Politics

University of Stirling

United Kingdom, Stirling

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Home/United Kingdom/Stirling /University of Stirling/Politics

University of Stirling

United Kingdom , Stirling

Key Facts

Program Level

Bachelor

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Course Code

L200

Campuses

on campus

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 48 month(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 19,500 / year(s)

Next Intake September-2026

Politics

About

Politics permeates every aspect of our lives – shaping our opinions, informing our decisions and helping us to understand what motivates people.

When you study Politics at the University of Stirling, you’ll increase your awareness of the different political systems, ideologies and policies that impact people’s lives regionally, nationally and globally. We’re ranked among the best universities for Politics in Scotland, and are highly regarded for our strong, research-led approach to teaching.

A Politics degree helps you develop the intellectual, communication and analytical skills employers are looking for. You’ll open the door to a wide range of career opportunities – from politics itself, to connected arenas such as commerce, civil service, journalism, law and teaching. There are also plenty of opportunities to broaden your horizons by studying abroad during your course, including through our Politics-specific partnership with the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.

Enhance your understanding of how the world works, and gain the skills you need to play your part in shaping it with a Politics degree from the University of Stirling.

Top reasons to study with us

We're ranked top 5 in Scotland (The Complete University Guide 2025)

Enhance your future opportunities by studying Politics with a wide range of other courses

Top 10 for Politics in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2024)

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Year 1 entry – Four-year honours

SQA Highers
AABB

GCE A-levels
BBB

IB Diploma
28

BTEC (Level 3)
DDM

Widening access students
Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.

Care-experienced applicants will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements.

Year 2 entry – Three-year honours

SQA Advanced Highers
ABB

GCE A-levels
ABB

IB Diploma
32

Essential subjects
To include either Politics, Government and Politics, or Modern Studies.

Other Scottish qualifications

Scottish HNC/HND
Year one minimum entry - Bs in graded units.

Access courses
University of Stirling access course - for mature students only. You must pass the course with 50% or above.

SWAP access course - for mature students only.

Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.

Foundation Apprenticeships
Considered to be equivalent to 1 Higher at Grade B

Other qualifications

English, Welsh and Northern Irish HNC/HND
Merits and Distinctions

English, Welsh and Northern Irish access courses
Access to Higher Education - 60 credits, minimum 45 at QCF Level 3, pass at 60% or above.

International entry requirements

View the entry requirements for your country

Advanced entry

Year 2 entry
Entry into Year 2 may be possible depending on your HNC/HND course. To find out more go to our articulation pages.

Other qualifications
Advanced entry may be possible depending on your qualifications. For more information, contact our Admissions Team at admissions@stir.ac.uk.

Other routes of entry

If you don't currently meet our academic requirements, INTO University of Stirling offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore INTO University of Stirling to see the Foundation and International Year 2 routes available.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.

See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.

Pre-sessional English language courses

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.

Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses

English Program Requirements

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.

See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.

Pre-sessional English language courses

Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses

Career

As a Politics graduate, you’ll have a clear understanding of domestic and international politics – as well as how organisations like the World Trade Organisation, the United Nations and the European Union operate. This provides you with a solid understanding of the issues involved in international relations and the significance of politics as a global – and local – activity.

When you graduate with a BA Politics from the University of Stirling, you’ll be in good company. Our alumni include Former Secretary of State for Defence Dr John Reid, and current MPs Anum Qaisar-Javed and Angela Crawley.

Tailor your Politics degree for a particular career path by combining courses such as Journalism, Social Policy or Business Studies.

Preparing you for the world of work

Your employability is one of our highest priorities, and we want to make sure you have every possible advantage when you enter the job market. We offer a comprehensive employability and skills programme to help you maximise your time at Stirling and develop the attributes required by employers.

We also have a dedicated Faculty Employability and Skills Officer and a Careers Service that work in partnership with academic staff to ensure you get the best out of your University experience and are given the right opportunities to make you ready for the world of work.

Jobs directly related to a Politics degree include: