Politics
Politics is the academic study of power, how it is acquired, exercised, contested and constrained within and between societies. It examines the sources of political conflict and cooperation, how ideologies shape political organisation, how states are governed and how citizens participate in and are affected by political processes. At its best, political science combines rigorous conceptual thinking with careful analysis of real political systems, equipping students to understand not just what happens in politics but why, and what implications that has for how we might organise our collective life more effectively and justly.
At Queen's University Belfast this three-year full-time degree provides an in-depth understanding of politics, political theory and governance across a range of scales and contexts. You will develop familiarity with political systems in different national settings, building your capacity for cross-national comparison and your understanding of how domestic and international forces interact. The department's academic staff engage with topical issues including democratic innovation, environmental politics, migration, political parties, populism and conflict, and that research informs a curriculum that takes contemporary politics seriously as an object of study.
Belfast's particular political history and the university's expertise in conflict and post-conflict societies gives the programme a distinctive perspective.
Graduates from Politics degrees go on to careers across a wide range of fields. Many enter the civil service, local government, political parties, think tanks and policy organisations, where the analytical skills and understanding of governance that politics develops are directly relevant. Others find roles in journalism, broadcasting, international organisations, the diplomatic service, law and the charitable sector.
The degree also provides strong preparation for postgraduate study in political science, international relations, public policy, law or related disciplines.