Study Overseas

Almost every UK university offers degree courses in Politics. UCAS, the University and Colleges Admissions Service for UK students, lists 'Politics' entries for over ninety universities and more than 1,400 separate degree courses. Understandably, this means that there is great variety in the syllabuses studied between universities, as well as in the way the courses are taught. Last year, almost 18,000 students were registered for degrees, both undergraduate and postgraduate, in Politics, of whom 2,500 came from abroad, and more than half women.

Most UK full-time undergraduate degree courses now take three years. Traditionally, the academic year comprised three terms (trimesters), but many universities have now switched to semesters. Students take three or four subject modules each semester, sometimes increasing to more specialist, double-semester modules as they advance through the course. Degrees are classified into three main types: in 'single subject' degrees, from the second year more than half the time is devoted to 'Politics' modules. In 'joint subjects', equal time is spent on courses in political studies and another chosen discipline. Universities offer a very wide range of such degree courses, from 'Politics and Accountancy', through 'Politics and Physics', to 'Politics and Waste Management'. For 'combined studies', a third to half the time is spent on political studies, and the rest of the degree course on other subjects.

This classification should help you to think about why you wish to study Politics, and what career you may wish to follow after you qualify. 'Joint subject' degrees may be best if you know that you would like a career in international accountancy or environmental management, for example, supported by the background knowledge and skills you would gain from Politics courses. If you are less certain, consider straightforward Politics courses, and choose which other modules you wish to study later on.

A typical course consists of some core compulsory modules and a choice of optional ones. What is deemed 'core' varies between universities, but usually they will be modules in political concepts and ideas, covering notions such as democracy, freedom, and justice, and usually some modules covering British or Comparative political systems, looking at the political parties, policy-making processes, and political participation. Good degree courses also provide training in the methodology of political analysis, with transferable skills that are especially valued by employers. The conventional wisdom is that Politics degrees are prized by students and employers alike because they teach how to think rather than simply what to think. This means that beyond their knowledge of political ideas and processes, Politics graduates will have gained skills in gathering information and presenting reasoned arguments, both verbally and in well-structured written documents.

Politics graduates enter into a wide variety of careers - and fare better than many other graduates in finding employment! According to the official UK statistics, last year 'property development, renting, business and research activities' recruited the highest number of Politics graduates, with 'public administration, defence, and social services' second. Twelve graduates, ten of them female, entered into the 'mining and quarrying' industries. Politics degrees offer excellent training for careers in the public services, journalism, social research, and policy units of both commercial enterprises and International institutions. However, they are not necessarily a guarantee to success as a career politician. Mrs. Thatcher, after all, qualified as a research chemist, whilst her successor left school at sixteen.

By far the best way of choosing the most appropriate course is to use the Internet. The UCAS Website is open to everyone, and provides excellent search facilities listing every UK university degree. You can retrieve details of all Politics single subject, joint, and combined degrees, as well as taught Masters degrees. There are also maps and general information about each university, such as its location, whether it is a campus or city site, and if it has any special provisions for non-UK students - for example, induction courses or language support.

Once you have looked through the lists of degree courses available, you will need more detailed information. The website of the PSA (Political Studies Association of the UK) provides Internet links to every UK University Politics Department, and most Departments maintain webpages with details of their staff and courses, quite often even showing the syllabuses of each module they offer. You may wish to look at the range of modules available, and at the research fields of the staff in a Department, particularly if you have areas of special interest, such as the Politics of some geographical region, research methodologies, or women's studies.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way of ranking your choices by the quality of the teaching you will receive. There is an official ranking of the quality of the research output of Politics Departments and this is also available on the Internet. Bear in mind, however, that excellent researchers are not necessarily also the best teachers. A parallel, official ranking of teaching quality is on its way, but is not yet available for Politics Departments, except in Scotland.

If you still are uncertain whether a particular course is suitable for you, perhaps the best advice is for you to put you questions to the Department direct. All publish email contact addresses (as well as conventional fax, and postal addresses) on their Internet pages, and it is safe to assume that all good Departments welcome non-UK students for the fresh insights which they bring. They will do their best to help you.

For further information, please contact:

UCAS

Author

Richard Topf

Email: topf@lgu.ac.uk