Politics with Foundation Yr

Politics is the study of power, authority, and the ways in which societies organise their collective life. It is a discipline that engages with the most consequential questions of public life, from the structures of democratic governance and the causes of political conflict to the international dimensions of contemporary challenges including inequality, migration, and climate change. Studying politics means learning to analyse political institutions, to evaluate competing ideas about justice and legitimacy, and to engage critically with the empirical realities of political behaviour.

At Birkbeck College in London, this four-year full-time programme begins with a foundation year, making it accessible to students who would benefit from additional academic preparation before entering the main degree. Birkbeck's location in central London, close to Parliament, government departments, political organisations, and international institutions, provides an exceptionally rich context for political study. The college's commitment to inclusive access, reflected in the typical entry tariff of 88 points, means this programme is designed to give capable students from any background the opportunity to engage with serious political education.

The main degree covers political theory, comparative politics, international relations, and the study of specific political systems and regions.

You will develop analytical and critical thinking, the ability to write clear and well-evidenced arguments, and the research skills needed to engage seriously with political questions at a professional level.

Graduates pursue careers in government, journalism, think tanks, the civil service, political parties, public affairs and lobbying, international organisations, NGOs, policy research, and the charitable sector. Politics graduates are also valued in law, broadcasting, and the private sector, where the analytical and communication skills developed by the degree are broadly applicable. Postgraduate study in political science, international relations, public policy, or law is a natural continuation.