BSc Hons Politics and Economics

At Surrey, studying Politics and Economics isn’t just about theory — it’s about learning how these subjects work in the real world. From analysing real data and writing policy briefs to completing a professional placement, you’ll gain the kind of practical experience employers are looking for. The course is designed to build your confidence and skills step by step, so by the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to apply your knowledge in government, business, research, or international organisations.

Here’s how you’ll gain that hands-on experience:

• Professional Training Year (PTY): Take a full year to work with government departments, NGOs, policy think tanks, or research organisations. This placement year lets you apply what you’ve learned in real professional settings and gives you a head start in your career.

• Practical data and research skills: You’ll work with industry-standard tools like RStudio for data analysis and learn quantitative and econometric techniques that are highly valued in research, consultancy, and policy-making roles.

• Real-world assessments: Many modules include projects that mirror the tasks professionals do, such as drafting policy briefs, analysing real economic data, and running political simulations and case studies.

• Expert insights: Learn directly from visiting academics, policymakers, and industry professionals through guest lectures and seminars that connect what you’re studying to real-world issues.

• Digital tools and collaborative learning: Surrey’s SurreyLearn virtual learning environment supports your coursework and projects with resources, discussion spaces, and live data sets, helping you build digital skills alongside academic ones.

• Applied projects: You’ll have opportunities to take part in departmental projects and activities that give you experience beyond the classroom, enhancing your understanding of how politics and economics interact in practice.

These experiences ensure you graduate with more than just a degree — you’ll have the skills, experience, and confidence to step into the workplace or postgraduate study straight away.

A degree in Politics and Economics from Surrey opens up a world of exciting career paths where you can shape decisions, influence policy, and drive change on a national or global scale. By combining deep political insight with strong economic analysis, you’ll graduate with the skills employers look for in government, business, finance, consultancy, and international organisations. Many Surrey graduates go on to careers such as:

• Policy Advisor or Public Affairs Consultant

• Economic Analyst or Strategy Consultant

• Civil Service or Government Officer

• Communications or NGO Project Manager

Here’s how Surrey helps you build a strong future:

• Tailored career support: Surrey’s award-winning Employability and Careers Centre offers personalised coaching, CV and interview preparation, employer networking events, and mentoring to help you succeed in politics, economics, and policy-focused roles.

• Placement opportunities: The renowned Professional Training Year gives you the chance to spend up to a year working in government, NGOs, research institutions, or consulting firms — giving you valuable real-world experience before you graduate.

• Impressive employment outcomes: Around 92% of politics students and 91% of economics students are employed or pursuing further study within 15 months of graduation. Overall, 95% of Surrey graduates are in work or further education, with 87% securing graduate-level roles.

• Strong earning potential: Politics graduates typically start on around £25,000, while economics graduates see rapid salary growth — averaging £30,000 just 15 months after graduation and rising to £48,500 within five years.

• Valuable industry links: Surrey works closely with government bodies, think tanks, NGOs, and companies to provide placements and projects, while the Surrey Research Park connects students with employers in economics, data, and policy roles.

• Global recognition: Surrey is ranked among the UK’s top universities for graduate outcomes, with more than 81% of graduates moving into highly skilled jobs within 15 months.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing your degree, you’ll have a range of exciting options to deepen your expertise. Many graduates choose to pursue a Master’s in areas such as Political Economy, Public Policy, International Relations, or Economics. Others continue into PhD research in political economy or comparative politics, or combine their degree with professional qualifications in public administration, data analytics, or policy leadership to enhance their career prospects even further.