BA Politics
About this course
BA (Hons) Politics, a politics degree in the Politics and International Relations subject area. Core topics include Research Methods and Policy Analysis. The course may be extended from three to four years by applying to add a placement year or a study abroad year. The final year centres on a compulsory dissertation examining a chosen area of politics. The first year covers Introduction to Political Theory, Democratic Political Systems, Introduction to Comparative Politics and Researching Politics and International Relations, plus a choice between International Security and Perspectives of Political Economy. First-year options have included Introduction to International Relations, Decolonising Knowledge and Power, and a language module from the Centre for Foreign Language Study. The second year adds a Research Project that prepares students for dissertation-level writing, a choice between Foundations of Western Political Thought and Analytical Politics, and a choice between Debates in Political Theory and Class, Nation and Party in British Politics. Second-year options have covered International Theory, Capitalism: History and Theory, Sovereignty, State and Empire, and Democracy, Conflict and American Society. The final year combines the compulsory Dissertation, a critical investigation of a chosen topic, with options including The Politics of Inequality, Theories of Liberty, Climate, Nature and the Global Economy, and Environmental Politics.
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: AAA including a social science or humanities subject. IB: 36 with 666 in higher level subjects, including a social sciences or humanities subject
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 24%: 45 offers from 185 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 7 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 96%
- Learning opportunities: 85%
- Assessment and feedback: 87%
- Academic support: 96%
- Organisation and management: 83%
- Learning resources: 100%
- Student voice: 86%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 100%
What graduates do next
Based on about 22 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 60%
- Further study: 20%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 30%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 15%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Customer service occupations: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 70%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 155 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 4%
- North West: 2%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- East Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 5%
- London: 62%
- South East: 13%
- South West: 4%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 35 students who started
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Introduction to Political Theory
- Democratic Political Systems
- Introduction to Comparative Politics
- Researching Politics and International Relations
- Choose one of the following two modules:
- EITHER International Security
- OR Perspectives of Political Economy
- Example optional modules
- Research Project
- Choose one of the following two modules:
- EITHER Foundations of Western Political Thought
- OR Analytical Politics
- EITHER Debates in Political Theory
- OR Class, Nation and Party in British Politics
- Example optional modules
- Dissertation
- Example optional modules
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Politics at Durham University earn?
The median salary is £32,000 after 15 months, £34,000 after 3 years, £48,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £36,000 and £63,000. The £48,000 median after five years is £14,000 more than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA Politics at Durham University do next?
85% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Politics at Durham University?
96% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Politics at Durham University?
The typical offer is AAA at A level. The average entrant had 154 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Politics at Durham University?
24% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 45 offers from 185 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Politics at Durham University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Politics at Durham University?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.