Politics

Politics is the study of power: how it is acquired, exercised, contested and constrained. It asks fundamental questions about how societies organise themselves, how decisions are made that bind communities together, who benefits from those decisions and who does not, and how things might be arranged differently. As a discipline it draws on political philosophy, comparative analysis, international relations, public policy and the empirical study of political institutions and behaviour.

It teaches you to think rigorously about questions that have no easy answers, and to engage with those questions through careful reading, argument and evidence.

This three-year full-time degree at Nottingham Trent University takes politics seriously as a subject with real stakes. You will study political theory and philosophy, exploring ideas about democracy, justice, freedom and power that have shaped political life. You will examine political institutions and systems comparatively, developing the ability to understand how different societies have structured their politics.

You will engage with international relations and global political economy, and with the forces, from nationalism to climate change, that are reshaping the world. Throughout the programme you will develop strong skills in argument, research and written and oral communication.

Politics graduates are among the most versatile of social science graduates. The ability to analyse complex situations, construct arguments, evaluate evidence and communicate clearly is valued across journalism, public policy, the civil service, law, international development, diplomacy, campaign and advocacy work, political consultancy, business and many other fields. Many go on to postgraduate study in politics, international relations, public policy or law, building specialist expertise on a broad analytical foundation.