Political Science Schools and Programs in The United Kingdom

Political Science Studies in The United Kingdom

British universities usually call political science simply Politics, and many teach it together with International Relations. It is studied as a bachelor's degree with honours, awarded as a BA or a BSc depending on the university, and it can be continued in a one-year master's degree. Politics is an academic subject, not a regulated profession, so there is no professional accreditation to check; the differences between courses lie in their content, their options and their location.

This directory lists 39 schools in the United Kingdom that teach political science, eight of them in London and three in Edinburgh.

How the degree is organised

In England the bachelor's degree with honours takes three years of full-time study. The Politics BA at the University of Sussex, the Politics BA at Royal Holloway, University of London and the Politics BA Hons at Lancaster University all last three years and share the UCAS code L200. The University of Southampton teaches the subject as a BSc Politics and International Relations, also over three years (UCAS code L260).

Some degrees add a year. The BA Politics at SOAS University of London lasts three or four years, because students can apply in their second year for an optional year abroad.

In Scotland a degree usually requires four years. The University of Stirling describes its BA (Hons) Politics as a four-year honours degree: students begin with core modules that give a broad grounding in politics and specialise in semesters 5 to 8. Stirling also allows politics to be combined with subjects such as economics, criminology or business studies.

What students learn

The first year introduces the main branches of the discipline. At Sussex the first-year core modules include British political history, the foundations of political theory, international politics, and research skills and methods in political science. Later years are built from optional modules and normally end with a dissertation or project.

Several universities connect the degree with practice. Royal Holloway mentions research placement opportunities with political parties and organisations. Lancaster offers a module called Policymaking in the Real World that includes a placement, and Sussex describes integrated internships aimed at political and policy-based careers.

Admission and language

Applications for bachelor's degrees go through UCAS, where an applicant can have five choices in total. For courses starting in 2027, the equal consideration date for most undergraduate courses is 13 January 2027; applications to the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge close earlier, on 15 October 2026. UCAS notes that many universities continue to accept applications from international students until later in the year.

Universities set their own entry requirements. Typical A-level offers for the courses above are ABB at Lancaster, SOAS and Southampton, ABB to BBB at Sussex, and BBB at Stirling. Applicants with other qualifications can ask UK ENIC for a statement comparing them with UK ones. Teaching is in English: Lancaster and Royal Holloway ask for IELTS 6.5 overall, and Sussex and Stirling ask for 6.0. The Student visa requires English equivalent to CEFR level B2 for study at degree level.

Costs and the Student visa

International tuition fees are set by each university. Sussex charges international students £24,200 per year for the Politics BA starting in 2027, and Royal Holloway charges EU and international students £23,000 per year. SOAS lists £23,780 for overseas students entering in 2026/27. UK students pay £10,050 per year at Sussex and Royal Holloway.

A Student visa requires a place from a licensed student sponsor. The application costs £558 from outside the UK and can be made at the earliest six months before the course starts. Applicants must show £1,529 per month for courses in London, or £1,171 per month outside London, for up to nine months (gov.uk, checked October 2026).

Where to study political science

London has the largest group of schools in this directory, including University College London, SOAS University of London, the University of Westminster, London Metropolitan University and London South Bank University; Royal Holloway is in Egham, to the west of the city. In Scotland the list includes The University of Edinburgh, the University of Stirling, the University of Aberdeen and Glasgow Caledonian University. Elsewhere there are the University of Oxford, The University of Manchester, The University of Warwick, the University of Essex in Colchester, The University of York, Cardiff University and Swansea University.

Master's degrees and careers

A master's degree is a level 7 qualification and normally takes one year: the International Relations MA at Sussex, for example, lasts one year full time. Graduates do not enter a single profession. Royal Holloway names employers of its politics graduates that include the Ministry of Defence, Ipsos MORI and MPs' offices. International graduates can apply for a Graduate visa after an eligible course; it lasts 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a politics degree take in the United Kingdom?

Three years full time in England for a bachelor's degree with honours, or four with a year abroad at universities that offer one, such as SOAS. In Scotland the honours degree takes four years.

Is political science a BA or a BSc in the United Kingdom?

Both exist. Sussex, Royal Holloway, Lancaster, SOAS and Stirling award a BA, while Southampton awards a BSc in Politics and International Relations.

Do I need a specific school subject to be admitted?

Universities set their own entry requirements, usually stated as grades, for example ABB at A-level at Lancaster. Each course page lists any required subjects and the accepted international qualifications.

What English level do I need?

The Student visa requires the equivalent of CEFR level B2 for degree-level study. Universities set their own scores, for example IELTS 6.5 overall at Lancaster and 6.0 at Sussex.