Politics

Politics is the study of power: how it is organised, exercised, contested and legitimised in human societies. It encompasses the formal institutions of government, the ideologies and movements that compete to shape them, the behaviour of voters, parties and interest groups, the dynamics of international affairs and the philosophical foundations that underpin different visions of a just and well-ordered society. Studying politics develops the analytical tools to engage seriously with questions about authority, rights, democracy, conflict and governance that matter profoundly to how we live.

At the University of Surrey, this three-year full-time programme builds both political knowledge and the transferable skills that employers across many sectors value, including digital literacy and the capacity to work with data and new analytical tools. You will study political theory, comparative politics, international relations, public policy and the empirical analysis of political behaviour. The programme equips you not only to understand current political events but to analyse them rigorously, to evaluate competing arguments and to communicate your findings clearly.

You will develop research and writing skills, the ability to engage with quantitative and qualitative evidence about political phenomena, and the critical thinking to challenge assumptions and evaluate complex situations from multiple perspectives. These are capabilities that transfer well beyond political careers into many professional fields.

Graduates go into careers in the civil service, government, local government, journalism, policy research, international organisations, NGOs, public affairs, management consultancy and many other fields where analytical intelligence and an understanding of political systems and institutions are valued. Some go on to postgraduate study in political science, public policy, international relations or related disciplines.