All first year students complete a common package of courses to qualify them for entry to the second year of our programmes. This consists of four courses: Classic and Contemporary Readings in Politics and International Relations, Introduction to International Relations, Introduction to Politics and Government, and Introduction to Research Methods in Politics and International Relations.
Your freedom to choose topics that suit your interests increases as you proceed through your degree. The second year consists of the main core and optional courses in each field of study and is designed to provide the main body of knowledge on a given topic. In their final year students take three units of advanced specialist courses and in most degree programmes also – as the fourth unit – write a dissertation of 8,000–9,000 words on a topic which particularly interests them within one of their fields of study.
Those doing joint degrees in either Politics and/or International Relations and subjects in other departments will have a programme structure of foundational and advanced courses in the two disciplines being studied.
Teaching varies between courses but typically consists of one lecture and one seminar per course, per week. Students take the equivalent of four course units each year, which means a commitment to about eight hours of formal engagement with the academic staff and their fellow students every week. The remaining time each week is meant for independent study and research in preparation for seminars and coursework. Most courses are assessed by a mixture of examinations and coursework, with coursework essays representing an important means of providing feedback from tutors and for assessing progress.
The results of the first year examinations qualify students for entry to the second year but do not contribute to the final degree award. The second and final year results do contribute to the final degree result, with the final year work counting for more than that completed in the second year.
With the exception of students on the Joint Honours degree with Economics, all students complete a compulsory undergraduate dissertation in their final year.
What sort of person do we want as a student in the Department? Intelligent, bright and lively of course - but just as important, someone with a genuine sense of curiosity about the society they in which they live or to which they wish to come.
UCAS Tariff: 340 points
A-level: AAB or international equivalents.
International Baccalaureate: 35 Points.
Typical Offers for the BSc Economics, Politics and International Relations and BA/BSc Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE)
UCAS Tariff: 340 p inc AS Maths B or 360 inc GCSE Maths A
A-level: AAB inc Maths AS B or AAA inc GCSE Maths A.
International Baccalaureate: 35 p inc 5 in SL Maths.
Typical Offers for the BSc Geography, Politics and International Relations
UCAS Tariff: 340 points.
A-level: AAB.
International Baccalaureate: 35 points.
Typical Offers for the BA History and International Relations
UCAS Tariff: 340 points
A-level: AAB or international equivalents.
International Baccalaureate: 35 Points.
Typical Offers for the BA Philosophy, Politics and International Relations
UCAS Tariff: 340 points.
A-level: AAB or international equivalents.
International Baccalaureate: 35 points.
Typical Offers for the BA Politics with Philosophy
UCAS Tariff: 340 points.
A-level: AAB or international equivalents.
International Baccalaureate: 35 points.
Typical Offers for the BA European Studies
UCAS Tariff: 320 points
A-level: ABB or international equivalents.
International Baccalaureate: 33 points
Candidates for the BA European Studies will also need to meet the following language requirements for their relevant degree:
French: A2-level grade B; Scottish Higher B, Irish Higher B at Honours level; International Baccalaureate grade 6 at higher level, European baccalaureate 7 points; Abitur Französisch/Deutsch als Leistungsfach.
German: For post A-level pathway grade B; International Baccalaureate grade 6 at higher level; European Baccalaureate 7 points; For German ab initio pathway advanced knowledge of another European language or Latin is required.
Italian: For post A-level pathway grade B; International Baccalaureate grade 6 at higher level; European Baccalaureate 7 points; Abitur Italiensich als Leistungsfach. For Italian ab initio pathway advanced knowledge of another European language or Latin is required.
Spanish: For post A-level pathway grade B; Scottish Higher B, International Baccalaureate grade 6 at higher level; European Baccalaureate 7 points. For Spanish ab initio pathway advanced knowledge of another European language or Latin is required.
For International Students on all programmes
IELTS Score: minimum 6.5 overall with minimum 7.0 in writing. For International students on the European Studies programme, the IELTS Score should be a minimum of 6.5 overall with minimum 6.5 in writing.
Applicants to the College come from a diverse range of backgrounds and we accept a broad range of qualifications, including Access