Program Overview

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How and why do governments try to regulate markets? Why are Central Banks independent? What explains the fluctuations of stock markets and exchange rates? How important is the economy for the outcome of elections? What is globalisation and how does it impact our daily lives? Economic and political events dominate domestic and international news, and impact on our day-to-day lives, as well as shaping the future. This course should interest you if you want to gain an understanding of politics and economics, but also want to understand the interaction between the two disciplines. You study economic methods while exploring the very nature of democracy and the ways in which governments use the economy for their advantage. One this course you study a range of topics such as:

• Macro- and microeconomics
• Political systems and political ideas
• Research design and statistical methods
• Globalisation and international development
• European Union economics and politics

Our Department of Government is one of the most prestigious in Europe, with an outstanding record of teaching, research and publication. We are rated top in the UK for research ( REF 2014 ), and have consistently been the highest-rated politics department in the country since national assessments began. Meanwhile, our Department of Economics is top 5 in the UK for research, with over 90% of their research rated as “world-leading” or “internationally excellent” (REF 2014). Why we're great.

• We're top 25 in the UK for politics (Guardian University Guide 2021)
• You have access to some of the best minds in politics and the biggest names in the field
• We have the only Regius Professor in Political Science in the UK, an honour conferred by the Queen

Study abroad

Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you in expanding your education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The four-year version of our degree allows you to spend the third year abroad or employed on a placement abroad, while otherwise remaining identical to the three-year course. Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised. If you spend a full year abroad you'll only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year. You won't pay any tuition fees to your host university.

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Placement year

Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you by providing the option of an additional year at no extra cost. The four-year version of our degree allows you to spend your third year employed on a placement with an external organisation, while otherwise remaining identical to the three-year course. This provides you with the opportunity to learn about a particular sector, company or job role, apply your academic knowledge in a practical working environment, and receive inspiration for future career pathways. If you complete a placement year you'll only pay 20% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year.

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Our expert staff

Some of the biggest names in the field work at Essex, giving you unparalleled access to some of the best minds in politics. Our staff are advising the CIA on counter-terrorism, training politicians and civil servants in democratising countries, and commentating on political events in national and international media. Our economics researchers are also at the forefront of their field and have even received MBEs, with students coming from across the globe to study, research or work with us. Our Department of Economics is a richly diverse home to staff and students from all over the world who have a strong sense of belonging and want to think, learn and change the world together. Many of our researchers also provide consultancy services to businesses in London and other major financial centres, helping us to develop research for today's society as well as informing our teaching for the future.

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Specialist facilities

Take advantage of our extensive learning resources to assist you in your studies:

• Laboratories of networked computers featuring extensive software for political analysis
• ESSEXLab provides opportunities for experimental lab research
• Student societies for politics, debating, and Model UN
• A dedicated study skills advisor in your first year for one-to-one advice
• A personal tutor and peer mentor for every student
• We organise the Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis
• Extensive software for quantitative analysis is available in all computer labs across the university

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Your future

All Essex politics graduates have the distinction of a qualification from one of the world’s leading politics departments. Our students are in demand from a host of employers, in politics, the civil service fast stream, management, journalism, police, armed forces, commerce, business, finance, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), teaching and graduate research. Our notable alumni includes the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow, and our recent graduates have gone on to work for a wide range of high-profile companies including:

• The World Bank
• NATO
• Houses of Parliament Research Unit
• United Nations Development Program
• ICM research
• IMG Media

We also work with the University’s Student Development Team to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities. Enhance your degree and demonstrate your quantitative skills with Q-Step . By following the Q-Step pathway of modules within your existing course, you will graduate from Essex with a qualifier award at the end of your degree, signalling to employers your capability in highly sought after quantitative research skills.