Program Overview

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Politics

BA (Hons) or BSc (Hons)

Overview

Expose the link between people and political power. Our politics degree helps you make sense of an ever-changing world, understand the facts and use them to form coherent, compelling arguments about what’s going on in our times.

You’ll grapple with some of the most pressing issues of the modern era, such as:

• Nationalism and populism
• Regional politics, e.g. Russia, South Africa, and Europe
• Conflict and peacebuilding
• Gender equality and racial justice.

Also, you’ll be joining a community where those around you are socially, politically, and environmentally conscious and active.

As this is a joint honours degree, you can study it alongside another discipline of your choice and explore how they overlap. You may combine politics with:

• Communication, Media and Culture
• Criminology
• History
• Philosophy
• Sociology.

Why Oxford Brookes University?

• The heart of politics

From colonialism to refugee action, Oxford is at the epicentre of modern political debate.

• Constant support

Our classes are small, meaning you’ll receive the attention and guidance you need.

• Familiar faces

Develop good working relationships with your tutors – many of whom are active researchers.

• Relevant topics

The course deals with contemporary political and social issues, like rising nationalism and tensions in Eastern Europe.

• Stimulating activity

We don’t just assess you with coursework and essays – you’ll get involved with NGO briefings, peace negotiation simulations and reflective diaries.

• Learn a language

Our university-wide language programme is available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.

Course Details

Course Structure

In Year 1, you’ll discover the essentials of modern political issues. By exploring a broad range of political systems and ideologies, you’ll develop skills essential for success in your future career.

During your Year 2, you’ll debate the great issues of contemporary politics. You’ll sharpen your analytical and debating techniques, mould critical perspectives and turn facts and opinions into a clear, persuasive argument. The optional placement lets you get experience in the working world, boosting your job prospects.

In your Year 3, you have the opportunity to complete a dissertation on an aspect of politics, your other subject or a combination of both. This is a fascinating opportunity to see how your two disciplines inform each other. Optional modules let you explore specialist political topics.

Learning and Teaching

Our teaching staff are active researchers and their research directly informs your learning.

Our teaching methods include:

• Role play exercises
• Group work
• Video presentations
• Podcasts
• Placement learning
• Individual tutorials
• Lectures and seminars.

You can attend our Centre for Global Politics, Economy and Society seminars, where speakers from other universities discuss their research.

We host our ‘Politics at Work’ seminar series for those interested in a career in international development / humanitarian aid.

Assessment

We assess you with coursework and examinations. Coursework includes:

• Essays
• Group projects
• Field trips
• Role play
• Individual and group seminar presentations.

We assess some modules through an examination, and others solely through your work during the semester.

Study Modules

Teaching for this course takes place face to face, and you should also anticipate a workload of 1,200 hours per year. Teaching usually takes place Monday to Friday, between 9.00am and 6.00pm.

Contact hours involve activities such as lectures, seminars, practicals, assessments, and academic advising sessions. These hours differ by year of study and typically increase significantly during placements or other types of work-based learning.

Year 1

• Compulsory modules
  • Political Socialisation and Ideology
  • Politics in Comparative Perspective
  • Critical Skills in Politics and International Relations
• Optional modules
  • Global Challenges in International Relations
  • Foundations of Social Theory

Year 2

• Compulsory modules
  • Theorising Power & Society
  • Researching Politics and International Relations
• Optional modules
  • UK Politics
  • Applying Political Thought
  • Nations and Nationalism
  • State and Society: Europe and the United States
  • Work-based Learning

Year 3

• Compulsory modules
  • Double Dissertation in Politics or Interdisciplinary Dissertation in Politics or Dissertation in combined subject
• Optional modules
  • Violence, Resistance and Identity Politics
  • Freedom, Justice and Liberation
  • State and Society in Contemporary Russia
  • South African Politics: From Apartheid to Democracy
  • Independent Study

Careers

The skills you pick up on this course will come in useful in a variety of settings. This includes government, law, journalism, trade unions, publishing, management, and social work. Or you may look to work with MPs or within political parties.

Our graduates can be found working with:

• The Civil Service Fast Track Programme
• Oxford University Press
• Hestia (charity supporting those who experience domestic abuse)
• The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women.

Our Life After Uni events let you network and have discussions with industry professionals. At our past events, there have been speakers from:

• Humanity and Inclusion
• Right to Play
• Humanitarian Academy for Development
• The Department for Education.

You can also pursue postgraduate study, where you can research an aspect of politics you’re fascinated with on a deeper level. We have masters’ degrees in International Relations and International Security. The former is also available as a distance learning course.

Entry Requirements

• Standard offer
  • UCAS Tariff Points: 104
  • A Level: BCC
  • IB Points: 29
  • BTEC: DMM
• Contextual offer
  • UCAS Tariff Points: 88
  • A Level: CCD
  • IB Points: 27
  • BTEC: MMM

Tuition Fees

• 2025/26
  • Home (UK) full time: £9,535
  • Home (UK) part time: £1,190 per single module
  • International full time: £16,750
• 2026/27
  • Home (UK) full time: £9,535*
  • Home (UK) part time: £1,910 per single module*
  • International full time: £17,250†

Funding Your Studies

• Oxford Brookes Bursary for Continuing Students
• Undergraduate maintenance loans for part-time UK students
• Undergraduate maintenance loans for full-time UK students
• Undergraduate tuition fee loans for UK students
• Oxford Brookes Bursary for New Students

Additional Costs

• It’s your responsibility to cover print / binding costs where coursework submission is required.
• You may choose to purchase books to support your studies.
• Accommodation fees in Brookes Letting (most do not include bills)
• Accommodation fees in university halls (bills included, excluding laundry costs)
• Graduation costs include tickets, gowning and photography.
• Students are responsible for their own travel to and from university for classes.