Course summary

This is a Connected Degree Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course. Overview Understand the political issues shaping – and dividing – societies around the world, and discover the integral role politics plays in every aspect of people’s lives globally. On this BA (Hons) Politics degree, you’ll tackle the major issues facing people and politicians today, including Brexit, the NHS, and life in a ‘post-truth’ world. You’ll learn how the political world works and look at how our Parliament functions, and how the law and our institutions interact. You’ll study the historic moments that have shaped our democracy – and learn the skills required to play your part in changing minds, shaping policy and fighting inequality. Course highlights

• Learn from staff at our Centre for European and International Studies Research (CEISR), whose research directly impacts government policy

• Tailor your degree by choosing optional modules that match your interests and career ambitions, from gender in politics, to radicalisation and the rise of the far-right

• Attend events and talks led by people working in local, national and international government (including current MPs and staff from the US Department of Defence), and political journalism

• Go on field trips to locations such as the Houses of Parliament

• Take part in a simulated ‘academic conference’, where you’ll present a paper that will be discussed with your peers

• Have the opportunity to organise your own political campaign in your 2nd year, on a political issue you care about

• Have the chance to study abroad at one of our partner institutions – including Science Po Strasbourg (France), Maastricht University (Netherlands), Université libre de Bruxelles (Belgium) and University of Szeged (Hungary)

• local and central government

• consultancy and think tanks

• lobbying

• research and policy

• teaching and lecturing (with additional training or further study)

• community development

• charity work

• careers advice

• advertising

• marketing and media

• political researcher, Houses of Parliament

• assistant to Member of Parliament

• civil servant, Department for the Cabinet Office

• senior policy advisor, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

• communications officer, House of Commons

• local government administrator, Government of Jersey

• public affairs consultant

• social researcher

• information officer

• conference producer