Empower positive change, answer big questions and make sense of society in an ever-changing political world. Politics at Keele is designed to help you understand society and the events and forces that shape it. Our wide-ranging course develops your knowledge and understanding of government, people, ideas, institutions, and their interactions. Engage in real-world experiences that equip you with core skills in analytical thinking, problem-solving and research, ready to embark on a career of your choice across various sectors including government, public relations and business.

Course overview

Our Politics BA introduces you to the study of politics with insights into the concepts, ideas and the nature of power. You will focus on the processes of political change and the influences at a local, national and global level, with consideration of some of the biggest challenges to face global politics.

Our programme looks to make sense of politics, exploring the concepts of power, democracy and governance, and how we address the many contemporary challenges of the political world. Politics at Keele focuses on activism: you will explore, understand and develop the skills you need to make a positive impact on your own lives and in the communities in which you live. You will do this by developing knowledge of power, governance, activism and participation, and skills that equip you for success in your career, as an active citizen, and as someone able to lead change that promotes political, social, and economic well-being. By the end of the degree, you will have been exposed to a range of different ways of interpreting and answering the biggest questions in politics, empowering you to reflect on your own positions and how we can make a difference in an ever-changing political world.

Work Placements

Our Politics programme at Keele offers the chance to engage with work placements as part of your degree programme to gain valuable experience in the workplace on real-world case studies. You will collaborate with professionals in industry by demonstrating your knowledge and expertise and learning new skills which will support your professional journey. From analytical thinking, problem-solving, leadership and organisational skills, you will be well equipped for a range of careers.

Foundation year

Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree, and with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete your Foundation Year.

This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, give you a better understanding of higher education and, perhaps most importantly of all, build your confidence.

Your future career

95% of Keele students are in employment or further study within 15 months of finishing their studies (HESA Graduate Outcomes, 2019/20)

Having a degree in Politics from Keele will equip you with a broad set of skills, transferable to various careers. You will learn how to communicate clearly to a range of audiences, work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team and critically evaluate using different methods, grounded in social science.