BA Politics and Economics

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Keele University

Program Overview

Keele’s BA (Hons) Politics with Economics is designed for students who want to understand how governments, people, and markets shape the world — and how smart policy can solve real problems. It’s a great fit if you're curious about global issues, enjoy debating ideas, and want a degree that blends theory with practical, career-ready skills.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

Your first year gives you the essentials of both politics and economics. You’ll explore how political power works in Why Politics Matters, learn how individuals and firms make decisions in Introductory Microeconomics, and start seeing the bigger picture in Introduction to Global Political Economy. It’s a strong, confidence-building start that helps you understand how the world really works.

Year 2

In the second year, the course becomes more applied and analytical. You’ll look at how real policies are created in Public Policy and How to Make It, build stronger economic reasoning in Intermediate Microeconomics, and study how money, trade, and markets interact globally in Open Economy Macroeconomics. This is when you start thinking like a policymaker or economist.

Year 3

Your final year lets you specialise in the areas you care about most. You can take modules like Parliamentary Studies or advanced political economy options, while developing a major research project or dissertation. By the end, you’ll have a clear sense of your strengths — and the skills to step into careers in government, NGOs, business, or further study.

Focus Areas

Political economy, policy-making, global markets, macro & microeconomics, applied economic analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Develop strong critical thinking, data interpretation, policy evaluation skills, and confidence using analytical tools like STATA and Bloomberg.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The degree isn’t tied to a specific accrediting body, but it’s built around practical skills and opportunities like placements, study abroad, and industry-relevant software training — preparing you for roles in government, finance, consultancy, and international organisations.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings)

Keele is ranked No. 1 in the West Midlands for Politics (Guardian University Guide 2026) and among the Top 10 in England for Politics (NSS 2025, broad-based universities).

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

One of the best parts of studying Politics with Economics at Keele is how much you get to do, not just learn. You’ll work with real data, practise decision-making in policy simulations and collaborate with classmates on projects that feel genuinely connected to what’s happening in the world. Whether you’re analysing a live economic dataset in the Bloomberg Lab or shaping your own research topic with academic support, you’ll constantly be applying ideas in practical, confidence-building ways.

And all of this becomes even richer through the facilities and learning experiences available to you, such as:

Hands-on access to the Bloomberg Business Lab, where you can explore real-time global economic and financial data just like professionals in finance and policy analysis do.
Interactive workshops and simulations that put you in the role of policymakers as you test scenarios, analyse choices and think through the impact of different political and economic decisions.
Small-group seminars, debates and team projects that help you sharpen your communication skills, work collaboratively and learn from different viewpoints.
A supervised independent research project or dissertation, giving you the chance to dig deep into a topic you care about and develop your own academic voice.
Specialist computer-lab sessions where you learn how to interpret economic and business data, supporting your understanding of economic modelling and applied analysis.

Progression & Future Opportunities

A degree in Politics with Economics at Keele opens doors to careers where you get to shape decisions, influence policy and understand the forces that drive economies and governments. Many graduates step into roles that blend analytical thinking with real-world impact — whether that’s in government, business, NGOs or international organisations. Typical career paths include policy analyst, public affairs or advocacy officer, economic or financial consultant, and international development professional.

And Keele makes sure you’re not doing this alone — you’re supported from your first year right through to your first job:

You’ll work closely with Keele’s Careers & Employability Service, which helps you secure internships, on-campus roles and graduate placements through its CareerHub platform.
Graduate salary outcomes show strong early-career progression: social sciences graduates from Keele earn around £25,000 after 15 months and roughly £23,000 after three years (Discover Uni).
You gain rare real-world exposure through the Parliamentary Studies module, taught in partnership with the UK Parliament — giving you insight directly from political practitioners.
Long-term value: your training in policy evaluation, economic analysis (including Bloomberg terminal access), critical thinking and research is highly transferable across public, private and non-profit sectors.
Graduate outcomes are consistently positive, with many alumni progressing into meaningful roles or further academic study soon after completing their degree.

Further Academic Progression:

If you decide to continue studying, the programme gives you a strong platform for postgraduate pathways such as Public Policy, International Development, Economic Policy, Finance, International Relations, or Political Science. Your blend of political insight and economic reasoning gives you an advantage in both taught master’s programmes and research-focused degrees.