Politics BSc (Hons)

Our Politics course covers all the core areas of the discipline and offers a range of options focusing on theories and ideologies, international relations and the study of the politics of individual nation states.

Students will have an opportunity to cover the key areas of the discipline, including:

The nature of power;
Polarisation, mobilisation and radicalisation;
Work-based learning and the politics of employability;
The meaning and relevance of political ideologies;
The interrelationships between domestic and international politics;
The functions and development of political institutions;
The challenges posed by new social movements and global developments;
The meaning and application of political theories;
Policy design and implementation;
The politics of memory and dealing with the past;
British, Irish, African and European politics;
The continued relevance of political thinkers and theorists;
Conflict transformation and peace building.
Our students gain the skills and ability to carry out independent research, to assess the merits of competing theories and explanations, to work as part of a team, and to effectively engage in policy debate with sensitivity to the views of others – all skills that are highly attractive to employers.

Research Informed Teaching:

Our curriculum is based upon the research and scholarship of the staff team.
Students conduct research for their degree in computer labs and via a range of team and semi-independent methodologies within and outside of the university.
Our students accrue skills that are highly attractive to employers including: the ability to carry out detailed research, to assess the merits of competing theories and explanations, to work as part of a team, and to effectively engage in policy debate with sensitivity to the views of others.
Employability and Politics:

The Politics degree provides a detailed knowledge and understanding of contemporary political analysis, an excellent training in social research methods, the ability to apply theoretical perspectives and concepts to real-life problems, and an appreciation of the complexity and diversity of political problems in society.
The degree equips graduates for employment in a range of careers in the statutory, voluntary and private sectors.