School of Politics and International Studies

BA Politics and Parliamentary Studies will furnish you with a historically-informed and theoretically-aware academic understanding of the dynamics of political phenomena.

This course allows you to gain an in-depth understanding of political processes.  All students will spend the third year working on placement as an assistant to an MP in the House of Commons. For the best performing students there will be the option of working as an intern in the Canadian Parliament or Congress in Washington for the first part of the third year, with the second part of the third year in the Westminster Parliament.

You will explore the institutions and practices of modern political systems, and experience the way they work. You will study the main political theories that structure our political systems, and the wider social forces that shape political life, and see them in action.

You will examine British politics, and analyse international issues. You will study the political systems of other countries, and track the evolution of global politics from the rise of the modern state to the present day.

BA Politics and Parliamentary Studies offers you the unique opportunity to develop practical skills and an understanding of political systems from the 'inside'.

In year one, you study globalisation, the rise of the global economy, and reconsider what you believe about freedom and democracy.

In year two, you look at the key theoretical debates in political science and examine political systems in other countries.

In year three, you take your parliamentary student placement at Westminster for a year; or in Washington or Canada for a semester, then Westminster for a semester.  

In year four, you produce a dissertation on a Political Studies subject of your choice, and choose specialist modules that focus on politics and political theory.

BA Politics and Parliamentary Studies

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