Full Time: 4 Years
Examine the key political and economic issues that dominate the headlines and develop a deep understanding of how they shape the world in which we live.
In politics, you will acquire a solid foundation in the fundamental aspects of the subject, including political ideas and democratic processes. Choose from a broad range of specialist, core and optional modules, spanning topics from British government and politics, to European political integration and political thinking. The course is flexible, and encourages you to forge your own pathway by selecting modules that reflect your interests. Gain first-hand experience through work placements, and gain direct insight into political processes and apply your skills and knowledge to real-world scenarios through our Model United Nations, US Foreign Policy and Middle East simulations.
You will also have the opportunity to hear from experts from the world of politics and international relations as part of our guest speaker programme, and learn directly from staff who are engaged in cutting-edge research. 80% of our research impact in politics was rated world leading or internationally excellent in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2014), which directly feeds into your learning and, in 2017, we achieved a student satisfaction score of 92% for our teaching in the National Student Survey.
In economics, you will explore the relationship between economics and society, and acquire knowledge of both applied and practical issues. Less emphasis is placed on mathematical and statistical content, and instead you will focus on the relevance of these techniques to applied problems. You will still need to learn necessary maths skills in your core modules, but extensive support is available should you need it.
You will be able to choose from a wide variety of modules which cover the theoretical aspects of economics, as well as its real-world applications. Depending on your interests, optional modules cover topics including business, policy, economic history and the economics of climate change. You will be taught by staff who are active researchers, with many involved in research that informs policy decisions by governments, major multinational organisations and international agencies like the UN.
We are recognised for our high-quality research which feeds directly into your teaching, exposing you to the latest thinking and critical developments in the field. The University is ranked 10th in the UK for our research impact for Business and Management Studies (Times Higher Education Institutions Ranked by Subject, 2014, based on its analysis of REF 2014).
This joint degree also gives you the option to select modules from other subject areas including history and international relations. The majority of your learning will occur through small seminar groups, giving you the opportunity to interact directly with staff and contribute your own thoughts and opinions.
Typical offer A Level BBB | IB 30 points overall
What will you study?
How much will it cost?
New UK/EU students: £9,250* per year
New international students: £16,890 per year
* UK and EU fee changes
UK undergraduate fees are regulated by the government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK and EU** students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.
From 2020, the UK government may link tuition fees to the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
**EU students
For more information on fees, loans and grants for EU students, see fees and funding for home/EU students.
Additional costs
These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.
Financial support for your studies
You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK and other EU countries may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.
What career can you have?
This joint degree will allow you to develop strong analytical and research skills, as well as becoming experienced in delivering presentations and working as part of a group. This makes you suitable for a wide range of careers both within the areas of politics and economics, and further afield.
Past students have put their political analysis skills to direct use in the home and European civil services, political research units, think tanks, non-governmental organisations and journalism.