BA (Hons) Politics with a Placement Year

Course Overview

Are you fascinated by issues such as how parliament works, or the politics of climate change, or the role of AI in society? Are you eager to dissect the headlines with a critical eye? Do you want to gain a deeper understanding of current political issues in the UK and around the world? If so, BA Politics with a Placement Year is the course for you. You’ll normally spend 9-12 months of your third year in a work placement, gaining invaluable real-world experience and employability skills in a relevant area of your choice.

At UEA, we take a global and holistic approach to politics and the political. You’ll be able to take modules on politics in many parts of the world, including the US, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. Or, you might be interested in studying activism, media and culture, or gender. Whatever your area of interest, you’ll be studying cutting-edge issues designed to enable you to become an informed and responsible citizen of the world.

You’ll spend your time with us asking difficult questions and debating the answers with fellow students and academics to help formulate your own ideas. You’ll be supported throughout by a dedicated team of world-class academics who are researching a wide variety of topics.

Aside from your time in the classroom, we offer a huge range of activities, from internships, placements, staff-student debates, opportunities for you to contribute to blog and podcast series, or even spend a year abroad! We also host a regular speaker series featuring academics and politicians debating and discussing the hottest political topics of the day.

During your time with us, you’ll develop crucial critical thinking, analysis, and communication skills. Our graduates move on to a wide variety of careers, including working for the government, the Civil Service, consultancy, NGOs, media work, journalism, PR, and further study.

This course is open to

UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.

We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.

You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.

English and Mathematics

All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade C or grade 4

In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics

We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.

Typical International Entry Requirements

A levels

BBB

International Baccalaureate

31 points overall.

We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. For specific details about your country, view our information for International Students.

INTO UEA

If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, INTO UEA offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree.

English Foreign Language

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading): 

IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components) 

We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.

If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study: 

Pre-sessional English at INTO UEA 

Academic English at INTO UEA 

Deferred Entry

We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year.  We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application. 

Admissions Policy

Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading): 

IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components) 

We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.

If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study: 

Pre-sessional English at INTO UEA 

Academic English at INTO UEA 

Employability

There is so much you can do with a Politics degree! A degree in Politics from UEA will equip you with the knowledge and skills for a large choice of careers directly related to politics, and well beyond.

You could find yourself working for an international organisation, parliament or political party, or the civil service. Or you could take your skills and apply them to journalism, marketing, advertising, the private sector, non-governmental organisations, think-tanks or research institutions.

You could even choose to return to academia to study for a postgraduate degree.

Examples of careers you could enter include:

• Policy analyst
• Subject specialist/Researcher
• Lobbyist
• Communication officer
• Non-government organisations
• Activism

Discover more on our Career pages.