BA Policy, Politics and Economics with Year Abroad
About this course
Bachelor of Arts in Policy, Politics and Economics with Year Abroad, a social policy and economics and politics and international relations degree centred on public policy, governance, and economic analysis. Core topics include Data Analysis, Research Methods. This four-year course includes an integrated year abroad spent studying at an international partner institution before students return to complete advanced study and a final-year dissertation. The first year establishes core foundations through modules such as Economics Principles and Methods 1, Understanding Politics, Discovering Social Policy, and Social Research I (PPE). The second year expands into broader theoretical and applied studies through Comparative Politics, Macroeconomics: Theory and Applications, Microeconomics: Theory and Applications, and Social Research II alongside various optional topics. The third year consists of an approved period studying abroad at a partner university. The final year involves independent research culminating in the Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology Dissertation, alongside specialised optional modules such as Quantitative Data Analysis, Health Economics, Economic History, and Environmental Policy.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A Level: AAB to include GCSE Maths Grade A/7. IB: 6,6,5 at Higher Level with a minimum of 32 points overall. BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma, Diploma and Subsidiary Diploma are all considered
What students say
Based on about 10 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 80%
- Learning opportunities: 76%
- Assessment and feedback: 80%
- Academic support: 100%
- Organisation and management: 64%
- Learning resources: 94%
- Student voice: 79%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 80%
- Left higher education: 20%
What graduates do next
Based on about 61 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 69%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 12%
- Unemployed: 4%
Most common jobs
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 15%
- Caring personal services: 15%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 10%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Finance Professionals: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 71%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 66%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 40%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 295 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 7%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 2%
- East Midlands: 4%
- West Midlands: 20%
- East of England: 8%
- London: 33%
- South East: 17%
- South West: 5%
- Wales: 2%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Economics Principles and Methods 1
- Understanding Politics
- Discovering Social Policy
- Economics Principles and Methods 2
- Social Research I (PPE)
- Understanding International Relations
- Comparative Politics
- Global Issues: Perspectives from Policy, Politics and Economics
- Social Research II
- Macroeconomics: Theory and Applications
- Microeconomics: Theory and Applications
- Histories of Criminal Justice and Empire
- Housing, Home and Place: Challenges in Policy
- Enterprising Solutions to Social Challenges
- Poverty, Class and Inequality
- Social Psychology
- Sociology of Health and Illness
- Youth, Crime and Justice
- Behavioural and Experimental Economics
- China and the World Economy
- Financial Markets and Institutions
- History of Political Ideas: power, revolution and the state
- Feminist Political Ideas
- International Political Economy
- International Security
- Political Ethics
- Post-Colonial Britain: Race, Identity & Belonging
- UK Politics in a Time of Crisis
- Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology Year Abroad
- Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology Dissertation
- Crime and the City
- Drugs: Society, Politics and Policy
- Harmful Societies: Crime, Social Harm and Social Justice
- Mental Health and Society
- Quantitative Data Analysis
- Social Policy, Inequality and the Life Course
- Technology & Society
- Wrongful Conviction
- Economic History
- Health Economics
- History of Economic Thought
- International Trade
- Firms, Markets and Competition Policy
- Economics of Labour Markets
- Environmental Policy
- China: State and Society
- Contemporary International Political Economy
- Political Theory and Social Criticism
- Politics of South Asia
- Professional Development
- The International Law and Politics of Armed Conflict
- The Politics of Gender, Sex and Sexuality
- The Politics of Memory
- Topics in British Politics
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Policy, Politics and Economics with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham earn?
The median salary is £31,000 after 15 months, £28,000 after 3 years, £36,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £29,000 and £47,500. The £36,000 median after five years is £8,500 more than the UK median for Social policy.
What do graduates of BA Policy, Politics and Economics with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Policy, Politics and Economics with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham?
80% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Policy, Politics and Economics with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 151 UCAS points.
Does BA Policy, Politics and Economics with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Policy, Politics and Economics with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham?
80% of students continued into their second year, and 20% left higher education.