Politics, BSc (Hons), with industry placement

Join the forefront of political innovation by addressing global challenges through practical training and simulations, such as campaigning for a local seat or representing the UK at international forums. This program broadens your perspective beyond traditional centers like Westminster, incorporating global and local contexts. Benefit from expert-led teaching in areas like Middle East protests, NATO, Chinese politics, environmental issues, and EU dynamics. Customize your studies with interdisciplinary modules, gain real-world experience through study abroad, field trips, and assessments, and analyze evolving political landscapes with support from engaging staff.In the first year, build foundational skills in democracy, environmental politics, and global systems while collaborating with peers and faculty. The second year explores the Global South, British politics, non-democratic regimes, EU relations, civil society, media influence, and globalization. Conduct personalized research with expert guidance, select modules from other disciplines, or pursue work-based learning. Note that modules may change, and this course does not award Qualified Teacher Status; refer to the website for updates.

In year one, you will meet and work with all members of staff in the politics and international relations group. You will develop the skills to thrive at Plymouth as an undergraduate, and be provided with opportunities to make friends with your peers on the course. You will find out what some key political thinkers have argued about democracy and its rivals. You will study the politics behind some of the most urgent environmental problems faced by humanity. You will compare different democratic systems across the world, and understand how various domestic and international political actors behave and how international systems have evolved. In your second year, you will look at the politics of the global south, study British politics as it evolves, explore different types of non-democratic regimes and find out how the EU works and how it intends to deal with the UK as its new neighbour. You can study how civil society groups shape politics, how political debate and opinion is changing via traditional and social media, and how globalisation influences our understanding of sovereignty. Alternatively, you can choose up to two modules from across our school or study abroad with one of our partner institutions overseas. You will do research on a political issue of your choice, with close support from our expert staff. You can choose from modules delivered by staff with research expertise in subjects such as the politics of the Middle East, Africa, the USA and Europe, environmental governance, the media, post-truth politics, or learn how to develop, plan and coordinate political campaigns and elections. There is also an opportunity to develop your skills with our work-based learning module. Make your degree your own, studying modules offered by other disciplines across our school. The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry and up to date information can be found on our website.