Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Government. This three-year Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA Hons) in Politics provides a thorough training in all major areas of political science, encouraging students to move from opinions to evidence by asking "how do you know?". You will investigate the scope of political science as a field of inquiry, and the methods used by political scientists, to explore questions concerning both what does occur in politics and what should occur. Key topics include concepts in political science (e.g., state, laws, wars, political parties), international relations, democratic systems, political power, obligations, freedom, rights, and equality. The program encourages fearless and independent thinking, drawing on a broad range of facts and ideas. Students also develop a Career Portfolio to enhance employability. An optional Placement-Linked Project module is available as an alternative to the dissertation, involving shorter placements (minimum 150 hours total) to inform a research project, providing fantastic work experience.

Career options for graduates are extensive and diverse, benefiting from a qualification from one of the world's leading politics departments. Graduates are in demand from a host of employers in politics, the civil service (including fast stream), management, journalism, police, armed forces, commerce, business, finance, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international development, teaching, and graduate research. The program's emphasis on critical thinking, evidence-based reasoning, and practical skills through options like the Placement-Linked Project, makes graduates highly competitive. Alumni have secured roles with organizations like the Qatar Financial Authority, NATO, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Houses of Parliament Research Unit, United Nations Development Program, and the Department of Health.

The University of Essex is a forward-thinking environment with a diverse international community. Its Department of Government is a centre of world-leading research excellence for the social sciences and is consistently ranked among the most prestigious in Europe for its outstanding record of teaching, research, and publication (rated 6th in UK for research power in politics and international studies, REF 2021). The university offers a location close to beautiful countryside that's only an hour away from London by train, combining a peaceful setting with easy access to a major global city. Academic staff are actively involved in advising governments and commenting on political events, bringing real-world relevance to the curriculum.