Course summary

A degree in Politics at the University of Westminster equips you with an understanding of the relationship between government and society in regions all over the world, from Europe, the Middle East and Asia to North and South America. You will examine the interplay of domestic and international politics in these regions, in contexts ranging from public institutions to the nation state. Studying for a Politics degree will help you to answer important questions about how conflict between different interest groups and states is resolved; how resources and power are distributed in society; how decisions are made; and why political systems develop in the ways that they do. You will study concepts, values and institutions, and explore the relationship between political theory and practice. You will also gain the transferable and cognitive skills necessary for lifelong personal and professional development. Our course is informed by research undertaken by the academic staff in the Department of Politics and International Relations, including the internationally renowned Centre for the Study of Democracy. We take full advantage of our location in the heart of London, using our links with the Houses of Parliament and other centres of power. Our graduates go on to work in political organisations, research institutions, policymaking, the media and civil society. Our teaching programme is structured to support students' transition to higher education and progression through each academic year. The first-year programme provides an introduction to key concepts and structures of government and how these impact on political behaviour and decision-making. It also embeds the study of politics in a wider context by providing a grounding in international relations and development studies. In the second year you will deepen your understanding of theoretical approaches, and your critical awareness of conflicting narratives of the state and of governance, particularly since the Cold War, in relation to society and to the international community. In the final year you can tailor your degree to a more 'academic' pathway or a more 'professional' pathway, completing either a traditional academic dissertation or a professionally-oriented research report. The core of the theory aspect of the programme is a study of equality, justice and citizenship, supplemented by options on radical democracy and advanced readings in political theory. Teaching and learning includes small group work, problem-based tutorials, review sessions, workshops, symposia, debates, Q&A sessions, document analysis sessions, and structured role-plays. A wide range of assessments includes essays, exams, policy reports, project work, individual and group presentations, blogs, posters, and debates. The teaching is offered within the Department of Politics and International Relations. We are in the centre of one of the world’s greatest cities and we use this vibrant, multicultural setting to ensure that our students discover innovative solutions to the problems facing our world. In 2016 the University of Westminster was named the most diverse university in the UK, representing 169 nationalities. As a department we also host the world-renowned Centre for the Study of Democracy. The Centre undertakes research across a range of critical challenges to the theory and practice of politics and international relations. We have an innovative initiative called the Democratic Education Network that facilitates dialogue and the sharing of knowledge between our students, international universities and diasporic communities in London.