BA Politics (Placement Year)
About this course
BA Hons in Politics (Placement Year), a politics degree centred on the study of political power, policy, and international relations. Core topics include Statistics, Research Methods, Policy Analysis, Historical Research, Communication & Writing, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, and Global & Comparative Perspective. Students complete a professional placement year in their third year and undertake a final-year independent dissertation. The first year builds foundational knowledge through modules such as Global Challenges in World Politics, Parties, Populism and Protest, Policy Lab, and Political Theory for a Troubled World, while also offering optional subjects like Foundations of Microeconomics. The second year advances analytical abilities with core studies in Theories of Power and the State and Understanding Political Research, alongside diverse options covering global superpowers and the politics of the global south. The third year is dedicated to a full-time work-based placement role in industry. The final year centres on the Politics and International Relations Dissertation, supported by specialized optional modules such as Critical Studies of War and Security, Parliamentary Studies, and Policymaking in the Real World.
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%: 15 offers from 16 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 80 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 88%
- Learning opportunities: 80%
- Assessment and feedback: 70%
- Academic support: 88%
- Organisation and management: 63%
- Learning resources: 93%
- Student voice: 65%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 150 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 9%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 1%
What graduates do next
Based on about 47 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 57%
- Working and studying: 13%
- Further study: 12%
- Unemployed: 6%
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: 70%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 60%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 35%
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 120 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 89%
- Baccalaureate: 2%
- Access course: 1%
- Other HE qualification: 8%
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)
- Work Based Learning Year
- 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 (Placement Year) 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 (Placement Year) at Lancaster University do next?
82% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Politics (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
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 (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 134 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Politics (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
94% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 15 offers from 16 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA 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 Politics (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 9% left higher education.