Politics BA (Hons)*
 Politics (Major).jpg)
UCAS Code: Combined Honours only – see combinations tab|Duration: 3 years|Full Time|Hope Park
UCAS Campus Code: L46
Work placement opportunities|International students can apply|Study Abroad opportunities
About the course
*subject to approval
Politics shapes our lives in many ways. It influences governance, conflict resolution, and our rights. It also impacts our freedoms and access to essential services. This politics course looks at who makes political decisions, how they are made, and their effects on local, national, and global society.
At Liverpool Hope, we connect with politics as it changes in the real world. We tackle current issues like climate change, new technologies, identity politics, Brexit, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Students are encouraged to participate in open debate and discussion, developing a strong awareness of diverse perspectives.
You will explore important political ideas, institutions, and processes. Expert staff will teach you about political research and critical thinking. The course also develops transferable skills to prepare you for a range of careers. Opportunities include work placements and the “Practitioners in Politics” series. In this series, MPs, the Mayor of Liverpool, and the Merseyside Commissioner for Crime and Policing share insights on political careers and essential skills for success.
Hear a warm welcome from Associate Professor Catalina Montoya Londono.
Course structure
You can take this politics course as part of a combined honours programme or as a single honours Politics and International Relations degree. Teaching is delivered through lectures, interactive seminars, and tutorials of 10–25 students. First-year students also benefit from study skills classes to support their transition into higher education. Final-year students receive guidance from a supervisor for their research project.
In the first and second years, the Politics component includes approximately 6 teaching hours per week, reducing to 5 hours in the third year. Students are also expected to spend additional hours on independent study and group work, averaging around 40 hours per week in total.
Beyond formal teaching, students can participate in a wide range of extra-curricular activities, talks, events, and visits organised by research centres, such as the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Centre for War and Peace Studies, student societies, and staff.
Assessment and feedback
Assessment on this politics course is varied and includes written coursework assignments, with formal exams introduced in the second and third years. You will receive clear assessment criteria at the start of the degree and at appropriate points throughout your studies. In the final year, you will complete a special study or dissertation, allowing you to specialise in an area of your choice.
Feedback is a key part of learning. The teaching team provides timely, high-quality, constructive written feedback, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. In the first year, feedback is delivered verbally in tutorials or one-to-one meetings, with tutors’ office hours available for private discussion of your work.
Year One
The first year of this politics course provides a foundation in the key sub-disciplines of political study through two core modules.
Foundations in Politics (30 credits)
This module introduces key ideas, concepts, and debates in politics and political analysis. Key themes include: key Ideas in Politics (how politics is studies, the nature of democracy and the state, power, decision-making, and political behaviour), political Ideologies (such as conservatism, communism, nationalism, and feminism), and development of modern liberal democracies from ancient Greece to contemporary systems of of representations.
Politics: Issues, Institutions, and Actors (30 credits)
This module examines political systems, institutions and key actors. Themes include: key institutions in politics (constitutions, legislatures, the executive and their roles in political power), key actors (parties, interest groups, the public, and media, exploring trends in political organisation and participation), international organisations (UN, NATO, and other global actors), and challenges to democracy (authoritarianism, illiberal democracies, political violence, and terrorism).
Year Two
EU Governance and decision-making (15 credits)
This module explores the roles of EU supranational institutions (European Commission and European Parliament), and EU intergovernmental institutions (European Council and Council of the EU) in public policy making.
Drawing upon a unique set of governance theories, students will learn to navigate the complex world of EU decision-making, and will become equipped with skills to critically evaluate policy implications deriving from its odd but intriguing structures and processes.
British Politics and Government (15 credits)
This module examines some of the key issues and challenges facing British politics and democracy. It addresses key institutions and organisations of the British political system – including Parliament, parties and the executive – considers how they function, evaluates their effectiveness and explores relevant key issues.
Comparative Democracy: Europe and the USA (30 credits)
This module compares and contrasts issues of democracy in the United States and in Europe. It looks at different democratic traditions, voting systems and the strengths and weaknesses of democratic practice on each continent.
The US element of the module examines American democracy, the US constitutional framework, electoral processes, and voting behaviour. It evaluates the issues in key 21st-century elections, including the election of Barack Obama and the Trump elections of 2016 and 2020, with consideration of minority presidents and political controversies.
The European element of the module compares democratic systems across Europe, examining institutions, parliaments, welfare states, electoral systems, and voting behaviour from Ireland to Russia.
Year Three
Advanced Studies in Politics
The third year of this politics course allows you to explore key areas of politics and political theory in depth, focusing on contemporary and controversial issues.
Politics in the United States
Examine the evolution of American politics through core institutions and contemporary issues. Key policy challenges such as changing demographics, gun control, and the death penalty are analysed, alongside the development of the ‘Imperial Presidency’ from Franklin Roosevelt to the present day. Seminars focus on Presidents including Kennedy, LBJ, Nixon, Reagan, and Bush Jr., with class discussions and activities exploring their impact on domestic and foreign policy.
Governance and Decision-Making in the European Union
Explore the EU’s unique system of governance and decision-making. This module introduces theories of European integration, key EU institutions, and policy-making processes across a range of areas. Seminars develop analytical skills through treaty analysis, debates, and mock negotiations, enabling students to understand the flow of preferences and power across the EU system.
Power and Politics
Analyse the concept of power in contemporary political contexts. This module examines key debates and concepts, encouraging students to explore the distribution of power, changes in political organisation and activism, the impact of technology, and state functions. Discussions and case studies provide practical opportunities to apply these ideas.
Research Dissertations and Projects
Complete either a 10,000-word dissertation in conjunction with another subject, or a 5,000-word special study. Students receive guidance and individual support from a tutor while working largely autonomously. You will select a research topic that reflects your interests and passion for politics.
Entry requirements
| A-Levels | BBC |
|---|---|
| UCAS Tariff Points | 112 UCAS Tariff points must come from a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent). Additional points can be made up from a range of alternative qualifications.
Find out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth, by using the Tariff calculator. |
| BTEC | DMM |
| Access to HE | 112 Tariff Points |
| IB | 26 points |
| Irish Leaving Certificate | 112 Tariff Points from Higher Level qualifications only |
| Welsh Baccalaureate | This qualification can only be accepted in conjunction with other relevant qualifications |
| T-Levels | Merit |
| Subject Requirements | No specific subject requirements |
International entry requirements
| Specific Country Requirements | Select your country |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 overall (with reading and writing at 6.0) and no individual score lower than 5.5. We also accept a wide range of International Qualifications. For more information, please visit our English Language Requirements page. |
Careers
A degree in politics provides the knowledge and skills to pursue careers in government, international organisations, policy work, teaching, law, journalism, communications, and the civil service. Employers value the critical analysis, report writing, argument construction, and decision-making skills developed through this politics course.
The course encourages both teamwork and independent learning, alongside the development of strong communication skills. Many graduates progress to postgraduate Masters programmes or research degrees. Alumni have gone on to work in the UK Parliament, the NHS, voluntary organisations, think tanks, the diplomatic corps, and local government. Some have also entered politics directly, including successfully running for elected office. Recent events include a former Hope graduate MP sharing insights on how his experience at the University shaped his political career.
Enhancement opportunities
SALA
The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.
Study Abroad
As part of your degree, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full year of study at one of our partner universities as part of our Study Abroad programme. We recently have had students do study in Chicago and at Baylor University in Texas. Find out more on our Study Abroad page.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year are £9,790 for full-time undergraduate courses.*
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,790.
The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
Home students (UK)
*Tuition fees are subject to inflation-linked increases in line with government policy. Updated fees will be confirmed in line with the maximum fee cap set by the Government or the Office for Students (OfS) for each academic year. This means your fee may increase for each academic year of study, but only up to the maximum amount permitted for that year.
Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.
Additional costs
On top of tuition fees, you also need to buy key textbooks, which we estimate to cost around £100-150.
You will also need to consider the cost of your accommodation each year whilst you study at university. Visit our accommodation pages for further details about our Halls of Residence.
Scholarships
We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.
International tuition fees
The International Tuition fees for 2026/27 are £15,225.
Visit our International fees page for more information.
Course combinations
This course is only available as a Combined Honours degree with the following subjects:
Course Enquiry
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