Politics BA (Hons)

**This is a Connected Degree**<br/><br/>Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after youve started your course.<br/><br/>**Overview**<br/><br/>Understand the political issues shaping – and dividing – societies around the world, and discover the integral role politics plays in every aspect of people’s lives globally.<br/><br/>On this BA (Hons) Politics degree, you’ll tackle the major issues facing people and politicians today, including Brexit, the NHS, and life in a ‘post-truth’ world. <br/><br/>You’ll learn how the political world works and look at how our Parliament functions, and how the law and our institutions interact. You’ll study the historic moments that have shaped our democracy – and learn the skills required to play your part in changing minds, shaping policy and fighting inequality.<br/><br/>**Course highlights**<br/><br/><br/>- Learn from staff at our Centre for European and International Studies Research (CEISR), whose research directly impacts government policy<br/><br/><br/>- Tailor your degree by choosing optional modules that match your interests and career ambitions, from gender in politics, to radicalisation and the rise of the far-right<br/><br/><br/>- Attend events and talks led by people working in local, national and international government (including current MPs and staff from the US Department of Defence), and political journalism<br/><br/><br/>- Go on field trips to locations such as the Houses of Parliament <br/><br/><br/>- Take part in a simulated ‘academic conference’, where you’ll present a paper that will be discussed with your peers<br/><br/><br/>- Have the opportunity to organise your own political campaign in your 2nd year, on a political issue you care about<br/><br/><br/>- Have the chance to study abroad at one of our partner institutions – including Science Po Strasbourg (France), Maastricht University (Netherlands), Université libre de Bruxelles (Belgium) and University of Szeged (Hungary)<br/><br/><br/>**Worried about your grades?**<br/>If youre not sure you meet the entry requirements, or need some help to get uni-ready, then we offer this course with a foundation year to bring you up to speed. When you successfully finish, youll get a guaranteed place on this course.<br/><br/>**Careers and opportunities**<br/><br/>The knowledge you gain on this course, coupled with the communication, research, critical thinking and analysis skills you learn, means youll have lots of career options when you graduate.<br/><br/>What sectors can you work in with a politics degree?<br/><br/>Many of our politics graduates go into people-focused roles, or in roles that allow them to do research, shape social policies or bring about social change.<br/><br/>Areas you could go into include:<br/><br/><br/>- local and central government<br/><br/><br/>- consultancy and think tanks<br/><br/><br/>- lobbying<br/><br/><br/>- research and policy<br/><br/><br/>- teaching and lecturing (with additional training or further study)<br/><br/><br/>- community development<br/><br/><br/>- charity work<br/><br/><br/>- careers advice<br/><br/><br/>- advertising<br/><br/><br/>- marketing and media<br/><br/><br/>What jobs can you do with a politics degree?<br/><br/>Previous graduates have gone onto work in jobs such as:<br/><br/><br/>- political researcher, Houses of Parliament<br/><br/><br/>- assistant to Member of Parliament<br/><br/><br/>- civil servant, Department for the Cabinet Office<br/><br/><br/>- senior policy advisor, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government<br/><br/><br/>- communications officer, House of Commons<br/><br/><br/>- local government administrator, Government of Jersey<br/><br/><br/>- public affairs consultant<br/><br/><br/>- social researcher<br/><br/><br/>- information officer<br/><br/><br/>- conference producer<br/><br/><br/>After you graduate, youll get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.<br/><br/>The lecturers were great and made the university experience what it was. The curriculum was varied and they really knew how to push you to achieve great things. – Antony Innes , BA Hons Politics student

If you apply through Clearing, you'll be offered a guaranteed room in halls if you accept your offer within 24 hours of receiving it and apply for accommodation as a new full-time undergraduate student by 9am on 20 August 2025.<br/><br/>Sign up for Priority Clearing to get accommodation information straight to your inbox as well as access to Portsmouth's Clearing Visit Day on Thursday 7th August. Priority Clearing applicants will jump the queue on Results Day, get exclusive Clearing updates, invites to Portsmouth Prepare for Clearing Webinars and one-to-one application support.<br/><br/>Through the open day, students can get a feel for Portsmouth's welcoming campus and community before joining the university. With guaranteed accommodation, they can rest easy and ensure they are in the heart of the student community.