Political Economy BA/BSc

Program Overview

King's College London's Political Economy program provides an interdisciplinary education, combining political science and economics to analyze global issues. Students develop critical thinking, research skills, and communication expertise, preparing them for careers in government, business, and academia. The program emphasizes research-led teaching and offers optional study abroad opportunities, enhancing students' global perspectives.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Overview:

King's College London's Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Political Economy focuses on providing students with a high-quality interdisciplinary education to navigate and analyze the political and economic spheres in a globalizing world. The BA track involves 360 credits encompassing required and optional modules.

Objectives:

• Equip students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for understanding contemporary political and economic issues within a global, national, and local context.
• Cultivate critical reasoning and analytical skills to examine political and economic institutions, policies, and behaviors affecting societies and individuals.
• Foster proficiency in rigorous quantitative and qualitative research methodologies applied to political and economic topics.
• Enhance communication expertise to effectively share research findings and analyses with diverse audiences.

Outline:

Program Structure:

The program consists of three phases spread across three years:

Year 1:

• 15% time allocated to scheduled learning and teaching activities
• 85% time dedicated to guided independent study
• Focus on foundational modules within the fields of economics, politics, and research methods

Year 2:

• 16% time allocated to scheduled learning and teaching activities
• 84% time dedicated to guided independent study
• Continuation of fundamental modules alongside the introduction of a broader selection of optional modules

Year 3:

• 12% time allocated to scheduled learning and teaching activities
• 88% time dedicated to guided independent study
• Emphasis on independent research, culminating in a dissertation project related to either political or economic aspects

Content:

#Required Modules:

• Fundamentals of Politics Research (15 credits)
• Comparing Political Systems (30 credits)
• Introduction to Political Theory (30 credits)
• Principles of Economics (30 credits)
• Quantitative Methods (15 credits)
• #Optional Modules:
A wide range of optional modules across three categories are available in Year 2 and 3, focusing on subfields such as political theory, public policy, comparative politics, political economy, and international relations.

Assessment:

Assessment approaches vary across modules and typically involve:

• Written examinations
• Coursework assignments
• Assessed essays with different word counts depending on the type of essay.
• Group and individual presentations

Teaching:

Teaching Methods:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Guided independent study
• Group tutorials
• Project supervision

Teaching Team:

Experienced faculty with expertise covering various areas within the fields of political economy, including specialists in:

• Political institutions and behaviors
• Social and economic policies
• Theoretical frameworks in political science and economics
• Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies

Unique Approach:

Interdisciplinary focus, integrating perspectives from both political science and economics to provide a holistic understanding of contemporary issues. Emphasis on research-led teaching, engaging students with cutting-edge theoretical and empirical research. Active learning environment through seminars, tutorials, and discussions encouraging critical thinking and debate.

Careers:

Graduates of the program pursue diverse career paths, particularly within:

• Government institutions
• Private sector organizations and businesses
• Think tanks and policy consultancies
• Journalism and communication
• Research firms
• Academia

Other:

Optional Study Abroad:

Employability and Research:

The program equips graduates with the essential skills and knowledge for both employment and further research studies. Many graduates pursue postgraduate studies in top universities worldwide.

Full time tuition fees UK: The UK tuition fee for the 2024-25 academic year is currently £9,250 per year. This is based on the UK Government's cap. Full time tuition fees International The International tuition fee for the 2024-2025 academic year is £33,450 per year. Please note that the International tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions. All International applicants to Undergraduate programmes are required to pay a deposit of £2000 against their first year's tuition fee. King’s will continue to invoice for a proportion of King's tuition fees. You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling.