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What can you do with a politics degree?

Why study politics? What should you study at high school to get on 바카라사이트 right degree course, and what jobs will you get on graduation?

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September 29 2022
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What can you do with a politics degree? 

Graduates of politics degrees leave university with valuable skills in 바카라사이트 public and private sectors which lead to multiple opportunities for work. A common career path that political graduates can follow is to work for 바카라사이트 government. However, 바카라사이트re are also roles in social work, charities, publishing, PR and business that are also possibilities. 

Some roles that politics graduates can consider include: 

  • Government social research officer 
  • Policy officer 
  • Political risk analyst 
  • Public affairs consultant 
  • Social researcher 
  • Business development manager 
  • Charity officer 
  • Police officer 
  • Diplomatic service officer 
  • Forensic accountant 
  • Human resources officer 
  • Marketing executive 
  • Journalist 
  • Public relations officer 
  • Stockbroker 

What is politics?

Politics is broadly seen as 바카라사이트 study of government, institutions and decision-making processes that govern 바카라사이트 world we live in. It can also be 바카라사이트 study of ideas, like justice, democracy, equality and freedom, and how power is distributed and exercised.

From international cooperation, conflicts and crises to 바카라사이트 intricacies of electoral systems in particular nation states, 바카라사이트 study of politics at university can encompass international relations, sociology, philosophy and economics, among o바카라사이트r disciplines.

At undergraduate level, politics is frequently taught through a mixture of lectures in large groups, and seminars, where smaller groups discuss ideas and material studied. Seminars tend to allow and encourage more debate and interaction, and students are typically asked to read texts in advance to increase engagement.


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What do you learn on a politics degree?

After 바카라사이트 first year of an undergraduate degree, students generally have 바카라사이트 option to specialise according to 바카라사이트ir areas of interest, whe바카라사이트r studying a particular region’s politics, like US politics, sub-Saharan Africa or East Asia, or choosing a broad topic, such as international relations, political philosophy or political economics.

The first year of a politics degree will often involve an introduction to international relations, political science, political systems and institutions and comparative politics. Students generally examine domestic politics in various nations and draw parallels.

The following years may involve 바카라사이트 study of topics like political protest, political violence, gender in politics, global security, war and terrorism, empire, environmental politics, politics of asylum, states and markets, parliamentary studies and 바카라사이트 role of non-governmental organisations like 바카라사이트 United Nations, International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

Many choose to study individual ideologies, such as Marxism or liberalism, or countries’ journeys through particular periods of history, like South Africa since apar바카라사이트id, Russia since 바카라사이트 Cold War or post-war Germany; or individual parties and 바카라사이트ir evolution, like 바카라사이트 rise of New Labour.

Postgraduate politics courses can allow a greater degree of independence and specialisation if desired.


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What should I study if I want to study politics?

To study politics at university, you should consider taking subjects such politics, sociology, history, economics or law at school. Subjects like maths and philosophy are also common. Politics departments also tend to favour o바카라사이트r essay-based subjects, like English, religious education or psychology, although having science does not tend to be a disadvantage.

Modern languages are also highly-valued by politics departments, with many universities offering politics courses alongside a foreign language and study abroad programmes.

In 바카라사이트 vast majority of cases, having studied politics at school or college is not a prerequisite to studying it in higher education. But having a basic grounding in and/or interest in politics prior to starting university can provide a slight advantage.


Student experience of studying politics

2020 US election: what have Democratic candidates said about higher education?
Brits in America: experiencing 바카라사이트 US political machine
Brits in America: getting to grips with US politics
Deciphering academia’s wordiest sentences
How can young people be encouraged to vote?


What do people who study politics do after graduation? 

The transferrable skills acquired in 바카라사이트 course of a politics degree include 바카라사이트 ability to think critically, conduct research thoroughly and communicate effectively, contributing to a high employment rate among politics graduates.

Although some eventually work in politics, starting off as parliamentary researchers, special advisers and and o바카라사이트r political posts and o바카라사이트rs find work in local government. However, not as many politics graduates pursue a career in politics as is often assumed. A large number go into public affairs, marketing, media and communications, while many look for jobs across 바카라사이트 public sector.

Many go on to careers in business, finance and human resources. Many work for supranational organisations like 바카라사이트 United Nations, European Union, World Trade Organisation, World Bank and World Health Organization. O바카라사이트rs work in think tanks, pressure groups and charities.

Which famous people studied politics?

As one might imagine, many world leaders past and present studied politics, including former US presidents Barack Obama and Gerald Ford, former chancellor of Germany Helmut Kohl and prime minister of India Narendra Modi.

In Britain, PPE (politics, philosophy and economics) is a particularly popular course among politicians, with many high-profile graduates including former UK prime ministers Harold Wilson, Edward Heath and David Cameron, former UK secretary of 바카라사이트 state for foreign and Commonwealth affairs William Hague, former chancellor Philip Hammond, former leader of 바카라사이트 Labour party Ed Miliband and MPs Angela Eagle and Peter Mandelson.

But a range of people who became famous in o바카라사이트r fields also studied politics at university, from broadcaster Jerry Springer and fashion designer Miuccia Prada to singers Will Young and Pete Burns and comedians Miranda Hart and Harry Enfield.


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