BA Politics (Including Foundation Year) - Politics Degree

Program Overview

The BA Politics (Including Foundation Year) program at the University of Essex is a four-year undergraduate degree that provides a thorough grounding in political science. During the foundation year, students receive a comprehensive introduction to the major areas of political science, preparing them for further undergraduate study. The program's faculty includes experts in political science and international relations, and graduates are in demand from a host of employers, including in politics, the civil service, and NGOs. The program is ranked in the top 100 globally and top 10 in the UK for politics and international studies in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2024).

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The BA Politics (Including Foundation Year) program at the University of Essex is a four-year undergraduate degree that provides a thorough grounding in political science. The program is designed to develop students' subject-specific knowledge and improve their academic skills. During the foundation year (Year Zero), students receive a comprehensive introduction to the major areas of political science, preparing them for further undergraduate study.

Outline:

Year 0

• Component 01: Core
• Analysing the Social and Political World (30 CREDITS)
• Component 02: Core
• Research and Academic Development Skills (30 CREDITS)
• Component 03: Core
• Understanding People and Society (30 CREDITS)
• Component 04: Core
• Knowing Your World from Language to Politics (30 CREDITS)

Year 1

• Component 01: Core
• Introduction to Politics (30 CREDITS)
• Component 02: Compulsory
• Introduction to International Relations (15 CREDITS)
• Component 03: Compulsory
• Truth, Justice, and The Nature of Politics (15 CREDITS)
• Component 04: Optional
• Option(s) from list or Outside Option(s) (30 CREDITS)
• Component 05: Optional
• Social Science option(s) (30 CREDITS)
• Component 06: Compulsory
• Career Portfolio (0 CREDITS)
• Component 07: Compulsory
• Doing Political Research (0 CREDITS)

Year 2

• Component 01: Compulsory with Options
• GV207-5-AU or GV252-5-SP (15 CREDITS)
• Component 02: Optional
• 2nd year Politics option(s) (45 CREDITS)
• Component 03: Optional
• 2nd year Politics option(s) or outside option(s) (30 CREDITS)
• Component 04: Optional
• 2nd year Politics option(s) (30 CREDITS)
• Component 05: Compulsory
• Career Portfolio (0 CREDITS)
• Component 06: Compulsory
• Issues in Politics: Final Year Project preparation (0 CREDITS)

Year 3

• Component 01: Compulsory with Options
• Capstone Project (30 CREDITS)
• Component 02: Optional
• Final year Politics option(s) (30 CREDITS)
• Component 03: Optional
• Final year Politics option(s) (30 CREDITS)
• Component 04: Optional
• Politics option(s) or outside option(s) (30 CREDITS)
• Component 05: Compulsory
• Career Portfolio (0 CREDITS)

Assessment:

Assessment methods in the program include essays, reports, in-class tests, individual or group oral presentations, and small-scale research projects.

Teaching:

Teaching methods in the program include lectures, classes, lab sessions, language classes, and small group classes. The program's faculty includes experts in political science and international relations.

Careers:

Graduates of the program are in demand from a host of employers, including in politics, the civil service, management, journalism, police, armed forces, commerce, business, finance, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), teaching, and graduate research.

Other:

• The program is ranked in the top 100 globally and top 10 in the UK for politics and international studies in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2024).
• The program is 6th in the UK for research power in politics and international studies (Times Higher Education research power measure, Research Excellence Framework 2021).
• The program is 27th in the UK for Politics (Guardian University Guide 2024).
• The program works with the University's Student Development Team to help students find work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Home/UK fee £9,250 per year International fee £19,500 per year Fees will increase for each academic year of study.