BA Politics and Social Policy with Year Abroad
About this course
Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Social Policy with Year Abroad, a social policy and politics and international relations degree. Core topics include Data Analysis, Research Methods, and Global & Comparative Perspective. The course includes a year spent abroad. The first year covers the foundations through Introduction to Political Theory, Introduction to Social Policy, and Understanding Politics. The second year builds analytical capability through Research Design, Comparative Politics, and Global Governance. The final year offers advanced study and independent research through options such as Dissertation, Parliamentary Studies, and Quantitative Data Analysis.
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
What students say
Based on about 233 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 88%
- Learning opportunities: 82%
- Assessment and feedback: 81%
- Academic support: 93%
- Organisation and management: 89%
- Learning resources: 88%
- Student voice: 77%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 260 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 96%
- Left higher education: 4%
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
- Caring personal services: 15%
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 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 360 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 93%
- A degree: 1%
- Other HE qualification: 2%
- Other qualifications: 4%
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
- Introduction to Political Theory
- Introduction to Social Divisions
- Introduction to Social Policy
- Social Problems and Social Policy: Social Science in Action Part 2
- Understanding Politics
- Social Research II
- Comparative Politics
- Research Design
- AI Essentials and Geopolitics
- Challenges to Liberal Democracy in Europe
- Digital Democracy
- Global Governance
- Globalisation, Capitalism and Welfare
- Housing, Home and Place: Issues in Policy
- International Political Economy
- International Relations Theory
- International Security
- 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
- Enterprising Solutions to Social Problems
- Gender and Sexuality
- Modern Sociological Theory
- Race and Racism
- Sociology of Health and Illness
- Dissertation
- Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology Dissertation
- 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
- 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
- Divided Publics?
- Drugs: Society, Politics and Policy
- Harmful Societies: Crime, Social Harm and Social Justice
- Quantitative Data Analysis
- Social Policy, Inequality and the Life Course
- Technology & Society
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Politics and Social Policy 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 Politics and Social Policy 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 Politics and Social Policy with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham?
88% 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 Social Policy 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 134 UCAS points.
Does BA Politics and Social Policy 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 Social Policy with Year Abroad at University of Birmingham?
96% of students continued into their second year, and 4% left higher education.