BA American Studies and Politics (with a study abroad year)
About this course
BA (Hons) American Studies and Politics (with a study abroad year) is a degree exploring the political systems, history, literature, and culture of the United States alongside broader political studies. Core topics include Research Methods. The course includes a compulsory year abroad at a partner institution in the Americas and offers an optional foundation year. The first year covers foundational concepts through British Political History, Early American History, Literature and Culture, Explaining Political Systems, Freedom, Power, Justice: Foundations of Political Theory, Modern American History, Literature and Culture, and Research Skills and Methods in Political Science. The second year expands into comparative study with European Politics, Modern Political Thought, Theoretical Concepts in American Studies, and American City, alongside optional modules such as Slavery in English America and Revolution in Latin America. Final-year options allow students to focus on specialized areas like American Studies Dissertation and Research Communication, Environmental Politics in the Anthropocene, and Hollywood Industry and Imaginary.
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 or BBB IB: 32 points
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What students say
Based on about 35 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 94%
- Learning opportunities: 88%
- Assessment and feedback: 81%
- Academic support: 95%
- Organisation and management: 93%
- Learning resources: 91%
- Student voice: 76%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 17 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 70%
- Working and studying: 20%
- Further study: 5%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Sales occupations: 15%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 15%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 5%
- Leisure, travel and related personal service occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 70%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 55%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 40%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 55 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 2%
- North West: 2%
- East Midlands: 1%
- West Midlands: 1%
- East of England: 6%
- London: 57%
- South East: 27%
- South West: 2%
- Wales: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- British Political History
- Early American History, Literature and Culture
- Explaining Political Systems
- Freedom, Power, Justice: Foundations of Political Theory
- Modern American History, Literature and Culture
- Research Skills and Methods in Political Science
- European Politics
- Modern Political Thought
- Theoretical Concepts in American Studies
- American City
- 1661: Slavery in English America
- 1959 Havana: Revolution in Latin America
- Capitalism and Democracy
- Communicating Politics
- Divided Island? Irish Politics from Partition to the Present
- Feminism and the Politics of Gender
- Governing India: Institutions, Actors and Challenges Amidst Social Diversity
- Italy Between Political Crisis and Social Change
- Latin American Cinema: Contemporary Trends and Movements
- Picasso to Kahlo: Transatlantic Dialogues
- Pop Life: After Modern Art
- States of Disunion: Power, Polarisation and Protest in US Politics
- The Challenge of Being a Reluctant Hegemon; German Politics Today
- The EU Between Integration and Disintegration
- The Making of Modern Turkey: The Struggle Between Authoritarianism and Democracy
- American Studies Dissertation and Research Communication
- Authoritarianism and its Critics
- City on a Hill: Faith and the American Project
- Environmental Politics in the Anthropocene
- Freedom Now! The African-American Freedom Struggle After 1945
- Global Crisis and European Political Economy
- Indian Politics Since Independence: Between Dominance and Fragmentation
- Parties and Party Systems
- Political Psychology
- Race and Ethnicity in Popular Cinema
- The Politics of Euroscepticism
- The Rise of Anti-politics
- Topics in African American Literature
- Visualising War: Image, Media, and Culture
- America in the 21st Century
- American Empire
- American Studies in Practice
- American Teen Cinema: Coming of Age on Screen
- Hollywood Industry and Imaginary
- Immigration and the Liberal State
- Independent Study/Internship Option
- Political Corruption
- Populism and Politics
- Queer Fictions
- Race, Photography, Archives
- The Neoliberal Age? Understanding Modern Britain
- The Politics of (Post-)Truth
- The Politics of Feeling
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA American Studies and Politics (with a study abroad year) at University of Sussex earn?
The median salary is £25,000 after 15 months, £26,500 after 3 years, £33,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £28,000 and £41,000. The £33,000 median after five years is £1,000 less than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA American Studies and Politics (with a study abroad year) at University of Sussex do next?
95% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA American Studies and Politics (with a study abroad year) at University of Sussex?
94% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA American Studies and Politics (with a study abroad year) at University of Sussex?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 118 UCAS points.
Does BA American Studies and Politics (with a study abroad year) at University of Sussex include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on BA American Studies and Politics (with a study abroad year) at University of Sussex?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.