Politics and Philosophy BA

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Nottingham

Program Overview

The BA Politics and Philosophy at the University of Nottingham is designed for curious thinkers who want to understand the world — not just how it works, but why it works that way. This program blends political insight with philosophical depth, perfect for students who love debating ideas, exploring ethical questions, and analysing how governments, policies, and human values shape society.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Building the Foundations
Your first year introduces you to the essentials of both fields. In Introduction to Comparative Politics, you’ll explore how different political systems operate, while Mind, Knowledge, and Ethics challenges you to think about what drives human decision-making. You’ll also take Reasoning, Argument, and Logic, a key module that strengthens your ability to analyse and construct persuasive arguments — a skill valuable far beyond the classroom.

Year 2 – Expanding Perspectives
The second year gives you room to dive deeper into complex global issues. You might study Global Security to understand today’s biggest geopolitical threats or explore International Political Economy and Global Development to see how political choices influence economies and societies worldwide. In philosophy, modules like Intermediate Logic push you to question assumptions and sharpen your analytical thinking.

Year 3 – Specialising and Applying Knowledge
In your final year, you’ll bring everything together. You can choose to write a dissertation on a topic you’re passionate about — from human rights to political ethics — or take advanced modules like Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence to examine how new technologies challenge traditional moral and political ideas. It’s a year that lets you craft your own intellectual path and prepare for life after graduation.

Focus Areas: political theory • ethics • comparative politics • logic and reasoning • global governance

Learning Outcomes: develop critical and creative thinking • apply philosophical reasoning to political realities • communicate ideas with clarity and evidence • evaluate policies through ethical and logical lenses

Professional Alignment: Offered by a Russell Group university, this degree is backed by Nottingham’s global reputation for academic excellence, research impact, and career-ready graduates.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): Ranked 66th globally and 10th in the UK for graduate employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022).

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At the University of Nottingham, studying Politics and Philosophy (BA Joint Honours) means stepping beyond theory and seeing how ideas work in practice. You’ll explore real-world political challenges, ethical debates, and social systems through experiences that develop both intellectual depth and professional confidence. From internships and global exchanges to debates and research projects, you’ll learn by doing — not just by reading.

Here’s how you’ll gain hands-on experience throughout your degree:

Internships and Work Placements: You’ll have access to Nottingham’s dedicated placements and internship programme, which helps students gain real-world experience in government departments, NGOs, media, and policy organisations. These opportunities help you apply classroom learning to professional settings and build your network.
Study Abroad Options: You can choose to spend a semester or year studying in countries such as the USA, China, or across Europe, giving you the chance to see political and philosophical concepts play out in different cultural contexts.
Active Student Societies: Joining the Politics Society, Debating Union, or Model United Nations Society allows you to practice public speaking, negotiation, and leadership through events, conferences, and simulations.
Research and Departmental Workshops: You’ll study in one of the UK’s most research-active schools, where staff bring their current research into classroom discussions. Workshops, guest lectures, and interactive seminars make learning engaging and relevant.
Digital and Library Resources: Nottingham’s modern libraries offer advanced digital archives, philosophy and political theory collections, and access to global databases — giving you every tool to explore complex questions with evidence and depth.

Progression & Future Opportunities

A Politics and Philosophy degree from the University of Nottingham opens doors to diverse and meaningful careers. Graduates leave with the ability to think critically, argue persuasively, and analyse real-world problems — skills highly valued across government, business, and international sectors. Typical career paths include Policy Analyst, Public Affairs Consultant, Research Officer, and Parliamentary Assistant.

Here’s how Nottingham helps you turn your degree into a career:

Dedicated Career Support: The Careers and Employability Service offers one-on-one guidance, CV and interview workshops, employer networking events, and exclusive internship opportunities within public policy, consulting, and media sectors.
Graduate Outcomes: Around 86% of Nottingham’s Social Science graduates secure graduate-level jobs or progress to further study within 15 months, with an average starting salary of £29,000–£30,000.
Employer Connections: Nottingham is consistently ranked among the UK’s most targeted universities by top employers, giving you access to professional networks and graduate schemes across government, NGOs, and international organisations.
Global Reputation: As a Russell Group university, your Nottingham degree carries long-term value — recognised by employers and academic institutions worldwide for its research excellence and analytical training.
Alumni Success: Graduates from this program have gone on to work in think tanks, international NGOs, the civil service, media, and consulting — applying their philosophical insight and political understanding to real impact.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing your BA, you can continue your studies with a Master’s in Public Policy, Political Theory, International Relations, or Philosophy, or even pursue PhD research. Many students choose to specialise further in ethical leadership, global governance, or data-driven public policy.