BA Philosophy and Politics (Placement Year)
About this course
BA Hons in Philosophy and Politics (Placement Year), a philosophy and politics degree centred on the intersection of philosophical theory and political institutions. Core topics include Statistics, Research Methods, Policy Analysis, Historical Research, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Social & Cultural Analysis, and Global & Comparative Perspective. The programme incorporates a mandatory professional placement year in the third year, enabling students to gain graduate-level work experience. The first year introduces foundational concepts through compulsory modules such as 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 a range of optional choices spanning diverse academic disciplines. The second year advances analytical capabilities with core study in Philosophy Guided Project, Theories of Power and the State, and Understanding Political Research, complemented by optional modules covering various applied and theoretical themes. The third year is dedicated entirely to a professional placement via the Work Based Learning Year module. The final year focuses on advanced theoretical concepts through compulsory modules including Comparative Political Philosophy and Critical Critical Theory, with further specialisation available through optional modules such as Philosophy Independent Project, Parliamentary Studies, and Politics and International Relations 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 88%: 7 offers from 8 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 21 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 92%
- Learning opportunities: 82%
- Assessment and feedback: 75%
- Academic support: 94%
- Organisation and management: 76%
- Learning resources: 95%
- Student voice: 70%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 35 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 80%
- Left higher education: 20%
What graduates do next
Based on about 16 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 75%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 25%
- Administrative occupations: 15%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Sales occupations: 10%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 5%
- 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 40 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 95%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
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)
- Work Based Learning Year
- 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 (Placement Year) 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 (Placement Year) 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 (Placement Year) 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 (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 132 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Philosophy and Politics (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
88% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 7 offers from 8 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Philosophy and Politics (Placement Year) at Lancaster University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory placement year.
How many students continue on BA Philosophy and Politics (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
80% of students continued into their second year, and 20% left higher education.