Politics

Politics is the study of how power operates in human societies, how decisions affecting whole communities are made, contested and legitimised, and how different systems of government and ideology have shaped the modern world. It is a discipline that takes seriously the questions that matter most to the organisation of public life: what is justice? How should power be held to account?

What are the causes and consequences of conflict and cooperation between states? How do economic and social forces interact with political institutions to produce the world we inhabit?

At City St George's, this three-year full-time programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad and a work placement, giving you a combination of professional and international experience alongside a rigorous academic curriculum. The programme develops your analytical and research skills, your understanding of political theory and comparative politics across different national systems, and your engagement with the key problems that characterise twenty-first century politics, including democratic backsliding, geopolitical competition, climate governance and the politics of inequality. London's position as a global capital provides an exceptional backdrop for the study of politics, with access to parliamentary institutions, think tanks, international organisations and civil society organisations.

The work placement and sandwich year give you professional experience in political, research or public affairs contexts, and the year abroad expands your international perspective.

Graduates of politics programmes move into the civil service, government, think tanks, political parties, NGOs, journalism, public affairs, international organisations, finance and management consultancy. The analytical, research and communication skills the degree develops are valued across a very wide range of professional contexts. Postgraduate study in politics, international relations, public policy or law is a natural option.