University of Brighton has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Course summary
Curious about who really controls Britain or how poverty shapes lives? Our politics degree lets you dive into these big questions and more. You will explore political theory – understanding the ideas behind power – while also studying the systems and institutions that impact our world. Plus, you will delve into activist politics, learning how protests and social movements create change. The wide range of options means that you can tailor your studies to your interests, from environmental politics to gender studies. You will also conduct your own research, ending with a dissertation on a topic you are passionate about. We offer three other politics undergraduate courses.
- Politics and International Relations BA(Hons)
- Politics, Sexuality and Gender BA(Hons)
- Politics and Social Change BA(Hons)
- Learn in a vibrant, progressive city with a reputation for radical, environmental, and LGBTQI+ activism.
- Your lecturers are internationally recognised researchers on issues including populism, gender studies, the Middle East, environmentalism, migration, housing and political theory.
- You will engage with cutting edge academic research. The university’s Centre for Philosophy, Politics and Ethics hosts regular talks, seminars, workshops and conferences and offers an annual undergraduate research prize.
- Guest speakers have included Caroline Lucas and Sue Shanks (Green Party), Yousef Eldin (BBC documentary producer), Nancy Hawker (Amnesty International) and Prof Angie Wilson (ex-Chair of the Political Studies Association, researching sexuality and politics), as well as representatives from Make the Shift, The Free West Papua Campaign and Brighton & Hove Community Land Trust.
- Assignments don’t just mean essays, you'll be assessed in lots of ways including films, podcasts, data visualisations, political speeches, social media campaigns; the types of projects that will be valued by employers.
- Graduate with both theoretical and practical knowledge. Our courses offer practical skills and real-world experiences to prepare you for your future careers, with opportunities to undertake placements, design a campaign for a political organisation and learn digital communication skills.
- The university’s commitment to addressing global challenges is the lens through which you will learn and issues such as climate change, equality and inclusivity, and sustainability are embedded in all teaching on our politics courses.
- Our decolonised approach to teaching and learning emphasises lived experience, recognising that knowledge is held in communities not only in academic institutions.
- You will be studying in a thriving community alongside students taking related degrees which informs our delivery.
Modules
Year 1 Introduction to the Global Challenges Lab Political Ideas Foundations in World Politics Politics in Practice Comparative Political Systems Introduction to Environmental Politics Year 2 UK Politics Researching Politics We, The People Authority, Democracy and Justice Options* Debating Contemporary International Relations War, Violence and Terror The Politics of Critique Unruly Bodies: Understanding and Contesting Normativity International Institutions Nations and Nationalism Structuralism, Poststructuralism and the Politics of Critique Experiencing the Workplace: Practices and the Community Development and Sustainability Final Year Politics Dissertation Activism and Social Change Options* Radical Political Economy and Anarchist Politics Global Social Policy Politics in the Middle East Race and International Relations Politics of the Right Care Ethics and Social Policy Sociology of Globalisation Human Rights and Humanitarian Intervention *Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.
Qualified teacher status (QTS)
To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:
- Course does not award QTS
How to apply
29Jan
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- L200
- Institution code:
- B72
- Campus name:
- Brighton
- Campus code:
- B
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 104 - 113 points
A level - BBB - BCC
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM - MMM
Access to HE Diploma - D: 12 credits M: 33 credits
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 26 points
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | IELTS 6.0 overall, with 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements. |
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| EU | £17250 | Year 1 |
| International | £17250 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
The fees listed in the table above are for full-time UK undergraduate students in academic year 2025-26. You will pay further fees in each year of your course. Fees may increase each year. UK undergraduate and certain postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government. The annual fee increase will not exceed the UK government's maximum regulated tuition fee limit set for the relevant academic year. Many of our courses include the option of a salaried placement year. Tuition fees for a placement year are charged at a lower rate of £1850. The international tuition fees listed above are for full-time courses during the academic year 2025-26. Further tuition fees are payable in each year of study. Non-regulated tuition fees, which usually apply to international students and UK postgraduate students* are subject to an annual increase of a maximum of 5% or the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), whichever is higher.
*Some designated postgraduate courses are regulated by the UK government – the annual fee increase for eligible UK / Home students on these designated courses will not exceed the UK government’s regulated tuition fee limit set for the relevant academic year.
Provider information
University of Brighton
Mithras House
Lewes Road
Brighton
BN2 4AT