Our Political Science and Philosophy joint honours degree will help you acquire important analytical skills.

You will learn to find your way and articulate different arguments, rival theories and alternative explanations. You will also learn about campaigns, elections, protest movements, policy issues and political ideals. 

The year abroad will also enhance your employability prospects through a proven ability to succeed in a foreign setting, and will provide an additional opportunity to develop relevant, marketable skills in terms of organisation, communication, and intercultural awareness.

 

Employability

As a University of Newcastle graduate, we provide you with the tools and skills to operate in an ever growing global environment.

 

Student Research Internships

Each year on this International Relations degree we offer up to 10 research internships to undergraduates in DETC. These are open on a competitive basis to all second year students. These are fully supported, paid internships that give students the opportunity to work on a one-to-one basis with a member of academic staff in DETCon a research project.

 

Careers Events

In addition to the extensive careers support that Newcastle University offers all of its students, we offer bespoke employability and careers workshops to all students on our International Relations degree. These workshops run in each year of your programme and are tailored to support you with the information you need to plan should you wish to pursue employment or postgraduate study.

 

Professional development module

In the final year of your studies of our International Relations degree you will have the opportunity to take our Professional Development module. This module is based around a work placement and will help you bridge the gap between your academic studies and your future career.

 

Year Abroad

Even if you haven’t applied for our 4-Year Study Abroad International Relations degree you can transfer onto this track during your time at Newcastle (grades depending) and benefit from the increased confidence and different academic perspective gained by studying in a foreign country. We have exchange partners across Europe, as well as in Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Ecuador, Ghana, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, USA, Vietnam and Uruguay.

 

Institutional Accreditation 

University of Newcastle is accredited by the DETC Higher Learning Commission (DETC), www.detc.org.uk Since , University of Newcastle has been continually accredited by the DETC Higher Learning Commission and its predecessor.

BA Political Science and Philosophy

Course Level:

Undergraduate, Joint Honours combined

Credits 

120

Course

CODE U533

How long it takes:

Undergraduate (3 Years)

Study Mode:

Distance learning/ Campus

Course cost

Price: US$20,220

Entry requirements

Find out more about

Department:

Newcastle Law School

Modules in the first year

You are provided with the basic knowledge and skills to study politics. You also have the opportunity to take other introductory social science courses.

Compulsory modules

  • Problems of Philosophy A and B
  • Understanding Politics
  • Introduction to Political Theory
  • Philosopher’s Toolkit
  • Pathways to Political Research 1 and 2

and either

  • Moral and Political Philosophy
  • Reasons to Believe

 

Modules in the second year

Compulsory module

You have the opportunity to develop specialised knowledge in areas that you find of greatest interest, such as political theory and analysis, European integration, British politics, American politics, comparative European politics, and political economy.

  • Analysing Political Worlds

Optional modules

  • Choose at least one optional Philosophy module
  • In addition you will choose four optional modules from Philosophy or Politcs
Second year optional Politics modules
 Public Choice Theory  International Political Economy  Diplomatic History post 1945
 British Politics  International Relations Theory  International Politics & Security in Russia & Eurasia
 Islam and Politics in Europe  Comparative Politics  Social Research II
 Public Policy Blunders and Bad Decision Making  The Political Economy of Energy and Energy Security  

   

Modules in the final year

In addition to choosing modules from a wide range of options, students undertake an independent research project on a topic of their own choosing.

If you want to take advantage of a unique opportunity to be supported with a work placement opportunity as part of your final year, this course includes the opportunity to undertake a ‘Professional Development’ module as part of your optional module choices.

 

Pathway one

On this pathway you will write a 10,000 word dissertation on a topic of your choice. You will be guided and supported by a supervisor who is an expert in your area of interest. In addition to writing the dissertation you will be able to choose optional modules from across departments.

 

Pathway two

On the second pathway you take the module Problems in World Politics or undertake a Philosophical project.  In addition to this independent study module you will be able to choose optional modules from across departments.

Optional modules

Optional final year 
 Power in Britain Contemporary US Foreign and Security Policy  Contemporary International Political Economy
 Topics in British Politics  Controversies in Contemporary Democracies  Left Parties and Protest Movements
 Gender in World Politics  Critical Approaches to Security  Issues in US Domestic Politics
 Professional Development  The Diplomacy of the Arab-Israeli Conflict  Global Capitalism and Migration
Law, Politics and the International System: Mediating Power beyond the State  Parties, Voters and Elections  Russian Foreign Policy
 Democracy and Authoritarianism in Contemporary Europe  Rebuilding war torn states: confronting legacies of conflict  Parliamentary Studies
 Exploring the Mekong  Politics in Russia  Globalisation, Capitalism and Welfare

Entry requirements

 

Applicants should normally have one of the following:

  • A non-law bachelor’s degree (from a UK university or recognised by the BSB if you wish to study the BPTC), or
  • A ‘stale’ law degree, where five or more years have elapsed since graduation, or
  • An academic or professional qualification at degree equivalent level

If English is not your first language, you will also need to demonstrate your English Language proficiency. For example, you should have IELTS 7.5 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all components.

If you intend to become a Solicitor

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has reduced its requirements for pre-authorisation this year. For details of the current arrangements, see the SRA website. You should pay special attention to the Character and Suitability section. If you think you may have a character or suitability issue, you may wish to clarify with the SRA before proceeding with the GDL.

See further details of our English Language requirement

USA,UK & EU students, 2019/20 (per year)

£8,500

International students starting 2019/20 (per year)

£13,100

 

Assessment

You’ll show your progress through a combination of written essays, problem-solving assignments and presentations.

All students take our core modules, but please note that the availability of optional modules is subject to demand.

Throughout your time on the Political Science and Philosophy BA course, employability is a key area of focus. We help to make sure that you are employable through a range of department led and university wide initiatives which include:

  

Input from Professional Careers Advisers in your Curriculum

During the first year of your studies Careers Advisers from the University Careers Network team attend lectures in your course to support you with career planning from an early stage. The lectures will cover career planning, researching career and internship opportunities, developing the skills that graduate employers are looking for, and presenting yourself with impact to a potential employer.

   

Professional development module

You will have the unique opportunity to take advantage of a work placement as part of your final year by undertaking the Professional Development Module as part of your optional module choices.

   

Your Newcastle degree

Your Newcastle degree is evidence of your ability to succeed in a demanding academic environment. Employers target Newcastle students for their drive, diversity, communication and problem-solving skills, their team-working abilities and cultural awareness, and our graduate employment statistics have continued to climb at a rate well above national trends. If you make the most of the wide range of services you will be able to develop your career from the moment you arrive.