BA Philosophy and Politics
Entry requirements
A level: ABB IB: 32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects
About this course
BA Hons in Philosophy and Politics, a politics and international relations and philosophy degree combining analytical rigour with the examination of political institutions and human values. Core topics include Statistics, Research Methods, Policy Analysis, Historical Research, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Social & Cultural Analysis, Global & Comparative Perspective. The curriculum incorporates dedicated training in research methods and independent project work, supported by practical learning experiences such as policy labs and mock parliamentary simulations. The first year introduces foundational themes through compulsory modules including Knowledge and Reality in a Complex World, Ethics: How Should I Live?, Political Philosophy: How Should we Live Together?, Parties, Populism and Protest, and Political Theory for a Troubled World, alongside options spanning historical, sociological, and psychological subjects. The second year shifts towards state theory and research preparation with compulsory modules such as Philosophy Guided Project, Theories of Power and the State, and Understanding Political Research, while offering diverse optional modules in applied philosophy, global superpowers, and media analysis. The final year focuses on advanced political and philosophical inquiry through compulsory modules like Comparative Political Philosophy and Critical Political Theory, alongside specialized optional modules covering topics such as parliamentary studies, border politics, and crisis governance, with opportunities to complete an independent project or dissertation.
Modules
- Knowledge and Reality in a Complex World
- Ethics: How Should I Live?
- Political Philosophy: How Should we Live Together?
- Parties, Populism and Protest
- Political Theory for a Troubled World
- History of Philosophy: Ideas that Shaped the West
- Global Challenges in World Politics
- Medieval and Early Modern Worlds
- Explaining Criminology
- Thinking Sociologically
- Developmental Psychology and Neuropsychology
- English across Space and Time
- Global Religions and Society
- Understanding Culture
- Philosophy Guided Project
- Theories of Power and the State
- Understanding Political Research
- Applied Philosophy: Decisions that Change the World
- Philosophical Perspectives on Politics and Economics
- Mind, World and Science
- Language, Communication and Knowledge
- Democracy, Dictatorship and Everything in Between
- Who Governs Britain? Policy, Politics and Political Change
- Global Superpowers
- Politics of the Global South
- Welfare States: Poverty, Policy and Politics
- Body, Mind and Society
- Death
- Britain in the 20th Century
- Inventing Rights
- Discourse Studies
- Film Theory and Aesthetics
- Global Religions, Women and Gender
- Language and Identity in France, Spain, Germany and the Sinophone World
- Society on Screen: The Language of Film
- Employability, Purpose and Social Impact (Discovery module)
- Global Challenges and Collaborative Solutions (Discovery module)
- Taking an Idea and Making it Happen (Discovery module)
- Comparative Political Philosophy
- Critical Political Theory
- Philosophy Independent Project
- Philosophy and Popular Culture
- Textual Explorations in Philosophy
- Questions at the Frontiers of Philosophy
- Philosophy For Times of Global Crisis
- Democracy Under Pressure
- Parliamentary Studies
- Policymaking in the Real World
- Europe and America
- Politics and International Relations Dissertation
- Politics of the Middle East and Asia Pacific
- The Politics of Crises and the Future of Governance
- The Politics of Borders and Migration
- Crimes and Harms of the Powerful
- Autocrats, Dictators and Caudillos: Dictatorship and Representation in the 20th and 21st Centuries
- Sciences and Cultures Lab
- State and Religion
- Queer Futures (Discovery module)
- People Power and Collective Action (Discovery module)
- Confronting the Climate Crisis (Discovery module)
- Artistic Fusions (Discovery module)