School: College of Social Sciences, Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) and Department of Philosophy. This four-year Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA Hons) program enables you to meet the great minds of politics and philosophy on equal terms, critically engaging with their ideas and developing advanced analytical and critical enquiry skills, with an integrated year spent studying at a partner university abroad. You will explore fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language through philosophy, alongside understanding how societies function, how political systems operate, and how policies are developed through politics. The curriculum is interdisciplinary and offers flexible module choices. Your third year is spent abroad at one of the University of Birmingham’s many international exchange partners across Europe and beyond, providing an immersive experience in a different academic and cultural environment. This year significantly enhances your confidence, adaptability, and global perspective, boosting your employability. The program also offers opportunities for work placements through an integrated Professional Development Module and participation in prestigious events like International Model NATO Conferences.

Career options for graduates are excellent and highly varied, particularly benefiting from the international experience and the advanced critical thinking and communication skills gained. The University of Birmingham is consistently ranked as a top UK university targeted by leading graduate employers (e.g., #1 by High Fliers Research 2024). Graduates are well-prepared for roles in diverse sectors, including government (civil service, diplomacy, local government), international organizations (e.g., UN, EU), policy analysis, research (think tanks), law, journalism, public relations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), charities, teaching, and global business and finance. The philosophical training is particularly valued in professions requiring rigorous logical reasoning, ethical understanding, and persuasive argumentation, while the year abroad adds invaluable cross-cultural competence.

The University of Birmingham is a member of the UK's prestigious Russell Group, signifying its commitment to world-class research and an outstanding teaching and learning experience. It is a highly ranked 'red brick' university in the heart of England, known for its academic excellence. Birmingham is the UK's second largest city and very multicultural, offering a vibrant and diverse environment for students. Both the Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) and the Department of Philosophy are highly regarded, with Philosophy consistently ranking among the top departments nationally for research excellence (e.g., #1 in REF 2021 for research performance). The integrated year abroad provides an exceptional opportunity for global immersion and career enhancement.