Study politics and graduate with a university degree

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.

In Semester 4 you take the following modules:

• 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:

• 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
• US Foreign Policy 
• Environmental Politics in an International Context
• Issues in International Politics
• Party Systems in Comparative Perspective
• Green Politics: Theory and Analysis
• Germany, Europe and the World
• American Politics
• Problems in International Politics
• Social Movements in World Politics
• History of Political Thought
• Occupied Europe: Conquest, Resistance and Occupation
• Freedom, Violence and Repression: the People and Revolution
• Business in International Politics
• European Union and the US
• Political Thought of George Orwell

• 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

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.

Skills you can develop through this course

• understand the nature and significance of politics as a human activity
• understand and deploy complex sets of data, information and concepts.
• make formal presentations on specific topics to an informed audience.
• work effectively (under guidance) in a peer relationship, exercising autonomy and initiative
• deploy critical awareness and creative  thinking
• make informed judgements on the basis of relevant information.
• indicate an understanding of the relevant theoretical debates in the subject area.
• understand and employ the relevant range research methodologies.
• manage their own learning self-critically
• communicate effectively and fluently in speech and writing
• use communication and information technology to retrieve and present information,
• work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organization and time-management
• collaborate with others to achieve common goals.

Chances to expand your horizons

On this programme there are opportunities to hear guest speakers.

Students are also offered the opportunity to undertake placements within the Scottish Political Archive (SPA).  The SPA collects and makes accessible archival material from Scottish politicians and political organisations. Placements would suit anyone who is interested in pursuing a career in librarianship, archives, museums or education.  Current projects include cataloguing, digitisating, preparing educational resource packs, event planning, exhibition design and installation.  

Where are our graduates now?

Our graduates are spread throughout the world. At present we are in contact with graduates in over 10 countries around the world. In the UK our graduates are active at local and national levels of politics. They are currently contributing to organisations such as:

• The Scottish Parliament
• University of York GSA
• HSBC Securities Services
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car
• Hanover Communications
• Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies
• Badenoch & Clark
• AEGON UK

To provide you with an indication as to what you can do with your Politics degree, graduates entering into employment in the past two years are currently working with: 

• Union Manager
• PhD Student
• Editor
• Publishing Assistant

Building on that foundation, alumni of Stirling’s Politics degree who graduated between five and ten years ago have since advanced into some of the following positions:

• Trustee & Depositary services manager
• Management trainee
• Teaching Fellow and Phd student
• Researcher
• Administrative researcher to MSP
• Non-executive Director
• Cost Schedule Analyst

Some of our more established alumni are currently leading and shaping strategy across many different sectors – here is an example of how a few former Stirling Politics students have advanced in their careers:

• A  former Secretary of State for Defence - Rt Hon Dr John Reid MP 
• A former First Minister of Scotland - Jack McConnell MSP
• Minister in the Scottish government
• Town Clerk
• Head of Search
• PR & Communications Practitioner
• Principal Consultant
• Senior Customer Services Representatitve
• Campaign Director