Politics BA, 3-4 years
Course information
Typical offer ABB-BBB
UCAS code L200
Institute code L34
Taught by Politics and International Relations
Admissions enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 5281
cssadmissions@le.ac.uk
Course enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 2702
poladmiss@le.ac.uk
Who holds power and why? Is globalisation positive? When is war just? Politics is made for people who love to tackle the big topics. In this degree, you’ll study political systems and learn how to write, research and reason with incredible clarity.
Course description
Course description
Politics has been taught at Leicester since the 1940s and we have always been at the cutting edge of British political science – we aim to fire your intellectual curiosity about the politics of the world. As well as examining the workings of the political system in the UK and other states, you will explore some of the most important and interesting issues in politics.
Our lecturers produce internationally renowned, cutting-edge research, and are keen to share their knowledge. You will also learn from guest speakers, including MPs and members of US Congress, and enjoy the option to study politics from different perspectives by spending a year studying abroad.
During your time with us, we will encourage you to focus your studies on your own areas of interest. All our degrees offer a wide range of exciting module choices – and as our lecturers have such diverse interests, you will receive enthusiastic support and guidance for whichever area you choose.
Employabilty is embedded into our degrees and we have designed modules that will ensure you are well equipped to secure graduate roles or places on postgraduate courses. The popularity of Politics at degree level also reflects the value of the transferable skills students gain. The ability to analyse complex issues and reach reasoned conclusions, to present coherent arguments in written and oral form, to engage in independent research, and work effectively as a member of a team are skills highly valued by employers. Job prospects are excellent, with 98% of our Politics and International Relations students in employment or further study, six months after graduating.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
- A/AS Levels: ABB-BBB. All subjects accepted. Two AS-levels considered in place of one A-level.
- EPQ with A-levels: BBB-BBC + EPQ at grade B.
- Access to HE Diploma: Pass diploma with 45 credits at Level 3, including 25 credits at Distinction.
- International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 28 points overall.
- BTEC Nationals: Full Diploma with DDM.
Other national and international qualifications considered. If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, you can apply for the International Foundation Year – Society and Culture run by the Global Study Centre. The GSC provides academic support to help you progress to your chosen undergraduate degree at the University of Leicester.
Second Year Entry may be possible with suitable qualifications.
Selection Process
When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.
Applicants are not normally interviewed. If you receive an offer you will be invited to visit the University.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries ListFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK and EU Students
Starting in 2021
Tuition fees for 2021/22 are yet to be confirmed. As an indication of what you might pay, the fees for students who started in 2020/21 were:
- £9,250 in your first year. Tuition fees are subject to government regulations and may change in future years
- Year Abroad: your fee will be £1,250 for that year
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
International Students
Starting in 2021
Tuition fees for 2021/22 are yet to be confirmed. As an indication of what you might pay, the fees for students who started in 2020/21 were:
- £17,450 per year
- Year Abroad: £4,326.50, which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
Our degrees provide you with the transferable skills to equip you for a wide range of careers, including government, the media, education, administration, and management in industry and commerce.
Our careers and employability tutors support and facilitate your academic, professional and personal development. They will help you to make an informed choice, provide help and advice on employability, and send you information on potentially interesting traineeships and vacancies.
Graduate destinations
Graduates from our Politics degrees have gone on to work for a wide range of employers including:
- BNP Paribas
- HSBC
- Credit Agricole
- Applus Aerospace
- Spottydog Communications
Tom chose to study Politics at Leicester because he loved the city.
Career Development Service
Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Career Development Service. We're here to give you a lifetime offer of support, even after graduation. Our team of specialist careers advisers and mentors will help you every step of the way. From supporting you with CVs and interviews, to volunteering opportunities and placements, we're here to help you reach your professional goals.
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- Goal 5: Gender equality
- Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
- Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
- Goal 13: Climate action
- Goal 14: Life below water
- Goal 15: Life on land
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong institutions
Course structure
Year 1
Year 1
Core modules
- Politics, Power and Ethics
- Case Studies in Politics, Power and Ethics
- Political Concepts
- Comparative European Politics
Option modules
Choose two option modules from:
- The Global Cold War: International Relations 1945-1989
- Key Concepts in International Relations
- Introduction to American Government and Politics
Then choose two option modules from:
- Order and Disorder: International Relations from 1989 to the Present
- Case Studies in Post-Cold War (Dis-)Order
- Power in the World Economy
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year 2
Year 2
Core modules
- Political Analysis 1: Understanding Political Science Research
- Political Ideas
- Political Parties in Contemporary Britain
- Political Analysis 2: Preparing for your Dissertation
- European Union Politics
Option modules
Choose one option module from:
Then choose two option modules from:
- International Security Studies
- Governing Societies in Conflict
- Contemporary Political Philosophy: Theories of Justice
- Foreign Policy Analysis
- Latin American Politics
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year Abroad (optional)
Year Abroad (optional)
If you want to, you can spend your third year studying abroad at one of our partner institutions (eligibility is dependent on your academic performance in Years 1 and 2). Alternatively, you can opt to continue studying at the University and complete your degree in three years.
Studying abroad is not just for people who are interested in travelling and meeting new people. It is about acquiring life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. Whether you go on to work in the private sector, the state sector, a non-governmental organisation, or become self-employed you will find the experience invaluable. Find out more from our Study Abroad Unit.
Please note that a year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See our Fees and Funding section for details.
Politics and International Relations at Leicester has links with several European universities, administered through the Erasmus+ scheme. If you are eligible for a loan from Student Finance you can apply for a travel grant from them. Languages courses, at both beginners and advanced level, are available through the University’s Languages at Leicester scheme.
- For the latest information on the future of the Erasmus+ scheme at UK universities please see our Brexit microsite.
We have links with the following universities:
- Université de Strasbourg, France
- Universiteit Leiden, Netherlands
- Maastricht University, Netherlands
- Universiteit Ghent, Belgium
- Charles University Prague, Czech Republic
We also have links with some universities outside Europe. If you are receiving financial assistance from Student Finance your support will continue and you may also be eligible to apply for additional travel grants or scholarships. We have links with the following universities:
- Deakin University, Australia
- Flinders University, Australia
- La Trobe University, Australia
- Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan
- Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan
- Seoul National University, South Korea
- Sungkyunkwan University, South Korea
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Final Year
Final Year
Modules
Choose three option modules from:
- Feminism
- The American Presidency
- The Politics of War and Peace: Northern Ireland After 1972
- Parliamentary Studies
- Brexit and British Politics
- The Politics of Intelligence
- The Politics of Nuclear Weapons
- The Politics of Contemporary British Foreign Policy
- Climate Change: Ethics, Issues, Justice
- Politics of the International Drug Trade
- International Migration in the Age of Securitisation
- Corruption, Informality and Scandals
- Emotions in Conflict and Cooperation
Then choose two option modules from:
- Politics and the Environment
- The Conservatives: Crisis and Recovery
- American Political Development
- The Changing Character of War
- Global Justice and Human Rights
- The Politics of Slavery
- Political Legacies of Conflict in Northern Ireland
- Political Participation in Britain
- Democracy and EU Membership in Post-Communist Europe
- Politics and War in Outer Space
- Gender, Race and War
- Strategy and International Security
- International Relations, Statecraft and Political Conflict in Africa
Plus your Dissertation
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
Job prospects are excellent: 98% of our Politics and International Relations students are employed (or studying for a Masters degree) six months after graduating. (DLHE)
Guest speakers who have visited the University to discuss their lives in politics including MPS, members of the House of Lords, MEPs, members of the US Congress, officials working in UK and EU institutions, diplomats and senior personnel from the armed forces.
The academic staff in the department have written or edited dozens of books and publish regularly in major national and international journals. Where other people only get to read what our experts think, you will be working directly with them, learning from them in lectures and questioning them in seminars.
You will definitely want to join the Students' Union's Politics and International Relations Society, which offers a great mix of academic support and social events.
Teaching and learning
Teaching
You will experience a variety of learning and teaching methods throughout your time at Leicester. We use the latest teaching resources, such as the Blackboard virtual learning environment where students can access support materials for all our modules. As well as traditional lectures and seminars, you will work in small groups, take part in debates and simulation exercises, and undertake a research project of your choice in your final year.
The development of transferable skills is a key feature of teaching at Leicester. Our courses are designed to improve your skills in written communications (from short reports to a long dissertation), oral presentation (both formal and informal), working as part of a team, independent learning (e.g. information gathering and time management), problem solving and information technology.
All members of Politics and International Relations at Leicester are engaged in cutting-edge research. We believe that good teaching flourishes in an intellectual environment informed by original research. Final year modules reflect the research interests of academic staff, exposing students to the latest thinking.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a variety of methods including written examination, assessed essay, reports, briefing papers and presentations.
Independent learning
When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library and our social study spaces in halls of residence.
Your contact hours will depend on the option modules you select. You can see details of the contact hours on individual module pages.
Academic support
Our Student Learning Development Team provides help in the following areas:
- study and exam skills
- academic writing
- presentations
- dissertations
- numerical data skills
- referencing sources
Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.
Teaching staff
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. PhD research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Our teaching is informed by the research we do. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.