Politics

Politics is the study of how societies organise power, make collective decisions and manage the conflicts that arise from competing interests and values. It is a discipline that has become more urgently relevant as questions of democratic governance, international order, inequality, climate policy and the exercise of power become ever more contested. Understanding those questions requires knowledge of political institutions and behaviour, political theory and ideology, international relations and the forces that shape policy, as well as the analytical and communication skills to engage with complex material and present clear arguments.

This three-year full-time degree at the University of Portsmouth includes a sandwich year with a work placement and a year abroad, giving you professional and international experience built into the programme. You will study the political issues shaping and dividing societies around the world, developing an understanding of the integral role that politics plays in every aspect of people's lives globally. The programme covers political theory and philosophy, comparative politics, international relations, policy analysis and research methods, developing both theoretical knowledge and the practical analytical skills that careers in politics-related fields demand.

Politics graduates are among the most versatile of social science graduates. The analytical thinking, research skills and communicative precision that the degree develops transfer readily into journalism, public policy, the civil service, international development, diplomacy, campaign organisations, political consultancy, think tanks, NGOs and many other fields. The work placement provides professional experience that many employers value alongside the academic qualification, and the year abroad develops the international perspective that careers connected to global politics increasingly require.

Further study in politics, international relations, public policy or law is a natural route for those seeking specialist or academic careers.