BA Philosophy and Politics
About this course
BA Hons in Philosophy and Politics, a politics and international relations and philosophy degree combining analytical rigour with the examination of political institutions and human values. Core topics include Statistics, Research Methods, Policy Analysis, Historical Research, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Social & Cultural Analysis, Global & Comparative Perspective. The curriculum incorporates dedicated training in research methods and independent project work, supported by practical learning experiences such as policy labs and mock parliamentary simulations. The first year introduces foundational themes through compulsory modules including Knowledge and Reality in a Complex World, Ethics: How Should I Live?, Political Philosophy: How Should we Live Together?, Parties, Populism and Protest, and Political Theory for a Troubled World, alongside options spanning historical, sociological, and psychological subjects. The second year shifts towards state theory and research preparation with compulsory modules such as Philosophy Guided Project, Theories of Power and the State, and Understanding Political Research, while offering diverse optional modules in applied philosophy, global superpowers, and media analysis. The final year focuses on advanced political and philosophical inquiry through compulsory modules like Comparative Political Philosophy and Critical Political Theory, alongside specialized optional modules covering topics such as parliamentary studies, border politics, and crisis governance, with opportunities to complete an independent project or dissertation.
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Entry requirements
A level: ABB IB: 32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 93%: 40 offers from 43 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: 92%
- Learning opportunities: 88%
- Assessment and feedback: 72%
- Academic support: 92%
- Organisation and management: 75%
- Learning resources: 94%
- Student voice: 61%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 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 9 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 75%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 10%
Most common jobs
- Administrative occupations: 25%
- Customer service occupations: 20%
- Elementary occupations: 20%
- Teaching Professionals: 10%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 55%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 45%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 35%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 35 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 40%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 25%
- East Midlands: 5%
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 5%
- London: 20%
- South East: 5%
- Scotland: 5%
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): Gold overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Knowledge and Reality in a Complex World
- Ethics: How Should I Live?
- Political Philosophy: How Should we Live Together?
- Parties, Populism and Protest
- Political Theory for a Troubled World
- History of Philosophy: Ideas that Shaped the West
- Global Challenges in World Politics
- Medieval and Early Modern Worlds
- Explaining Criminology
- Thinking Sociologically
- Developmental Psychology and Neuropsychology
- English across Space and Time
- Global Religions and Society
- Understanding Culture
- Philosophy Guided Project
- Theories of Power and the State
- Understanding Political Research
- Applied Philosophy: Decisions that Change the World
- Philosophical Perspectives on Politics and Economics
- Mind, World and Science
- Language, Communication and Knowledge
- Democracy, Dictatorship and Everything in Between
- Who Governs Britain? Policy, Politics and Political Change
- Global Superpowers
- Politics of the Global South
- Welfare States: Poverty, Policy and Politics
- Body, Mind and Society
- Death
- Britain in the 20th Century
- Inventing Rights
- Discourse Studies
- Film Theory and Aesthetics
- Global Religions, Women and Gender
- Language and Identity in France, Spain, Germany and the Sinophone World
- Society on Screen: The Language of Film
- Employability, Purpose and Social Impact (Discovery module)
- Global Challenges and Collaborative Solutions (Discovery module)
- Taking an Idea and Making it Happen (Discovery module)
- Comparative Political Philosophy
- Critical Political Theory
- Philosophy Independent Project
- Philosophy and Popular Culture
- Textual Explorations in Philosophy
- Questions at the Frontiers of Philosophy
- Philosophy For Times of Global Crisis
- Democracy Under Pressure
- Parliamentary Studies
- Policymaking in the Real World
- Europe and America
- Politics and International Relations Dissertation
- Politics of the Middle East and Asia Pacific
- The Politics of Crises and the Future of Governance
- The Politics of Borders and Migration
- Crimes and Harms of the Powerful
- Autocrats, Dictators and Caudillos: Dictatorship and Representation in the 20th and 21st Centuries
- Sciences and Cultures Lab
- State and Religion
- Queer Futures (Discovery module)
- People Power and Collective Action (Discovery module)
- Confronting the Climate Crisis (Discovery module)
- Artistic Fusions (Discovery module)
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Philosophy and Politics at Lancaster University earn?
The median salary is £25,000 after 15 months, £25,000 after 3 years, £30,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £22,500 and £40,000. The £30,500 median after five years is £3,500 less than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA Philosophy and Politics at Lancaster University 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 Philosophy and Politics at Lancaster University?
92% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Philosophy and Politics at Lancaster University?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 125 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Philosophy and Politics at Lancaster University?
93% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 40 offers from 43 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
How many students continue on BA Philosophy and Politics at Lancaster University?
80% of students continued into their second year, and 20% left higher education.