BSc in Politics and Sociology
Brunel University London, United Kingdom
First Year Course Fee
USD 20,208
Course Accredited By
NA
Politics and Sociology at Brunel is a dynamic combination of high level study in both subjects. Your politics studies will help you address critical questions like: Who has political power? Why do they have it? And in whose interest do they exercise it?
- Meanwhile, your studies in sociology will look at subjects like sociological theory, social identities, the sociology of everyday life and the changing nature of modern societies. You’ll be studying people, societies and how people live, and on the other how they are governed or want to be governed.
- Both subjects will help to demonstrate your intellectual acumen and understanding of world affairs and real life issues, which will be an asset in so many fields of work.
- Whether you’re studying modern world politics or the development of social change and transformations, you’ll not just learn about them, you’ll be analysing them using the tools of political science and social science to help deepen your understanding and critical thinking.
- Opt for a placement year and you'll gain valuable experience to help give you the edge in the job market when you come to graduate. Past students have secured placements in the Home Office, HM Treasury, the House of Commons, and the Competition Commission, but the list of possibilities is endless.
- It’s a competitive world out there, so you’ll get plenty of support from your lecturers and the University’s Professional Development Centre to help prepare you for your placement year and the world of work.
- But why not increase your career options with an accredited journalism course, a free modern language course, or a social media internship? You can even opt to study part of your degree abroad in one of our partner universities in Europe, or participate in an exchange programme to China or the USA.
- It’s all available at Brunel to help you make a difference in the world – now and in the future.
- Brunel graduates of this subject enter diverse careers. Some go into politics and the civil service, some are at GCHQ and military intelligence, and some go on to further study or into research.
- Others go into the public sector – the NHS, social or care work, education or in local authorities, while others go into the private sector working for international banks, business consultancy, law, NGOs, the media and marketing. The opportunities are endless.
Enrollment Cycles
- September 2023
UK entry requirements
- GCE A-level BBB.
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma DDM.
- BTEC Level 3 Diploma DM with an A-level at grade B.
- BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma D in any subject with A-levels grade BC.
- International Baccalaureate Diploma 30 points. GCSE English equivalent Standard Level 5 or Higher Level 4 and Mathematics Standard Level 4 or Higher Level 4
- Obtain a minimum of 120 UCAS tariff points in the Access to HE Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3.
- A minimum of five GCSEs are required, including GCSE Mathematics grade C or grade 4 and GCSE English Language grade C or grade 4 or GCSE English Literature grade B or grade 5.
EU and International entry requirements
- If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.
English language requirements
- IELTS: 6.5 (min 5.5 in all areas)
- Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
- BrunELT: 63% (min 55% in all areas)
- TOEFL: 92 (min R18, L17, S20, W17)
- The course content is made up of a variety of subject area strands that can be studied across all three years of the programme. At every level, there are modules relating to each strand. After taking the compulsory modules in the first year, you can choose to study across a range of strands, or specialise in particular strands. Below is a list of the strands:
- Politics (compulsory elements): This strand equips you with tools to understand contemporary politics at every level. It will focus on political thought as well the differences between diverse political systems (including Britain). You will also you develop the tools for sustained research in political science. This will include research design, qualitative methods, such as interview techniques, as well as quantitative analysis of, for example, polling data.
- Politics (elective elements): This strand builds on the strand above. You will be able to study the policies and political systems of other countries, political behaviour and elections and issues of race, culture, identity and public policy.
- Sociology: This strand focuses on our understanding of human behaviour. It places a special emphasis on culture, society and media as well as the social, economic and political forces that drive human interaction at all levels.
- Please see programme specification for the specific optional module combination choices that are available.
- This course can be studied 3 years full-time or 4 years full-time with placement, starting in September.
Year 1
Compulsory
- SO1700 - Making Sense of Culture and Society
- PP1600 - Research Design and Qualitative methods in Politics
- PP1601 - Modern Political Thought
- PP1068 - Modern British Politics
- SO1604 - Key Ideas in Sociology
- SO1602 - Contemporary Society and Media
Year 2
Compulsory
- PP2600 - Comparative Political Institutions
- PP2611 - Explaining Politics: Quantitative Political Science in Practice
- SO2022 - Sociology of Everyday Life: Issues in Contemporary Culture
- SO2604 - Visual Cultures
Optional
- PP2006 - Democracy and Democratisation
- PP2030 - US Foreign Policy from World War 2 to the end of the Cold War
- PP2061 Issues in American Politics
- PP2604 - Theories of International Relations
- PX2004 - The Holocaust
- PX2607 - The State and Revolution
- PX2608 - The History of Political Cinema
- PP2613 - National Security Intelligence
- PP2614 - Ancient Greek Political Thought
- PP2615 - Unity and Cultural Diversity
Year 3
Compulsory
- PP3070 - Dissertation
- SO3611 - Sociology Dissertation
- PP3003 - European Union Politics: Problems and Prospects
Optional
- CO3602 - Comedy, the Media and Society
- SO3610 - Racism, Identity and Difference
- SO3609 - Digital Cultures
- SO3604 - Global Cities: Spaces and Culture
- CO3603 - Changing Audiences
- PP3013 - Empire, Imperialism and Hegemony
- PP3068 - Media, Politics and Power in America
- PP3101 - Marx and Marxism
- PP3483 - Parties and Voters in the UK
- PP3604 - Public Policy Analysis
- PP3605 Parliamentary Studies
- PP3607 - History of Political Philosophy
- PX3009 - Fascism
- PX3609 - Crisis and Critique
- PP3608 - Terrorism 1960-2016
- UK
- £9,250 full-time
- £1,385 placement year
- Fees quoted are per year and may be subject to an annual increase. Home undergraduate student fees are regulated and are currently capped at £9,250 per year; any changes will be subject to changes in government policy.
- Fees for EU applicants – For entry in 2021/22 academic year, eligible EU applicants will have the same tuition fees as UK students to support EU students during this transition period. These fees will be applied for the duration of the course. EU fees for 2022 entry are not yet confirmed.