Philosophy and Politics (Placement Year) BA Hons

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Lancaster University

Program Overview

This four-year degree is perfect for students who love exploring big ideas and want to understand how they shape real political decisions. It brings together the depth of philosophy and the real-world impact of politics — and with a full placement year built into the programme, you’ll graduate with both intellectual confidence and practical experience that employers really value.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

Your first year introduces you to the core questions that drive both subjects. Through modules like Knowledge and Reality, Ethics, Political Philosophy, and Parties, Populism and Protest, you’ll begin exploring how ideas about truth, morality and justice connect to the political behaviour we see around us. It’s a year designed to help you build strong foundations in argumentation, critical thinking and political awareness.

Year 2

In your second year, you dive deeper into how philosophical ideas shape political systems. You’ll study modules such as Theories of Power and the State and Understanding Political Research, while also developing your own ideas through the Philosophy Guided Project. Optional modules — like those exploring global capitalism or political movements — allow you to tailor your learning to what inspires you most.

Year 3 – Placement Year

Your third year is where everything becomes real. You’ll spend up to 12 months working in a full-time professional placement, supported by Lancaster’s Careers & Placements team. This is your chance to apply your skills in a workplace, see how philosophical reasoning and political understanding matter in real organisations, and build experience that employers love to see.

Year 4

In your final year, you’ll specialise in the areas you’ve grown passionate about. You can choose modules such as Critical Political Theory, Philosophy Communication and Engagement Portfolio, or advanced options like Technology and Social Justice or Politics of the Global South. You’ll also complete a dissertation or major project, bringing together your academic knowledge and your placement experience.

Focus Areas

Learning Outcomes

Confident philosophical reasoning, strong political analysis, professional communication skills, independent research ability, and workplace experience that demonstrates employability.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

While the degree doesn’t follow a single accreditation pathway, the combination of philosophical insight, political understanding and a year of professional experience gives you a highly versatile profile valued across public service, research, consultancy, NGOs, and policy-based roles.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Lancaster consistently ranks among the UK’s top universities, with strong recognition for Politics, Philosophy and employability — the placement year adds even more value by giving you practical experience before graduation.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

What really sets this degree apart is how much you get to experience the subjects in action. Lancaster makes sure you’re not just thinking about ideas in a classroom — you’re applying them in real political settings, working on live projects, and gaining professional experience long before you graduate. With hands-on simulations, a full placement year, and access to research-active institutes, you’ll build confidence, practical skills and a strong sense of how philosophy and politics work in the real world.

To help you picture what this looks like, here are the key experiential opportunities built into the programme:

Here’s how you’ll learn through real experience:

Engaging political simulations — including mock Select Committees, Citizens’ Assemblies and Prime Minister’s Questions-style debates, where you practise real political reasoning, decision-making and communication.
A full placement year (9–12 months) — your third year is spent working in a graduate-level role, supported by Lancaster’s Careers & Placements team. This lets you apply your philosophical and political understanding in a real workplace and build strong professional experience.
Research opportunities with the Richardson Institute — you may get the chance to work on live peace-studies and policy-related projects connected with this respected research centre.
Workshops, digital tools and collaborative tasks — including opportunities to create policy briefs, podcasts, blogs or engagement portfolios, helping you develop practical communication and analysis skills.
World-class library and digital resources — Lancaster’s library, specialist collections and online research tools give you everything you need for your dissertation or major project.

Progression & Future Opportunities

This degree sets you up beautifully for life after university. By combining deep philosophical thinking with real political understanding — and a full year of professional work experience — you’ll graduate with the kind of clarity, confidence and practical skills employers genuinely notice. Many students go on to roles such as Policy Analyst, Political Journalist, Research & Insights Officer, or Public Affairs Executive, where they get to influence decisions, communicate ideas and contribute to meaningful social change.

To help you get there, Lancaster surrounds you with strong support and real-world opportunities:

Here’s how Lancaster prepares you for long-term success:

Dedicated Careers & Placements support: From helping you find and secure your placement to preparing you for interviews and workplace expectations, the Careers & Placements team is with you every step of the way.
A full 9–12 month professional placement: Your third year gives you hands-on experience in a real organisation — often leading to strong references, a clearer career direction and, in some cases, job offers for after graduation.
Access to research and policy environments: Through the Richardson Institute and other partner organisations, you’ll have the chance to contribute to live projects related to peace studies, policy work or political analysis.
Long-term employability value: While there’s no single accreditation, the combination of philosophical reasoning, political insight and a placement year gives you a uniquely versatile skill set. It opens doors across government, charities, think-tanks, consultancy, media, and research roles.
Strong graduate outcomes: The programme emphasises developing “highly employable skills in research and analysis,” preparing you to interpret complex issues, build evidence-based arguments, and communicate them effectively — skills that translate directly into the workplace.

Further Academic Progression:

If you’d like to continue your studies, you’ll be well prepared for postgraduate pathways such as Public Policy, International Relations, Political Economy, Social Justice, Philosophy, or even a PhD. The combination of academic training and placement experience makes you a strong candidate for advanced study both in the UK and internationally.