathematics and English at grade C or above.

Other
14-19 Diplomas: accepted – please enquire. Other combinations and non-A level qualifications will also be considered.

Short of the entry requirements for this course? Don’t worry you may be eligible for a foundation year to prepare you for possible entry onto this course for the following year.

English language requirements

We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.