Enter OTP
This BA brings together politics, religion, and philosophy so you can explore how beliefs, power, and ideas shape our world. It’s perfect for students who love debate, big questions, and thinking across disciplines to understand contemporary challenges.
Curriculum Structure
Year 1
In your first year, you’ll be introduced to all three disciplines: courses such as Understanding Politics, Problems of Philosophy A & B, and Introduction to the Study of Religion A & B build solid foundations. You’ll also begin exploring the relationships between belief systems and political life in modules that encourage you to ask critical questions from day one.
Year 2
During the second year, you’ll have more choice and depth. You might take topics like Global Politics, Philosophy of Religion, or Ethics and Contemporary Issues, depending on your interests. You’ll also engage in interdisciplinary modules, combining political analysis with religious and philosophical perspectives, while getting closer to choosing your specialization.
Year 3
In your final year you’ll dive into advanced modules and complete a major research project or dissertation. You’ll pick modules in your preferred area—say, Violence and Religion, Political Theory & Practice, or Modern Ethics—and bring your own ideas to the fore in your dissertation, showing you can tackle complex topics on your own.
Focus areas: interdisciplinarity, religion & politics, normative theory
Learning outcomes: critical thinking across worldviews, philosophical reasoning, political and religious analysis
Professional alignment (accreditation): not a professional qualification itself, but highly relevant for roles in policy, NGOs, research, media, public service
Reputation (employability rankings): Birmingham’s strong subject rankings in Theology & Religion (top 10) and Philosophy, plus links to policy and research communities
At Birmingham, this program doesn’t just teach you theories — it gives you real chances to test them out. You’ll work on group projects, attend events led by guest thinkers, and engage closely with the university’s rich library, research centres, and seminar culture to bring ideas into practice. Your learning will often stretch outside the classroom so you can see how politics, religion, and philosophy shape the real world.
Here are some of the hands-on experiences you can expect:
Interdisciplinary seminars & PRP discussion groups where students from politics, religion and philosophy come together to debate, critique, and develop new perspectives.
Group projects in modules such as Religion and the Public Square or Ethics and Contemporary Issues, where you’ll research, analyse, and present to peers.
Access to research centres and institutes across Theology & Religion, Philosophy, and Politics at Birmingham, which exposes students to current academic debates and research applications.
Guest lectures, public events and talks from leading academics and practitioners, offering windows into real policy and religious debates.
Library & digital research tools: the university’s library network is a strong resource, with specialist collections and online databases you’ll use for essays and your final dissertation.
A degree in Politics, Religion and Philosophy from Birmingham opens doors to a wide range of impactful careers where you can make a difference in society. Graduates develop highly transferable skills — from critical thinking and ethical decision-making to persuasive communication — that are valued across government, NGOs, education, media, law, and the non-profit sector. Typical career paths include working as a policy officer, researcher, community development worker, or paralegal.
What makes this degree even more powerful is the support you’ll receive to launch your career:
Careers Network – Birmingham’s dedicated careers service offers tailored support, from one-to-one career mentoring and CV workshops to help securing internships and graduate roles.
Proven success – Over 87% of graduates are in skilled employment or further study within 15 months of graduation.
Employer connections – The University of Birmingham is ranked the #1 most targeted university in the UK by top graduate recruiters.
Diverse opportunities – Alumni go on to careers in public policy, community leadership, legal services, research, and more — with skills that remain valuable across industries and throughout their careers.
Further Academic Progression:
Graduates often choose to continue their studies with a master’s or PhD in areas such as Public Policy, Political Theory, Theology and Religious Studies, Ethics, or Philosophy, paving the way for academic careers, advanced research roles, or leadership positions in policy and public service.
A Level AABIB 6,6,5 in Higher level subjects plus 32 points overall.Indian High School Leaving Certificate 80% ISC, CBSE, Maharashtra or 75% West Bengal or 85% Other State boardsAmerican Curriculum GPA (around 3.7 or higher), high AP scores (4–5 in 3–5 subjects). IELTS: 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any band.TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing.Policy Officer / Policy Analyst Community Development Worker Researcher (in think tanksNGOsacademic institutions) Paralegal / Legal Assistant Public Affairs Consultant Education & Outreach Coordinator 
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University of Birmingham
