Political Science
Political Science is the systematic study of political institutions, processes, and behaviour, concerned with how power is organised and exercised in human societies, how governments make decisions and maintain legitimacy, and how citizens, movements, and international actors interact in the contest over public policy and resources. It is a discipline that combines rigorous empirical analysis with theoretical reflection, drawing on history, economics, sociology, and philosophy to build a comprehensive understanding of political life at local, national, and international levels.
At Richmond, the American International University in London, this four-year full-time programme offers a distinctive educational context. As an American university based in London, it brings together an international student body and an American academic tradition that combines breadth of curriculum with depth in the major, alongside the unique perspective of studying political science in one of the world's great capital cities. The programme includes a foundation year for students who need a more gradual transition into degree-level study, a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placements, giving you an unusually structured combination of academic development and professional and international experience.
You will study comparative politics, international relations, political theory, research methods, and the political institutions and processes of both the United States and other democracies.
The American liberal arts approach means you will study across disciplines in your early years, developing breadth of knowledge alongside your political science specialisation. London itself is a resource: the presence of international organisations, embassies, think tanks, media organisations, and political institutions in the city enriches the programme.
Graduates pursue careers in the civil service, international organisations, journalism, think tanks, NGOs, consultancy, and politics itself. Many go on to postgraduate study in political science, public policy, or international relations.