Politics, Sexuality and Gender BA(Hons)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Brighton

Program Overview

This degree brings together politics, sexuality and gender to help you understand how identity, power and culture shape the world we live in. It is ideal for students who care deeply about equality, social justice and real change, and who want to study big ideas while applying them to real-life issues and communities.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

In your first year, you explore the foundations of politics alongside introductions to sexuality and gender studies. Modules such as Introduction to Politics, Sexuality and Gender, Foundations in World Politics and Sex and Politics: Defining Contemporary Issues help you understand how identities and institutions influence each other. You also take part in creative projects in the Global Challenges Lab, where you learn to communicate political ideas through blogs, videos or podcasts.

Year 2

Your second year lets you dive deeper into how gender and sexuality shape political life. Through modules like Authority, Democracy and Justice, Researching Politics and options such as Unruly Bodies, you explore systems of power, challenge norms, and build solid research skills. This is also the year where you begin choosing pathways that reflect your interests and prepare you for independent work.

Final Year

By your final year, you’re ready to apply your knowledge through meaningful work. You take modules such as Sexual Utopias: Imagining Radical Futures, Social Change Project or a fully independent Politics Dissertation. You will design your own project, analyse real-world issues, and work closely with lecturers who are active researchers and campaigners.

Focus areas: feminist political theory, queer and trans politics, social justice, activism, gender studies

Learning outcomes: deep understanding of gendered and sexual power structures, strong research and analytical skills, confident communication across multiple media formats, the ability to design and lead social-change projects

Professional alignment (accreditation): delivered by a research-active politics and social science department, ensuring your learning reflects real debates, current scholarship and sector expectations

Reputation (employability rankings): Brighton ranks within the UK’s top segment for graduate earnings in the field of politics, reflecting the long-term value of the degree

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

One of the best parts of this degree is how quickly you start applying what you learn. Instead of only reading about gender, sexuality and politics, you’ll work directly with communities, create digital projects, and gain real experience that helps you grow both academically and professionally. Brighton’s campus, research centres and support teams give you the space to explore your interests, build confidence, and develop a strong portfolio of work by the time you graduate.

All of this hands-on experience comes through opportunities such as:

Community placements with local feminist, LGBTQI+ and social-impact organisations, where you get to contribute to real projects and understand how activism works on the ground.
A dedicated workplace and community engagement module, where you complete around 40 hours of structured placement experience guided by the School of Humanities and the university’s volunteering team.
Creative assessments where you produce podcasts, short films, digital campaigns, visual content and political communication pieces through modules like the Global Challenges Lab.
The chance to connect with Brighton’s research centres, including the Centre for Transforming Sexuality and Gender and the Centre for Philosophy, Politics and Ethics — places where you can attend talks, join workshops, or even explore research opportunities.
Full access to Brighton’s libraries, digital tools and IT resources, which students consistently rate highly for supporting their academic and creative work.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from this programme build careers where they can genuinely influence conversations around equality, identity, human rights and social change. The skills you develop — from critical analysis to communication and project work — prepare you for roles where your voice matters. Many students go on to work as policy analysts, campaign managers, NGO project coordinators, or public affairs officers, using what they learned at Brighton to make a meaningful impact.

To help you get there, the university offers strong support and real opportunities:

Brighton’s Careers & Employability team gives you personalised guidance, helping you refine your CV, practise interviews and connect with placements and internships through the Careers Connect platform.
Social science graduates from Brighton report an average salary of around £26,000 fifteen months after graduating — a strong indicator of the value of the degree.
The programme connects you with local councils, equality-focused charities, LGBTQI+ organisations, policy groups and community partners, giving you a chance to gain real experience before graduating.
Because the course is taught by a research-active team, you also benefit from current debates, guest speakers and real-world project briefs that keep your learning closely linked to professional practice.
The degree holds long-term value, equipping you with transferable skills in research, communication, campaign design and critical thinking — all of which employers across multiple sectors look for.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing your BA, you can continue into a Master’s degree in areas such as Gender Studies, Public Policy, Human Rights, International Relations, Social Change or related fields. If you enjoy research, the programme also prepares you well for postgraduate research degrees (MRes or PhD) focused on gender, sexuality, activism or political theory.