Study politics and graduate with a university degree

Our rich choice of courses will give you a rounded perspective on different political systems, ideologies and policies.

As you study, you develop the intellectual, communication and analytical skills employers value. Possible careers run from commerce and industry to the civil service, journalism, law and teaching – plus politics itself, in both research and representative capacities.

Teaching of Politics at Stirling has received the highest rating. We have a particularly strong profile in international politics and offer a range of modules in this area. You can choose the Politics (International Politics) degree, which differs from the Politics degree in focusing almost entirely on international relations and area studies in the last two years. Other opportunities at Stirling include spending a semester abroad, through our exchange programme with the University of Gothenburg.

Year 1

Highers BBBB.
A-levels BBC.
(Programmes combined with Professional Education require Highers BBBB/A-levels BBC)
IB Diploma with a total of 32 points.
HNC or HND with Bs in graded units.

Access courses and other UK/EU and international qualifications are also welcomed.

Year 2

A-levels ABB or Advanced Highers BBB to include Politics/Government & Politics or Modern Studies.
Scottish HND in Social Sciences, to include 4 Politics units and Bs in graded units.

General entrance requirements apply.

International students can study our Undergraduate Certificate if they do not possess the necessary entrance requirements to be admitted directly to the first year of an undergraduate degree course.

Other information

If examinations are taken over two sittings, or there are repeats or upgrades, the entrance requirements may be higher.

Required subjects

English Standard Grade (2), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent.

Applicants with English Standard Grade (3) will also be considered, although alternative entry conditions may be made in this case.

information on possible sources of funding

Full-time (three modules per semester).
Part-time (one or two modules per semester).
February entry also available.

You will take Politics plus two other subjects in Year 1.

Semesters 1 - 3

In Semesters 1 - 3 you will take the following modules:

• The Politics of the British Isles: This module explores major institutions and processes in British politics.
• Political Concepts and Ideas: This module offers an introduction to political theory by exploring ideas and concepts central to the political debate.
• Introduction to International Politics: This module covers mainstream theories of international relations, analyses key international organisations (e.g. the UN and NATO) and explores contemporary issues and debates in world politics after the Cold War and 9/11.

• Great Political Thinkers: this module explores some of the key issues in political theory by focusing on five influential writers: Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Mill and Marx.
  
• Comparative Politics: Power and Representation in Western Europe: this module is designed to encourage students to think more deeply about political structures and processes in the UK by comparing these with other countries in the European Union and the US.

Semesters 5 - 8

In Semesters 5 - 8 you will choose from a broad range of advanced (level 10) modules including:

• The Politics of European Integration
  
• Research Methods in Politics
• British Territorial Politics
• Scottish Politics and Government
• Politics of British Social Democracy
• Regionalism in Europe
• Left and Right Communitarianism
• Politics of Justice, Equality and Rights
• Political Communications
• German Politics
• Authoritarianism and After
• Stability and Disintegration of States
• The Rise and Fall of Yugoslavia
• US Foreign Policy after the Cold War
• The European Union and the United States
• European Politics and Literature
• Political Thought of George Orwell
• Environmental Politics in an International Context
• Issues in International Politics
• European Union and European Security
• Party Systems in Comparative Perspective

• Lectures and tutorials
• Exams, essays and presentations
  

(For a Combined Honours degree the higher entrance requirements of the subjects usually apply.)

History; Modern Languages; Politics (International Politics); Politics, Philosophy and Economics: PPE; Psychology

Besides participating in University-wide exchanges, History and Politics has developed an exchange programme with the department of Politics at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Students who have met the grade requirements and passed the interview could spend their sixth semester in Gothenburg.

Teaching provision in Politics has been assessed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and achieved the highest possible rating of ‘commendable’ in all aspects. Politics at Stirling was also ranked 5th in Scotland by The Guardian University Guide, 2011.

Degree courses in Politics encourage you to develop intellectual, communication and analytical skills which are attractive to many employers.These include the ability to critically evaluate data and information, a capacity to work independently, effective time management, an ability to organize and solve problems, and a capacity to communicate clearly, both in writing and speech. As a result of these transferable skills, Politics graduates are to be found in commerce and industry, as well as the civil service, journalism, law and teaching – and in politics of course, in both research and representative capacities.