Skip navigation

Politics

  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-Time
  • October 2027
  • Undergraduate
Colchester Campus
More about University of Essex

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
Apply

Course summary

What is the BA Politics?

The BA Politics is a three-year degree, extendable to four with an optional placement or study abroad year.

You’ll examine the structures, ideas, and decisions that shape societies, from political institutions and democratic processes to power, rights, and governance. Combining critical theory, case studies, and applied analysis, you’ll develop the insight and practical skills needed to interpret complex political issues, policy debates, and real-world political decision-making.

Why this course

The BA Politics degree trains you to go beyond opinion and ask the crucial question: how do you know? This makes the course particularly well suited to students who enjoy evidence, debate, and complexity rather than simple answers. You’ll tackle power, justice, democracy, and rights, while addressing real-world challenges like conflict, authoritarianism, and human rights.

Learn from leading academics in a department whose research informs government policy, international organisations, and public debate. You’ll see first-hand how theory informs real-world decisions - and develop practical skills in analysis, argumentation, and decision-making.

Personalise your degree with a specialist module pathway, gaining expertise in a particular area of politics that strengthens your CV, postgraduate applications, and demonstrates your command of the field.

Add a placement year or study abroad to put your learning into practice, expand your perspective, and build confidence in professional or international settings.

This course will teach you how to analyse political systems, assess policy decisions, and apply theory to real-world governance challenges. You’ll develop the confidence and skills to think critically, argue persuasively, and make informed decisions - valuable skills for a wide range of early careers, or further postgraduate study.

Modules

Course Modules

Many of our courses offer a choice of optional modules to tailor your learning experience. More information about these can be found on the University of Essex website.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Colchester Campus

Study options

  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) • Full-Time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • October 2027

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
L200
Institution code:
E70
Campus name:
Colchester Campus
Points of Entry:
Year 1, 2, 3

University of Essex has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
L200
Institution code:
E70
Campus name:
Colchester Campus

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Chat to student ambassadors

Discover what it's like to study Politics at University of Essex: insights on the course, making friends, personal statement tips, uni prep, and recommended books, podcasts, and videos.

POWERED BY Unibuddy

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff
112-120

Offers will be made from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels.

We accept A Levels, BTECs, Access to HE Diploma, International Baccalaureate, T Levels, AAQs and most other qualifications within the UCAS Tariff.

Whilst International A-levels and BTECs aren't on the tariff calculator, we assign them the same tariff points as their UK counterparts

https://www.essex.ac.uk/undergraduate/applying-to-essex

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

We are committed to ensuring that all students with the merit and potential to benefit from an Essex education are supported to do so. We make Contextual Offers, of up to two A-level grades (or equivalent) below our standard conditional offer, to applicants from underrepresented groups residing in the UK.

Learn more on the University of Essex website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Our tuition fees for this course will be confirmed soon.

Related courses

At University of Essex

Like this page