Politics and History BSc

About the Course

This degree provides an innovative combination of high-level study of both politics and history. As well as gaining a firm understanding of key political institutions and players which form a framework to understanding contemporary issues, you will study complementary courses in history, which span from the 17th to the 20th centuries and cover a wide range of geographical locations.

Aims

Programmes in Politics will help you to address critical questions such as: Who has political power? Why do they have it? To whom are they accountable? In whose interest do they exercise it? What is globalisation? s violent protest ever justified?

The History programme introduces you to the study of societies in the past, looking at the history of Britain, Europe and the wider world in the modern period. Through an examination of life as it was lived in the past, you begin to understand what it means to be human as well as seeing both how different the past is from the present and how connected present and past events are.

Enquiries

Dr Niall Palmer
Admissions Tutor

Helen Stevenson
Admissions and Marketing Administrator
School of Social Sciences
Tel: +44 (0)1895 265952
Email: helen.stevenson@brunel.ac.uk

Related Courses

• History BA
• History with Professional Development BA
• Politics BSc
• Politics with Professional Development BSc
• International Politics BSc
• International Politics with Professional Development BSc

Special Features

• You have good access to some the best research facilities in the UK, and Westminster and Whitehall are within easy reach.
  
  
• You have the chance to spend a period of study in New York, Rennes, Stuttgart, Cyprus, Malta, Ireland or Helsinki through our student exchange programme.
  
  
• We have good links with key political figures and institutions.
  

Facts and Figures

Our courses are designed and taught by experts in the fields of politics, international relations, social policy and contemporary history who have been nationally and internationally recognised for the excellence of their research.

Course Content

This degree draws on the skills and expertise of all the disciplines that make up the School of Social Sciences. In addition to the Politics half of the course, and the writing of a dissertation at Level 3, you will take modules in historiography and historical skills, and select modules covering a wide variety of historical periods and substantive themes.

Typical Modules

Please note that module availability is subject to change.
 
Level 1 Core

• Political Science Methods
• Central Themes in Political Thought
• Modern British Politics
• What is History?

Level 1 Options

• Revolution, Liberty and the Origins of American Democracy
• Capital Labour and Power: Britain 1707-1939
• History, Memory and Culture in Europe since 1789
• The Making of the Modern World
• Migration and the Settler World 1600-1914

• Level 2 Core

• Comparative Politics
• Historians and their Craft

Level 2 Options

• Democracy and Democratisation
• Total War in the Modern Era
• Asia-Pacific International Relations: Modern East-West Encounters
• US Foreign Policy from World War II to the end of the Cold War
• Issues in American Politics
• International Relations
• The Holocaust
• The Birth of Industrial Britain, 1750-1850
• Slavery and Abolition in the Atlantic World

Level 3 Core

• Dissertation (this may be taken in Politics, or jointly between Politics and History)
• European Union Politics: Problems and Prospects

Level 3 Options

• Globalisation and Governance
• Empire, Imperialism, Hegemony
• Media, Power and Politics in America
• Marx and Marxism
• India and the World: the International Relations of a Rising Power
• Fascism
• Parties and Voters in the UK
• Intelligence and National Security
• Theory and Practice of Cultural Diversity
• The Second World War
• The History and Politics of Heritage
• History, Travel and the Sea
• The Arab-Israeli Conflict
• Rethinking Modern Europe: Borders, Nations and Identities since 1850

Final year dissertation

Students produce a 12,000 word dissertation on a subject of their choice. This major piece of work will give you a valuable opportunity to demonstrate research and writing skills. It is written on a subject relevant to your particular course of study and may well relate to your future career plans.

Teaching and Learning

Experts in their field

As one of our students, you will be taught by academics who are experts in their field. Many of our lecturers are internationally and nationally recognised, writing important books, publishing well-regarded scholarly articles and presenting papers to universities at home and abroad, as well as acting as regular media performers worldwide. Their research has led to major television and radio programmes.

Several staff are paid consultants to government Departments (including the Home Office and the departments of Education, Employment, Health and Social Security) and major national newspapers. Students benefit from their exciting contacts and inside knowledge.

Student support

We are committed to helping you progress confidently through the levels of your degree programme. To achieve this, we devote as much care to your initiation into higher education, both by entry-level courses and study skills teaching, as to the completion of your learning at Level 3.

By your final year, therefore, you will be in a position to benefit from the specialist research-led courses and will be prepared for the research and writing involved in your dissertation.

Overseas exchanges

Students are encouraged to take advantage of the University’s exchange scheme with the State University of New York at Brockport (which includes the opportunity to do a work placement in Washington or Albany). We also have partnerships with EU universities in the Socrates programme, including the universities of Rennes, Stuttgart, Malta, Cyprus, Ireland and Helsinki.

How will I be taught?

Modules are generally taught by a mixture of lectures and seminars. Depending on its credit-rating, you can expect to have one or two hours of lectures per week for each module and a one-hour seminar each week or fortnight.

The bulk of every student’s work, however, will undoubtedly consist of private study. On average this should absorb approximately 25 to 30 hours of your life each week.

Lectures – These provide a broad overview of key themes and ideas relating to your course and provide you with a framework from which to carry out more in-depth study.

Seminars – These relatively small groups are used for subjects where the lecture material is examined in more detail, and theoretical concepts are analysed and applied in specific contexts. Seminars provide students with an opportunity for discussion, argument and the development of presentational skills.

One-to-one – You will get one-to-one supervision on your final year dissertation and at all levels you will have a personal tutor who is available to discuss personal and academic problems. If you go on placement, you will also be allocated a work placement tutor who will ensure your progress and provide further support if you need it.

Private study – Real learning requires active involvement by you. Lecturers and seminar leaders can provide guidance and help but you must develop the ability to organise your studies. During your first months at Brunel, you are given help and advice designed to encourage you to become an ‘independent learner’, capable of managing your work effectively.

External visits – Wherever possible we aim to introduce students to the benefits which stem from observing politics in action and from the personal experience of other political systems and ideas. You will visit important political sites in the UK (the University is a short distance from parliament), and depending on the options you select, may visit overseas.

Assessment

Level 1 does not count towards your final degree mark. Level 2 is worth a third, and Level 3 is worth two-thirds. The final year dissertation is worth a third of Level 3 marks.

Exact assessment patterns vary, but most are based on a combination of coursework and formal written exams. Typically, coursework marks constitute 25-50% of overall module grades.

Employability

If you take a sandwich degree you gain work experience alongside politicians and trained professionals and in commercial and public organisations. That experience can enhance the academic study of politics and is highly valued by employers. A sandwich degree allows students to add an important dimension to their portfolio of achievements. It enables them to gain professional experience in commercial, political and public sector organisations, which is highly valued by employers. Our students have taken placements in a variety of settings, including: Politics International Epolitix.com Connect Public Affairs William Hague's Office Liberal Democrats Information Unit MPs' offices at the House of Commons The offices of US Senators HM Treasury HM Customs and Excise Competition Commission Welsh Development Agency Addenbrooke's NHS Trust Kent County Council.

Careers

A major attraction of our courses is the wide variety of career opportunities to which they can lead. Not surprisingly, Brunel’s politics graduates have gone on to important careers in public and private life.

Our students pursue a wide variety of jobs after graduating. Some, like Margaret McDonagh or John McDonnell MP, opt for careers in politics. Others have joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Home Office, GCHQ and military intelligence. Many have gone on to work in public and private sector organisations, such as Chase Manhattan, Marks and Spencer, British Airways, Coca Cola Schweppes, HSBC, and the NHS Confederation. Significant numbers have taken further training to pursue careers in broadcasting, journalism, law, and teaching at every level.

Placements

You can take a one-year, professional work placement – past students have worked for the Home Office, Treasury, Houses of Parliament and organisations such as Epolitix.com and Politics International.

The positive impact of a sandwich placement on graduate employment outcomes across Brunel is considerable. Those who have done placements are also much more likely to be in employment for which they their degree was a formal requirement or where they believe their degree gave them a competitive advantage in recruitment.

Placement leavers from Politics experienced the following outcomes:

• 87.5% progressed into employment or further study
• 71.4% were engaged in a graduate-level activity (employment or further study)
• 60.0% of employed leavers were working in the top three categories of graduate level employment
• The average starting salary was £33,000.

Fees for 2013/14 entry

UK/EU students: £9,000 full-time

International students: £12,000 full-time

We are introducing over 700 scholarships for 2013, meaning that one in five applicants who join Brunel next year will receive financial support from the University. See our fees and funding page for full details

Fees quoted are per annum and are subject to an annual increase.

Entry Requirements for 2013 Entry

• GCE A-level Typical offer AAB, including Grade B in A-level History (General Studies/Critical Thinking accepted). Applicants who have already achieved at least ABB at A-level and have Personal Statements showing a strong interest in the course and transferable skills will also be considered. Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants within this range.
• Irish Leaving Certificate AAABB, including Grade B in History or related subject
• Scottish Advanced Highers AAB, including History or related subject
• Advanced Diploma Progression Diploma Grade A in Creative and Media, Society, Health and Development, Public Services or Business, Administration and Finance, plus an A-level at Grade B for Additional and Specialist Learning
• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma D*D*D in a related subject
• IBDP 35 points, including Higher Level 5 in History or related subject
• Access Complete and pass a related subject Access course with 45 credits at Level 3, of which 30 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher.

For all of the above, 5 GCSEs or equivalent at Grade C or above are also required, to include English and Maths (please note that these must have been gained by the time you submit your UCAS application).

English Language Requirements

Brunel also offers our own BrunELT English Test and accept a range of other language courses. We also have a range of Pre-sessional English language courses, for students who do not meet these requirements, or who wish to improve their English.