About This Course
Do you want to learn more about government and society and the workings of political systems? Are you interested in the way people, institutions, and ideas interact? This course considers important issues surrounding the influence of power, governance, sovereignty, conflict, order, mediation, obligation, justice, accountability, legitimacy, security, and decision-making. You will be introduced to interdisciplinary approaches to discussions of theoretical, philosophical, historical, institutional, and issue-based concerns revolving around contemporary politics.
This degree will allow you to understand the complex relationship between politics and society. The wide range of modules on offer analyse how political ideas and decisions shape our daily lives and impact our social and cultural experiences and identities. They also look at how those same ideas and systems are themselves influenced by some of the most significant issues that face the world today, including race, gender, the environment, the media, and poverty. If you are interested in the interaction between politics and people, and have a passion for social justice, then this is the course for you.
Our unique and dynamic degree scheme will offer you the opportunity to explore politics from a range of interdisciplinary perspectives including political science, sociology, social policy, philosophy, and history. Our interdisciplinary approach ensures that you understand the multifaceted nature of politics, ensuring you are able engage in contemporary political debates and examine key issues from a wide array of different perspectives.
As well as enabling you to develop a comprehensive understanding of how politics impacts the daily lives of individuals on a local, national, and global level, our degree also ensures that you will develop a wide array of transferable skills that are highly valued both in academia and by employers, such as analysis, evaluation, problem solving and effective communication. You will also have the opportunity to develop these skills in a vocational setting, with many of our students deciding to undertake work experience, with placements being available in a wide array of relevant fields including local government.
Why choose Bangor University for this course?
- Join a friendly, supportive, and stimulating learning community.
- The world of politics does not stand still – this fast-moving landscape is reflected in teaching informed by cutting-edge research.
- You will develop key skills and knowledge – learn to think critically and ‘politically’.
- Explore a range of issues, such as: the influence and management of the media; political power, legitimacy, and the state; social movements, civil society, and the public sphere.
Additional Course Options
This course is available with a Placement Year option where you will study for 1 additional year. The Placement Year is undertaken at the end of the second year and students are away for the whole of the academic year.
The Placement Year provides you with a fantastic opportunity to broaden your horizons and develop valuable skills and contacts through working with a self-sourced organisation relevant to your degree subject. The minimum period in placement (at one or more locations) is seven calendar months; more usually you would spend 10-12 months with a placement provider. You would normally start sometime in the period June to September of your second year and finish between June and September the following year. Placements can be UK-based or overseas and you will work with staff to plan and finalise the placement arrangements.
You will be expected to find and arrange a suitable placement to complement your degree and will be fully supported throughout by a dedicated member of staff at your academic School and the University’s Skills and Employability Services.
You will have the opportunity to fully consider this option when you have started your course at Bangor and can make an application for a transfer onto this pathway at the appropriate time. If you have any questions in the meantime, please get in touch.
This course is available with an International Experience Year option where you will study for 1 additional year.
Studying abroad is a great opportunity to study with specialists, see a different way of life and broaden your horizons. With international experience of this kind, you’ll really improve your career prospects. If you plan to study in a country where English is not spoken natively, there may be additional language support available for you.
There are a wide variety of destinations to choose from and when you graduate you will have ‘with International Experience’ added to your degree title.
You can find out more about the International Experience Year programme on the Student Exchanges section of our website.
You will have the opportunity to fully consider this option when you have started your course at Bangor and can make an application for a transfer onto this pathway at the appropriate time. If you have any questions in the meantime, please get in touch.
Course Content
Each module will be taught primarily through a combination of lectures and seminars:
- Lectures will be led by a course tutor and will introduce you to the central themes and issues that are to be discussed throughout the module.
- Lectures will be accompanied by weekly seminars which provide students with the opportunity to express their ideas or debate topics in a small group setting.
- Modules also make use of Blackboard, the University’s online learning environment.
Throughout your degree you will be given the opportunity to complete different types of assessment, such as:
- Examinations
- Essays
- Case Studies
- Book Reviews
- Text Analysis
- Oral Presentations
- Pod Casts
- Poster Presentations
By completing such a diverse range of assessments, you will be given the opportunity to develop a wide array of different skills and writing styles that will be invaluable in your later careers.
What will you study on this course?
In the first year of your Politics degree, you will choose from a selection of modules that are intended to provide a solid grounding in the subject area. In addition to compulsory modules focussing on the Principles of Politics, Modern Politics in Action, Introduction to Modern History and doing Social and Political Research you will also choose two further modules from a list of available options.
Modules for the current academic year
Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Politics Modules page.
Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.
Facilities
- There is an opportunity for students to take part in the School’s work experience programme and gain vocational experience of jobs linked to politics and government.
- The School runs trips to the Houses of Parliament and the Senedd.
- The School regularly runs talks and seminars that are led by political figures and leading scholars.
- The School has its own student common room with computer access.
- The School has its own journal where students can publish their work.
General University Facilities
Library and Archive Services
Our four libraries provide a range of attractive study environments including collaborative work areas, meeting rooms and silent study spaces.
We have an extensive collection of books and journals and many of the journals are available online in full-text format.
We house one of the largest university-based archives not only in Wales, but also the UK. Allied to the Archives is the Special Collections of rare printed books.
Learning Resources
There is a range of learning resources available, supported by experienced staff, to help you in your studies.
The University’s IT Services provides computing, media and reprographics facilities and services including:
- Over 1,150 computers for students, with some PC rooms open 24 hours a day
- Blackboard, a commercial Virtual Learning Environment, that makes learning materials available on-line.
Course Costs
General University Costs
Home (UK) students
- The cost of a full-time undergraduate course is £9,000 per year (2021/22 entry and 2022/23 entry).
- The fee for all placement, international, and sandwich years is £1,350 (2021/22 and 2022/23).
- More information on fees and finance for Home (UK) students.
International (including EU) students
Additional Costs
There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:
- If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
- If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for additional guest tickets (c.£12 each).
Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:
- Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
- Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
- Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.
Entry Requirements
Offers are tariff based, 96 - 112 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.
- A Levels ( History preferred but not required)
- BTEC National/Extended Diploma and Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: MMM - DMM
- City & Guilds Advanced Technical/ Extended Diploma: considered on a case by case basis
- International Baccalaureate Diploma
- Access
- Welsh Baccalaureate is accepted
- T-levels: considered on a case-by-case basis.
International Candidates: school leaving qualifications and college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements). More information here.
We also welcome applications from mature applicants.
*For a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go to www.ucas.com.
General University Requirements
To study for a degree, you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com.
We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.
All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.
As part of the University’s policy, we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.
We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more information about studying as a mature student, see our Studying at Bangor section of the website.
EU and International Students' Entry Requirements
For detailed guidance on the entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.
Bangor University offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Bangor University International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.
Careers
Through studying Politics, you will develop a wide array of transferable skills that can be applied in both academic and vocational settings.
For instance, our degree encourages students to develop a range of skills such as problem solving, analysis and evaluation, communicating and presentation, time management, organisational and teamwork. These transferable skills are valued by a wide range of employers and can lead Politics graduates finding employment in a range of different fields such as:
- Local and National Government
- Civil Service
- Teaching and Education
- Academia
- Law and Legal services
- Business and Management
- Banking
- Prison Service
- Journalism
- Publishing
- Non-profit Agencies
- Media
Many students will go on to pursue postgraduate degrees leading to an MA or PhD.
Opportunities at Bangor
The University’s Skills and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions.
The Bangor Employability Award (BEA)
The BEA is a comprehensive online course that you can work through at your own pace, taking you through all the steps you need to take to explore, prepare and apply for your dream career.
Internships
Bangor University runs a paid internship scheme within the university’s academic and service departments.
Student Volunteering
Volunteering widens your experience and improves your employability. Find out more about volunteering on the Students’ Union’s website.
Foundation Year
A 'with Foundation Year' option is available for this course. Apply for Politics (with Foundation Year).
What is a Foundation Year course?
If you don’t have the required qualifications for the degree-level course or are looking to re-enter education after time away from study, then a Foundation Year Programme might be the right choice for you.
The Foundation Year is an excellent introduction to studying this subject at university and will provide you with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to go on to study this course at degree-level.
When you have successfully completed the Foundation Year, you can progress on to the first year of this degree-level course.
