Undergraduate Programmes

The Politics and History Department is a well-ranked department (in the top third in the UK and higher on some league tables) which focuses on contemporary politics and modern history.

Excellent National Student Satisfaction (NSS) results

Brunel is fifth in London for overall student satisfaction. This includes results in which we scored 100% student satisfaction for two years running in History and were placed in the top third of UK institutions for Politics.

Research excellence

In the last Research Assessment Exercise run by the government’s Higher Education Funding Council, 75% of the Department’s research was rated as being of international excellence. You will be taught by leading experts and you will benefit from the strong support we offer students. We pride ourselves on being accessible and approachable, with an effective Personal Tutoring system.

We have world renowned experts who are sought-after by the media and policy makers. Find out more about their influential research in the 'Research Expertise' section (see above).

Exciting placement opportunities

We offer four-year sandwich courses (with Professional Development) as well as three year courses. Our award winning Placement and Careers Centre provides high quality work placement opportunities in a wide range of organisations, which will help you to succeed in the job market. Recent placements have included the following:

• Crime Statistics Unit in the Home Office
• Local government and Westminster MPs
• Ministry of Justice
• Prince’s Trust
• Citizens Advice Bureau
• British Youth Council

A truly interdisciplinary approach

You have the opportunity to study politics or history, or both. At Brunel, you can make the most of the interdisciplinary research our academics undertake fully exploring the interface between politics and history.

Learn more about our scholarships, research expertise, study abroad scheme, activities and course modules in the above sections.

Brunel’s scholarship package

Brunel has introduced over 1,000 new scholarships for undergraduate students. This means that one in every three students who join Brunel in 2012 will receive financial support from the University.

Work Placement Scholarship

Although our work placement fees are competitive at £1,000, a fee waiver scheme is also available for eligible students.

Academic Excellence Scholarship

This scheme offer a £3,000 fee waiver each year to students who achieve three As at A-level (or equivalent in an alternative qualification).

Brunel Access Scholarships

The scholarships will support students from under-represented groups (such as disabled students, mature students, those with a low household income and those in the first generation of their family to go to university), and encourage continuous improvement as the award value rises after each successful year of study.

These scholarships are complemented by a range of further awards as well as the Government’s flagship National Scholarship Programme, jointly funded by Brunel.

For further details, see our Fees and Funding 2012 information.

Experts who are highly sought-after by the media and policy makers

We have talented experts in their field who are engaged in a wide range of influential research activity which is sought-after by policy makers and is regularly covered by the media.

Professor Justin Fisher, Head of the School of Social Sciences

• Appears regularly on BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky TV, Radio 4 and Radio 5 discussing political parties and British elections
• Acted as an Advisor to the Parliamentary Committee on Standards in Public Life
• Director of The Electoral Commission’s project on Attitudes of Agents on the Administration of the 2010 General Election

Dr Philip Davies and Dr Kristian Gustafson, lecturers in Intelligence and Security Studies

• Played a major role in the development of Britain’s current joint military intelligence doctrine

Dr Kristian Gustafson, lecturer in Intelligence and Security Studies

• Featured on BBC Radio 4 and on Sky News to speak sbout the death of Osama Bin Laden
• Appeared on BBC4 covering the story of the CIA

Dr Matthew Hughes, lecturer in contemporary military and international history and politics

• Appeared on USA Public Broadcasting to talk about Edwardian Britain for a programme to accompany the series Downton Abbey

Dr Tamson Pietsch, Lecturer in Imperial and Colonial History

• Writes regularly for The Guardian’s Higher Education Network pages

Dr Varun Uberoi, lecturer in political science

• Written for The Independent newspaper on questions of multi-culturalism
• Liaised with the Canadian Federal Government’s Citizenship and Immigration Canada project about the backlash against multi-culturalism in Europe and presented his report on multi-culturalism to the No.10 Policy Unit

Dr John Macmillan, senior lecturer in International Relations

• Spoke to the All Party Group on Disarmament and Global Security at the House of Lords on the subject of military intervention

Fantastic International Exchange Scheme with 13 partner institutions

In today’s globalised world, having the cultural experience of living abroad will give you an advantage in the job market. You can choose to study with one of our 13 partner institutions worldwide and you will spend a full academic year in the chosen country:

• Ankara University. Turkey
• The Autonomous University, Barcelona
• Charles University, Prague
• FK Institute at the Freie University of Berlin, Germany
• University of Cyprus
• University of Helsinki, Finland
• University of Rennes, France
• University of Stuttgart, Germany
• National University of Ireland
• Universidade NOVA (Lisbon), Portugal
• University of Nottingham-Ningbo, China
• American University of Paris, France

Active student societies – Politics Society, History Society

You will have the opportunity to become a member of our student societies, which are run independently by students: Brunel University Politics Society (BUPS) and Brunel University History Society (BUSH). Each society organises a range of events and activities.  

Exciting associated activities

The Department runs a range of extra activities either for students or to which students are invited.  These include field trips, seminar series with external speakers and other events. For example:

• A trip to the Don McCullin war photography exhibition at the Imperial War Museum
• Participation in the Model United Nations in Lille, France, in February 2012
• Visiting diplomats from the Israeli Embassy and the Palestinian Mission in London speaking on the course The Arab-Israeli Conflict

Level 1Level 2Level 3

European History since 1870 (Alison Carrol and Astrid Swenson)

This module examines European history from the nineteenth century to the present. We will study central themes and events in the political, social, economic and cultural history of Europe, including the legacy of the nineteenth century revolutions and nationalism, the challenge of the adaptation to mass politics, the rise and fall of communism and fascism and the impact of total war. Introducing a range of primary sources and secondary literature, the module will examine the role played by individuals in a period dominated by dictatorships and relates this to broader structural developments. Throughout, you will be encouraged to make connections between events in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and to draw comparative assessments across Europe. You will be introduced to a range of historiographical debates and reflect on the problems historians face when attempting to write the history of a past that still occupies the twilight zone between history and memory.

Sources, Methods and Perspectives in World History (Alison Carrol and Tamson Pietsch)

This module addresses a number of important areas of history and historiography, laying out the multifaceted ways in which professional history is practiced. It endeavours to demonstrate that history is both an arts subject and a branch of social science, and is a discipline that requires practitioners to be both imaginative and rigorous. It considers the various sources used by historians, before evaluating a range of important methodologies and interpretative perspectives on historical study and the past. The module also offers guidance on writing essays, career advice and familiarises students with the library and other services students will use in the course of their degree.

Britain, 1707-1939 (Thomas Linehan)

This module aims to provide a broad historical perspective of the main political, social, economic, and cultural changes and developments in British history from 1707 to 1939. The module will introduce students to the key historical processes and changes at work in these decades, and will examine the effects of these processes and changes on British society.

The Americas from Conquest to Settlement (Inge Dornan)

This modules examines themes of conquest, empire, and liberty in the Americas from c1492-1830. Beginning with Columbus and the Spanish Conquistadors through to the European "invasion" of North America we investigate the myths of conquest that surrounded the Europeans in the Americas. As Indians and Europeans negotiated and fought for territory, we focus on the processes and experiences of European settlement - which include the arrival of the Puritans and Pilgrims, the Salem witchcraft trials, the great awakening, and the introduction of slavery to the American colonies. In the context of discussions over the meaning of liberty and enslavement, we study the American Revolution and Haitian Revolution, and end this module with an examination of the "removal" of the Indians and the corresponding emergence of American "democracy".

Modern British Politics (Varun Uberoi)

This module aims to provide a foundation for the study of modern British politics, introducing students to the main institutions and current issues in British Politics.

Political Science methods (Justin Fisher)

This module provides students with a practical introduction to research methods for the study of politics, which will also provide them guidance on how to prepare and write term-time essays. By the end of the module, students should have a firm grasp of the research process and the different methods available to them when conducting their own research. Students will be able to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to the discipline. The module covers the steps in the research cycle – from the design of research questions to the evaluation of evidence. Several lectures will be devoted to the differences between quantitative and qualitative methodology and the debate about which is preferable. The module ends with consideration of the ethics of social research and its limits.

Central Themes in Political Thought (Mark Neocleous)

This module introduces some of the central themes and thinkers in political thought. It is divided into two Parts: Part 1: Thinkers, in which we examine the arguments of some of the key political theorists such as Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Mill, and Marx. And Part II: Themes, in which we examine the central ideas in political debate, such as democracy, the state, class, the nation, property, gender, justice, equality.

Introduction to World Politics (Stephen Marrin and Kristian Gustafson)

The module is designed to give students a broad understanding of key issues and developments in world politics. It deals with such issues as power, sovereignty, and how states (and other players) interact on the world stage now and into the future.

Introduction to American Politics (Niall Palmer)

This module is designed to provide students with a working knowledge and clear understanding of the American governmental and political system. Beginning with an analysis of the origins of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, it moves on to assessments of the role and powers of each branch of the Federal government, the influence of political parties and interest groups, the changing forms and functions of federalism and the development of domestic and foreign policy agendas. The module combines historical perspectives with contemporary political analysis to provide a broad overview of the complex political system which struggles to govern a sprawling superpower.

The above modules are a typical selection and are subject to change.