Politics BA Honours
- UCAS code: L200
- Full time
- 3 years
Train your mind to recognise, analyse, understand and apply the theories, mechanisms and forces that drive political decision-making.
You are currently viewing course information for entry year: 2025
Next start date:
- September 2025
UCAS Institution name and code:
- NEWC / N21
Course overview
This flexible degree will give you the opportunity to study a dynamic and diverse subject area. From exploring the pressing issues of international crisis to analysing the latest domestic political developments, you will develop key skills in critical thinking, research, and communication.
You'll gain the knowledge and skills to look beyond the headlines to analyse the key dynamics of political events, and join a close-knit community of students and staff that creates an environment in which you can flourish.
Our academic staff will bring political issues alive for you. Our expertise covers all aspects of politics as a discipline, so you can study a range of topics taught by acknowledged experts in their field.
Through a combination of core and optional modules, you can tailor your degree to your interests. You'll study topics that include a mix of global politics, political philosophy, international relations, and political systems and institutions.
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Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2025-26.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
Quality and ranking
Professional accreditation and recognition
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.
Modules and learning
Modules
The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Featured module
POL1050 : Politics of HappinessLearn about topics such as perspectives on happiness, how wellbeing can be promoted and maintained at individual and societal levels, and the political theory and practice relating to happiness or wellbeing.
Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions
You will be given a foundation in the core discipline of politics and gain an understanding of politics at the national level and a thorough grounding in political theory.
A mix of compulsory and optional modules will help you to become an informed and engaged global citizen.
You will start to relate your studies to historical, global, national, and ideological contexts.
Modules
| Optional Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Interconnected World | 20 |
| Key Concepts in International Politics | 20 |
| Order and Disorder: The Shaping of the 21st Century | 20 |
| Comparing Cultures: An Introduction to Anthropology | 20 |
During your second year, you will build on your critical thinking, research, and communication skills as you cover key political actors, issues and organisations, including political parties, in more depth.
You’ll develop critical insight into the relationship between theory and practice and how research methods used in the social sciences shape our understanding of both fields.
You will deepen your knowledge of political theory and be able to choose from optional modules to broaden your understanding of key issues and of politics in differing national contexts.
Modules
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Becoming a Political Researcher | 20 |
| Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: Social Issues in Contemporary Political Philosophy | 20 |
Study abroad
You will begin to specialise in the political topics that are of interest to you. As a part of this, you will undertake a significant piece of independent research that harnesses your subject knowledge and the research skills you’ve developed throughout your degree.
You’ll complete your studies with optional modules covering topics across politics and its subfields.
Modules
We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2024-25.
Teaching time is made up of:
- scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
- structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
You will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, group-work and research projects, and benefit from our strong focus on teaching.
Assessment methods
You'll be assessed through a combination of:
-
Dissertation or research project
-
Essays
-
Examinations – practical or online
-
Presentations
-
Reflective report/journal
-
Seminar tasks/exercises
Skills and experience
Practical skills
You’ll get training in R, world-leading, free statistical software that helps you to:
- understand data
- analyse trends,
- make informed recommendations
Business skills
You'll also be able to put your learning into practice by conducting real-world political research for a local organisation (including Newcastle City Council) in Stage 3
Research skills
In stages 1 and 2, you will be given hands-on training in the quantitative and qualitative research methods required for the effective collection, analysis and visualisation of data.
In Stage 3, you'll apply these learned skills in the field to your research projects.
Opportunities
Work placement
Get career ready with a work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, and receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.
You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.
If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year, and your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year. A work placement is not available if you're spending a year studying abroad. Placements are subject to availability.
Find out more about work placements
Study abroad
Experience life in another country by choosing to study abroad as part of your degree. You’ll be encouraged to embrace fun and challenging experiences, make connections with new communities and graduate as a globally aware professional, ready for your future.
You may choose to spend semester 2 of Stage 2 or semester 1 of Stage 3 on an international exchange at a partner institution.
Facilities and environment
Facilities
You'll be based in the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology's Henry Daysh Building.
Support
You will have one-to-one academic and pastoral support from a personal tutor and from a student.
A tutor in the department has twice won a student-nominated award for pastoral care in recent years.
Your future
You will graduate with the specific skills and knowledge to pursue a career in politics. You will also have the ability to think critically, assess evidence, carry out research, construct an argument and articulate it.
These skills have seen our politics graduates enjoy successful careers in the media, non-governmental bodies, inter-governmental organisations, finance, management consultancy and business.
Some choose to pursue vocational training to become lawyers or teachers; and others undertake further postgraduate study in fields such as politics, business and finance.
Read what our graduates have to say about studying Politics at Newcastle University
Make a difference
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Careers support
You'll benefit from targeted careers support throughout your degree. In your induction week, you'll explore potential career paths.
In Stage 2, you can apply for a work placement with a local political party or charity. In Stage 3 you can boost your prospects by conducting policy research on behalf of a local community organisation.
Our Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Visit our Careers Service website
Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Entry requirements
All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements and offers below apply to 2025 entry.
| A-Level | |
|---|---|
| International Baccalaureate | |
|---|---|
Other UK and the Republic of Ireland qualifications
Contextual Offers
Through one of our contextual routes, you could receive an offer of up to three grades lower than the typical requirements.
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language requirements
Entrance courses (INTO)
International Pathway Courses are specialist programmes designed for international students who want to study in the UK. We provide a range of study options for international students in partnership with INTO.
Find out more about International Pathway Courses
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.
University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures
Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course.
Tuition fees and scholarships
Tuition fees for academic year 2025-2026
See our ‘Home Fee Students’ and ‘International Fee Students’ information below for more information on tuition fee levels, fee status and inflationary fee increases.
| Qualification: BA Honours | |
|---|---|
|
Home students full time 3 years |
Tuition fees (Year 1)
£9,535 |
|
International students full time 3 years |
Tuition fees (Year 1)
23800 |
Year abroad and additional costs
For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year.
Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.
Scholarships
Find out more about:
Open days and events
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You'll be able to:
- explore our beautiful campus
- find out about our vibrant city
- discover what students think about studying at Newcastle
You'll also have the opportunity to speak to academic staff and find out more about the subjects you're interested in.
Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually.
We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University. Visit our events calendar to find out when we're visiting your region.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS
To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:
- the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
- the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
- the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college
If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.
Apply through UCASApply through an agent
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