BA Politics and Philosophy with Year Abroad
About this course
Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Philosophy with Year Abroad, a degree in politics and international relations and philosophy. Core topics include Research Methods and Global & Comparative Perspective. Students spend the third year studying abroad at an international partner institution. The first year covers core foundations through Pathways to Political Research I, Problems of Philosophy A, and Introduction to Political Theory. The second year expands into specialized subjects such as History of Political Ideas: power, revolution and the state, Challenges to Liberal Democracy in Europe, and Logic. Optional modules in later stages allow students to pursue specific interests across politics and philosophy, including modules like American Foreign and Security Policy, Nietzsche, and Just War. The final year culminates in an independent Dissertation or Philosophical Project.
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. IB: 6,6,5 at Higher Level with a minimum of 32 points overall. BTEC: BTEC options considered
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What students say
Based on about 77 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 93%
- Learning opportunities: 86%
- Assessment and feedback: 88%
- Academic support: 95%
- Organisation and management: 91%
- Learning resources: 92%
- Student voice: 83%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 90 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 92%
- Left higher education: 8%
What graduates do next
Based on about 48 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 63%
- Working and studying: 13%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 25%
- Finance Professionals: 12%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 9%
- Elementary occupations: 8%
- Media Professionals: 6%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 60%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 35%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 105 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 9%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 2%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 26%
- East of England: 11%
- London: 26%
- South East: 14%
- South West: 7%
- Wales: 2%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 10 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
- Pathways to Political Research I
- Pathways to Political Research II
- Problems of Philosophy A
- Problems of Philosophy B
- Introduction to Political Theory
- Understanding Politics
- Philosopher's Toolkit A
- Philosopher's Toolkit B
- Moral and Political Philosophy
- Reasons to Believe
- History of Political Ideas: power, revolution and the state
- Research Design
- AI Essentials and Geopolitics
- Challenges to Liberal Democracy in Europe
- Digital Democracy
- Global Governance
- Globalisation, Capitalism and Welfare
- International Political Economy
- International Relations Theory
- Parties and Voters across the Globe
- Political Ethics
- Politics of Sex and Sexuality
- Politics of Sustainable Development
- Post-Colonial Britain: Race, Identity & Belonging
- Russian Politics: From Revolution to Putin
- Sexuality and Identity Politics
- The International Law and Politics of Armed Conflict
- The Politics of the European Union
- UK Politics in a Time of Crisis
- US Politics
- Aesthetics through History
- Climate and Environmental Ethics
- Elements of Metaphysics
- Experience and Reason: Early Modern Philosophy
- Feminist Philosophy
- Logic
- Logic: Its Limits + Scope
- Philosophy of Mental Health
- Science and Nature
- Sex, Ethics & Philosophy
- The Ethics of Killing
- Year Abroad
- Dissertation
- Philosophical Project
- American Foreign and Security Policy
- China: State and Society
- Conflict and Peace in Deeply Divided Societies
- Contemporary International Political Economy
- Corruption and Clientelism: Global Perspective
- Environment and climate politics: from global to local
- Global Capitalism and Migration
- Global Security
- Identity in Middle East International Politics
- International Cooperation among Developing states
- International Negotiation
- Nuclear Crises
- Parliamentary Studies
- Political Theory and Social Criticism
- Politics of South Asia
- Professional Development
- Rising Powers & Global Order
- Social Justice and Politics
- Statelessness and Citizenship
- The Diplomacy of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
- The Politics of Gender, Sex and Sexuality
- The Politics of Memory
- The Politics of Protest and Dissent
- Topics in British Politics
- Being Good and Doing Right: Issues in Contemporary Moral Theory
- Fantastic Beasts and How to Understand them: Topics in Philosophy of Biology
- It's About Time!
- Just War
- Nietzsche
- Philosophy of Mathematics
- Prejudice Race + Gender
- Reason and Belief
- Social Justice
- Topics in Philosophy of Religion
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Politics and Philosophy with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham earn?
The median salary is £27,000 after 15 months, £25,500 after 3 years, £32,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £26,500 and £42,000. The £32,000 median after five years is £2,000 less than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA Politics and Philosophy with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham do next?
87% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Politics and Philosophy with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham?
93% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Politics and Philosophy 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 133 UCAS points.
Does BA Politics and Philosophy 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 Politics and Philosophy with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham?
92% of students continued into their second year, and 8% left higher education.