BA Politics and Philosophy
About this course
BA in Politics and Philosophy BA, a politics and international relations and philosophy degree spanning political and philosophical theory, institutions, and global issues. Core topics include Research Methods, Communication & Writing, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning. Students complete a substantial independent research project in the final year under academic supervision. The first year establishes core foundations through modules such as Political Analysis 1: An Introduction to Research and Scholarship, Western Political Thought, Writing Philosophy, and Ethics and Society. Second-year studies advance empirical and theoretical methodologies through modules including Political Analysis 2: How to do empirical research, Political Theory in Practice, Social Justice Today, and Political Philosophy. Optional modules across the degree allow students to explore specialist areas such as environmental justice, global political economy, bioethics, and the philosophy of AI and robotics. The final year centres on independent scholarship through compulsory modules like Research Project 1 and Communicating Philosophy, alongside optional study in subjects such as global culture wars, political psychology, and philosophy of law.
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: AAB IB: 34; 33, with B in the extended essay
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 94%: 79 offers from 84 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: 88%
- Learning opportunities: 82%
- Assessment and feedback: 78%
- Academic support: 92%
- Organisation and management: 67%
- Learning resources: 94%
- Student voice: 81%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 100%
What graduates do next
Based on about 6 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 45%
- Working and studying: 20%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 10%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 14%
- Elementary occupations: 12%
- Administrative occupations: 12%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 11%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 6%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 60%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 105 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 3%
- North West: 15%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 17%
- East Midlands: 6%
- West Midlands: 6%
- East of England: 7%
- London: 29%
- South East: 11%
- South West: 5%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 85%
- Baccalaureate: 5%
- Access course: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Political Analysis 1: An Introduction to Research and Scholarship
- Western Political Thought
- Writing Philosophy
- Ethics and Society
- Planet Politics
- Comparative Politics
- Race and Racism in World Politics
- World Politics
- Global Political Economy
- British Politics
- Gender Politics
- Mind and World
- Bodies, Sex and Desires
- Science, Medicine and Society
- Religion, Reason and Reality
- Reason and Argument
- Death and Killing
- History of Philosophy
- Political Analysis 2: How to do empirical research
- Political Theory in Practice
- Social Justice Today
- Political Philosophy
- Migration and World Politics
- Europe in Crisis
- Chinese Politics
- Contemporary Security Challenges
- The Political Economy of Global Capitalism
- Oppression and Resistance
- The Making of The Modern Middle East
- Africa in the World
- Autocracies and Democracies
- Ethics: From Theory to Practice
- Religion and the Good Life
- Feminism
- Bioethics
- Philosophy of the Arts
- Formal Logic
- History of Political Philosophy
- Environmental Justice
- Ethnography of Faith, Spirituality and Wellbeing
- The Philosophy of AI and Robotics
- Metaphysics
- Philosophy of Mind
- Political Philosophy Today
- Philosophy of Education
- Reference and Truth
- Theories of Value : Aesthetics and Ethics
- Mind and Language
- Knowing and Being
- Global History of Philosophy
- Research Project 1
- Communicating Philosophy
- Global Culture Wars
- The Ethics of Political Leadership
- Understanding Elections
- Legitimate and Illegitimate Violence
- Political Psychology: The Personal Side of Politics
- War, Peace and Justice
- Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict
- Corporations in Global Politics: Possibilities, Tensions, and Ambiguities
- Ethics and Belief
- Global Justice
- Free Will and Religion
- Phenomenology
- Philosophy of Law
- Moral Theory and Moral Psychology
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Politics and Philosophy at University of Sheffield earn?
The median salary is £29,000 after 15 months, £24,000 after 3 years, £32,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,000 and £40,000. The £32,500 median after five years is £1,500 less than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA Politics and Philosophy at University of Sheffield do next?
75% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Politics and Philosophy at University of Sheffield?
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 and Philosophy at University of Sheffield?
The typical offer is AAB at A level. The average entrant had 151 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Politics and Philosophy at University of Sheffield?
94% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 79 offers from 84 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Politics and Philosophy at University of Sheffield 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 and Philosophy at University of Sheffield?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.