Program Overview

---

Political Economy BA/BSc

Key Information

Course type: Single honours Delivery mode: In person Study mode: Full time Required A-level: A*AA Full entry requirements, including contextual requirements Duration: Three years Application status: Open Start date: September 2025 Application deadline: 29 January 2025 Optional study abroad

Course Description

Our Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Political Economy is a high-quality, interdisciplinary course that will equip you with the skills and knowledge to understand, analyse and contribute to the political and economic institutions of the 21st century, both in the UK and globally. Depending on the modules you choose, you can graduate with either a BA or a BSc degree.

Key Benefits

• Academic study of advanced, cutting-edge economics and political science concepts and methods.
• With over 150 members, the Department of Political Economy is one of the largest multi-disciplinary concentration of scholars with a focus in the field of political economy.
• Key research and teaching areas of the department include subjects and topics from economics, political science, public policy, and political theory.
• Your learning will be supported by an internationally recognised team of experts and leaders in their fields.
• The degree features a wide range of required and optional modules covering theory and empirics in the field of political economy and will develop your qualitative and quantitative analytical skills.
• You can choose to take a number of optional modules offered through our other Programmes (e.g., Politics BA/BSc, PPE), in addition to those offered as part of the main Political Economy degree course.
• We rank 4th in the UK for Politics (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024).

Course Essentials

The course is primarily taught on the King’s College London Strand and Waterloo Campuses. The Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Political Economy puts you close to all the facilities offered by the College and within easy reach of the cultural attractions of Southbank and Covent Garden. The library and computing facilities are readily accessible together with the opportunity to use the University of London library at Senate House. We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

Base Campus

Strand Campus

Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.

Special Features

Optional Study Abroad

On this programme, you will have the opportunity to apply to study abroad, supported by the Study Abroad Tutor in your department and King’s Global Mobility Office. Together with partner organisations around the world, you will be supported in navigating your international, educational journey, developing new skills and competences and learning to apply different perspectives to your chosen discipline.

Entry Requirements

Subject Requirements

Required subjects: None Preferred subjects: None

A-Levels

Required grades: A*AA Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels.

Contextual A-Level Information

AAB Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

38 points overall or an aggregate score of 19 from three Higher Levels. Note: The total point score of 38 includes TOK/EE.

Contextual International Baccalaureate Information

35 points overall or an aggregate score of 17 from three Higher Levels. Note: The total point score of 35 includes TOK/EE.

Alternative Accepted Qualifications

• Access to HE Diploma
• BTEC Nationals/CTECs
• Cambridge Pre-U
• European Baccalaureate
• Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

International Applicants

Equivalent International Qualifications

Select a country to view equivalent international qualifications.

English Language Requirements

English language band: B Please note that nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries (as defined by UKVI) who have successfully completed high school in the respective country, are not required to complete an English language test.

Selection Process

Contextual Consideration

We make contextual offers for this programme, which can be found in the entry requirements. As part of the assessment process, we take into account contextual information to gain a more complete picture of each application.

Deferrals

Applications can be submitted for deferred entry by choosing the appropriate year of entry on the UCAS application.

Foundation Courses

Applicants studying Foundation Year programmes in the UK are welcome to apply for this programme. Foundation programmes from other universities and further education providers in the UK are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Graduates

Our general entry requirements are based on A-level or equivalent. However, where an applicant is completing/has completed a degree, we are able to consider the degree study as part of the assessment of the application.

Personal Statement

Your personal statement is one of the many factors in the overall assessment of your application, and is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the university and inform us of your commitment to the programme and how the programme fits into your career plans, as well as any work experience or extracurricular activities you have done.

Resits

We are able to consider applicants who have retaken or are retaking their qualifications.

Transfers

Transfers into this programme are not permitted.

Teaching and Structure

Teaching Methods

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Group Tutorials
• Independent study

Assessment

• Written Examinations
• Coursework
• Assessed Essays
• Presentations

Structure

Courses are divided into modules. Each year you will normally take modules totalling 120 credits.

This is a three-year degree course in which you will take a combination of required and optional modules to total 360 credits.

Required Modules

• Fundamentals of Politics Research (15 credits)
• Introduction to Comparative Politics (30 credits)
• Introduction to Political Theory (30 credits)
• Principles of Economics (30 credits)
• Quantitative Methods (15 credits)

Optional Modules

There are no optional modules for this year.

Employability

Through your Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Political Economy, you will develop a range of transferable analytical skills and interdisciplinary knowledge in the field of political economy, which will be valued by a wide-range of employers in government institutions, private sector organisations and businesses, think tanks, policy consultancies, journalism and communication and research. Many of our graduates proceed to postgraduate studies in top-ranked universities. Other recent graduates who entered the job market have found employment as:

• Public affairs executive, London Chamber of Commerce & Industry
• Junior political consultant, Ketchum Pleon
• Production management assistant, BBC
• Press and communications officer, European Parliament
• Communications officer, Drugscope
• Finance analyst, BNP Paribas

Tuition Fees

Full-time Tuition Fees UK

The UK tuition fee for the academic year is currently £9,535 per year. This is based on the UK Government's cap.

Full-time Tuition Fees International

The International tuition fee for the academic year is £35,800 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. This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an unconditional offer to study with us, and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King's.

If you choose the study abroad option with one of King’s partner universities, you will not be charged tuition fees by the host university (although some partners do charge a small administration fee for applying). 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.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

• Books if you choose to buy your own copies
• Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
• Library fees and fines
• Personal photocopies
• Printing course handouts
• Society membership fees
• Stationery
• Graduation costs
• Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses

If you choose the study abroad option with one of King’s partner universities, you will not be charged tuition fees by the host university (although some partners do charge a small administration fee for applying). Please see the Study Abroad webpages for details of the relevant partner universities and information about tuition fees.

Funding

To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.