Law and Politics

Law and politics is a pairing that makes deep intellectual sense, because law and politics are inseparably connected in practice. Law provides the formal rules through which political decisions are implemented and contested, while politics shapes the content and interpretation of law and the institutions that create and apply it. Studying them together allows you to understand both how legal systems work and the political contexts in which they are embedded, developing an unusually complete understanding of how authority is exercised in modern societies.

At the University of Stirling, this four-year full-time programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study at a partner institution in another country and develop a comparative perspective on both legal systems and political arrangements. You will study Scottish and UK law alongside constitutional, European and international dimensions of the legal system, while also engaging with political theory, comparative politics, international relations and public policy. The four-year Scottish degree structure gives time for both disciplines to be explored in depth, and the combination equips you for a range of career paths that draw on knowledge of both legal structures and political processes.

Graduates are well placed for a wide range of careers. Law provides the foundation for entry to professional legal training in Scotland or England and Wales, with the Scottish law dimension giving particular relevance for those who wish to qualify in Scotland. Politics graduates move into the civil service, government, international organisations, policy research, journalism and the broader public affairs sector.

The combination of the two disciplines is particularly valued in roles at the intersection of law and policy, including regulatory practice, public law, government legal services, NGO advocacy and international human rights work. Postgraduate study in law, public policy or political science is a natural progression.