Studying Politics develops your understanding of the political decisions, processes and ideas that shape our lives. You will develop an in-depth knowledge of a wide range of current political issues, but will also have opportunities to gain work experience, meet practitioners and travel overseas. Innovative teaching methods and the extensive support offered by the teaching team enables you to get the most out of your university experience. You will meet people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds and political viewpoints, which leads to some very exciting debates. Politics and International Relations is also ranked joint 4th out of 60 institutions for overall satisfaction in the 2010 National Student Survey (NSS).
UCAS course code:
Politics and:
Duration: Three years full-time, six years part-time
Institution code: D26
If English is not your first language, we require an English language level of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.
The course is taught by a team whose work has been recognised by top scores in Quality Assessment exercises and by individuals achieving National Teaching Fellow status. We are also active researchers and share our current work with our students. We use a variety of formats in our classes. In the first two years you attend weekly hour-long lectures to gather crucial information and then need to be prepared to discuss issues in seminars. In the third year teaching is in a two-hour workshop format where you often get to decide on the topics that get debated. Throughout the course you will read around the areas being covered using course books and must keep yourself up-to-date with developments in current affairs through newspapers, magazines and the internet.
You are assessed on assignments, essays, exams, class presentations, seminar contributions, portfolios and your dissertation over the three years. You will also take part in simulation games, problem-solving exercises, online collaborative projects and policy papers.
First year
Second year
Politics students are encouraged to gain work experience during their degrees through placements with local councils, media, pressure groups and MPs. They can also study abroad for a term in either the United States or Europe during the second year. Guest talks from practitioners like the US Ambassador or Alastair Campbell allow students to gain insights into the practice of politics.
Graduates who put their energies into the course will have well-developed research and communication skills as well as a good knowledge of political issues and institutions. These students are attractive to a wide range of employers. Recent graduates have gone into roles in the Civil Service, aid organisations, journalism, marketing, teaching and working for MPs.
UK/EU Fees: £9000
International Fees: TBC
Learn more about fees and funding information|
You are taught in modern teaching facilities fully equipped with the latest audio visual technology. You also have access to first class learning spaces within the library, where you can work on group projects, practise presentations or use online resources.
Art, Design & Humanities (for Joints with History and Journalism)
T: +44 (0)116 257 7555 E: adh@dmu.ac.uk
Business & Law (for Joints with International Relations)
Faculty of Business and Law Admissions Team De Montfort University Hugh Aston Building, 0.30 Leicester, LE1 9BH
E: bal@dmu.ac.uk T: +44 (0) 116 257 7458
Health & Life Sciences (for Joints with Sociology)
T: +44 (0)116 257 7700 E: hls@dmu.ac.uk
“The teaching quality is extremely high and every effort is made to encourage students to develop their intellectual interests.”
External examiner
“The staff are really helpful and I enjoy the seminars as they encourage debate and address current topics and issues.”
Rachael Lloyd
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