BA Politics
About this course
BA Hons in Politics, a politics and international relations degree centred on political structures, policy dynamics, and global systems. Core topics include Statistics, Research Methods, Policy Analysis, Historical Research, Communication & Writing, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, and Global & Comparative Perspective. The course includes study abroad and placement opportunities, alongside an optional module delivered in partnership with the UK Parliament. The first year covers foundational ideas through compulsory modules such as Global Challenges in World Politics, Parties, Populism and Protest, Policy Lab, Political Theory for a Troubled World, and British Politics: Political Ideas in Action. The second year focuses on advanced concepts and research methods via compulsory modules including Theories of Power and the State and Understanding Political Research, while allowing students to explore optional topics such as Democracy, Dictatorship and Everything in Between and Global Superpowers. The final year centres on an independent investigation through the Politics and International Relations Dissertation core module. Students can further tailor their studies in the final year by selecting from optional modules such as Critical Political Theory, Critical Studies of War and Security, Democracy Under Pressure, and Parliamentary Studies.
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: ABB IB: 32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 94%: 44 offers from 47 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 6 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 85%
- Learning opportunities: 72%
- Assessment and feedback: 84%
- Academic support: 90%
- Organisation and management: 55%
- Learning resources: 88%
- Student voice: 67%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 85%
- Left higher education: 15%
What graduates do next
Based on about 6 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 70%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 10%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 45%
- Sales occupations: 15%
- Natural and social science professionals: 5%
- Administrative occupations: 5%
- Skilled trades occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 90%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 75%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 40%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 95 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 41%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 7%
- East Midlands: 4%
- West Midlands: 4%
- East of England: 7%
- London: 22%
- South East: 5%
- South West: 5%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 3%
Who gets in
Based on about 25 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
- Global Challenges in World Politics
- Parties, Populism and Protest
- Policy Lab
- Political Theory for a Troubled World
- British Politics: Political Ideas in Action
- Origins and Foundations of International Relations
- Medieval and Early Modern Worlds
- History of Philosophy: Ideas that Shaped the West
- Foundations of Microeconomics
- Thinking Sociologically
- Theories of Power and the State
- Understanding Political Research
- Democracy, Dictatorship and Everything in Between
- Global Superpowers
- Philosophical Perspectives on Politics and Economics
- Politics of the Global South
- Who Governs Britain? Policy, Politics and Political Change
- Employability, Purpose and Social Impact (Discovery module)
- Global Challenges and Collaborative Solutions (Discovery module)
- Taking an Idea and Making it Happen (Discovery module)
- Politics and International Relations Dissertation
- Critical Political Theory
- Critical Studies of War and Security
- Democracy Under Pressure
- Environment and Development
- Europe and America
- Parliamentary Studies
- Policymaking in the Real World
- Politics of Latin America and Africa
- Politics of the Middle East and Asia Pacific
- Russia and China
- Security, Strategy and Technology
- The Politics of Borders and Migration
- The Politics of Crises and the Future of Governance
- 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 Politics at Lancaster University earn?
The median salary is £27,500 after 15 months, £27,000 after 3 years, £36,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £28,500 and £47,000. The £36,000 median after five years is £2,000 more than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA 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 Politics at Lancaster University?
85% 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 Lancaster University?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 138 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Politics at Lancaster University?
94% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 44 offers from 47 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
How many students continue on BA Politics at Lancaster University?
85% of students continued into their second year, and 15% left higher education.