Politics
Politics is the study of power: how it is acquired, exercised, contested, and constrained in societies and across the international system. It asks why some policies are adopted and others are not, what makes political institutions work or fail, how ideologies shape what people believe governments should do, and how international forces such as globalisation, terrorism, and economic crises interact with domestic political systems. These are not abstract questions: they directly shape the world that everyone lives in, and understanding them equips you to engage with that world more critically and effectively.
At Birkbeck College in London, this part-time programme is structured to be genuinely accessible to students who need to balance academic study with work or other commitments. Birkbeck's long tradition of evening and flexible teaching means you can engage with serious political analysis without sacrificing other commitments. You will study major political issues including populism, terrorism, austerity, war, and the dynamics of political institutions in the UK and beyond, developing the analytical and research skills needed to engage with political questions in depth.
London provides an exceptionally rich context for studying politics, with access to political institutions, think tanks, media organisations, and an extraordinarily diverse political community.
Graduates from politics programmes go on to careers in the civil service, journalism, think tanks, non-governmental organisations, political communications, law, international organisations, and education. The analytical and communication skills the discipline develops are valued across a wide range of employers, and many graduates move into careers in the public and voluntary sectors where political understanding is directly relevant. Postgraduate study in politics, international relations, public policy, or related fields is a common next step for those who wish to deepen their expertise or pursue research careers.
Birkbeck's flexible model makes it a particularly good choice for those who are already working in relevant fields and wish to develop their academic understanding alongside their professional experience.