Newcastle University

Government and European Union Studies BA Honours
UCAS Code: L241 (4 Years)

• Course Overview
• Modules
• Entry Requirements
• Careers
• Finance

Politics at Newcastle takes you behind and beyond the headlines to explore how the world is, how it should be and how political change actually takes place.

Politics is one of the most dynamic and diverse academic subjects available and you will study everything from pressing issues of international crisis to the latest domestic political developments. 

This degree is delivered by Politics and Modern Languages. It combines the study of the politics and culture of the European Union and its member states, with study of a modern European language.

You can choose from:

• French
• German
• Portuguese
• Spanish

All of our languages may be taken at beginners’, intermediate (eg post-GCSE/AS level) or advanced (eg post-A level) level.

You also spend a year abroad studying at one of our partner universities in Europe or on a work placement.

Quality and ranking

The quality of the politics study experience at Newcastle is recognised with an overall student satisfaction score of 93% in the 2013 National Student Survey.

Politics and International Studies at Newcastle also ranks in the top 200 universities in the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

Teaching and assessment

Politics at Newcastle has an international reputation for its research which feeds directly into your teaching. Our research activity focuses on three overlapping areas:

• governance and political organisations
• international politics
• political philosophy

Our research expertise is reflected in your choice of modules, particularly in Stages 2 and 3. Our teaching programme takes many formats including lectures, lively seminars, teamwork exercises, research projects, simulations and more. 

We use a variety of assessment methods, although on average you will be expected to complete the equivalent of at least three presentations, three essays and three examinations in each semester. You can also choose to write a dissertation in Stage 3, supervised by a member of staff, on a topic of special interest to you. Teaching and assessment methods may vary from module to module; more information can be found in our individual module listings.

Year abroad

A year abroad is a compulsory part of this degree. You can spend it studying at one of our partner universities or on a work placement abroad. This gives you the opportunity to dramatically improve your language skills and gain direct experience of the politics, society and culture of another country. We currently have links with highly-rated politics departments in universities in:

• Lyon (France)
• Strasbourg (France)
• Mannheim (Germany)
• Granada (Spain)
• Madrid (Spain)

Politics at Newcastle

As a politics student at Newcastle, you’ll join a close-knit community of students and academics, based together in the Politics Building.

We aim to provide an environment in which our students can flourish, with a commitment to excellent teaching. We also offer you lots of opportunities to broaden your horizons, including work and study abroad, and an internationally focused curriculum.

Our degrees are specifically designed to give you the skills and knowledge to succeed, producing motivated, articulate, confident graduates who are well prepared for a wide variety of careers.

We have an active system of student support, including a personal tutor and peer mentor to offer guidance and support throughout your degree.

Find out more about studying politics at Newcastle on the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology's website.