Politics

Politics is the study of power: who has it, how they exercise it, and what constrains them. It examines the institutions of government, the behaviour of political actors, the dynamics of international relations, and the ideologies and ideas that compete to shape what states and other organisations do. The discipline draws on history, economics, law, and philosophy, and it engages with questions that are simultaneously abstract and urgently practical, from the nature of democracy and justice to the causes of war and the conditions for international cooperation.

Studying politics develops the capacity for rigorous analysis of complex social and political phenomena and the ability to construct and evaluate arguments about contested questions.

At the University of Exeter, this three-year full-time programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, giving you a combination of academic depth and structured professional and international experience that strengthens your preparation for careers in public and private life. You will study political theory, comparative politics, international relations, and UK politics, developing your ability to analyse political systems, evaluate evidence about political behaviour, and engage with the normative questions about justice, rights, and the proper organisation of collective life that politics raises. The year abroad gives you the opportunity to engage with political systems and political science education in another national context, developing the comparative awareness that is central to the discipline.

Politics graduates are found across an extraordinarily wide range of careers. The civil service, the diplomatic service, journalism, law, public affairs, think tanks, international organisations, the charitable sector, and political parties are among the most common destinations. The analytical and communication skills developed by politics are valued by employers across the public and private sectors, and the combination of structured professional experience provided by the sandwich year and placement opportunities significantly strengthens graduate employment prospects.

Postgraduate study in politics, international relations, public policy, law, or a related field is a natural next step for those who wish to specialise further.