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American Studies and Politics

  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 21/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Singleton Park Campus
More about Swansea University

Course options

2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

Explore the ideas shaping our world with a BA in American Studies and Politics. This dynamic degree blends the study of the United States to its culture, history, literature, and politics-with British and European politics, public policy, political theory, and philosophy. You will study urgent global challenges such as racial justice, democracy, globalisation, conflict, and sustainability, gaining the tools to understand and influence the world around you.

From the American Revolution to contemporary US pop culture, and from classical political thought to modern-day debates on war, peace, and security, you’ll have the flexibility to customise your degree around your passions. You also have the chance to study for a year or a semester in the United States, discovering the subject first hand.

This programme is designed to unlock a wide spectrum of career opportunities by equipping you with transferable skills such as critical thinking, persuasive communication, problem-solving, and creativity, all skills that employers across industries are actively seeking.

Modules

Your first year will include a mixture of compulsory and optional modules, with examples of compulsory modules from recent years including:
• Political Philosophy
• American Politics and Society
• Introduction to American Literature and Culture

Your second and third years will comprise entirely optional modules from an expansive range of subject areas. Examples of optional modules in recent years have included:
• Race and Ethnicity: American Perspectives
• America in Crisis: Political Culture and Society from the Tet Offensive to Trump
• The Story of the USA on Film and Television, 1865-2008
• Contemporary American Fiction
• The American Civil War in History and Memory

Your final year will include an compulsory independent dissertation project.

Assessment method

We offer a variety of assessment methods within our programmes. In addition to traditional examinations and essays, examples of alternative assessment include:
• Presentations
• Group Work
• Personal Reflection

Throughout your undergraduate American Studies and Politics degree, you will develop excellent research and analytical skills and learn to present your ideas effectively both verbally and in writing. For full breakdown of course structure and assessment please visit our course page https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/culture-communication/american-studies/ba-american-studies-politics/ or get in touch with us at study@swansea.ac.uk

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Singleton Park Campus

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 21/09/2026

Apply by
14 January

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:
LT27
Institution code:
S93
Campus name:
Singleton Park Campus
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

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:
LT27
Institution code:
S93
Campus name:
Singleton Park Campus
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

If you are an international applicant please visit our international pages for more information and details on how to apply:
http://www.swansea.ac.uk/international/

Open days

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Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 120 points

A level - BBB

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDM - DMM

Access to HE Diploma - D: 21 credits M: 24 credits

Access to Humanities Course

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 32 points

International students will also require a score of 4 at Higher Level English Language or Literature, or 5 at Standard Level English Language or Literature.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

Swansea University accepts the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales as fully equivalent to x1 A-Level.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

Swansea University will accept the Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate as fully equivalent to one A-Level.

Extended Project

We recognise the EPQ as an excellent indicator of success. If you are predicted a Grade B or above in the EPQ, you will receive an offer with a one grade reduction, to include your EPQ with a grade B.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H3, H3, H3, H3, H3, H3

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSEs: English/Welsh Language Grade C

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English we require a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent) and no less than 5.5 in each component.

English Language Requirements at Swansea University https://www.swansea.ac.uk/admissions/english-language-requirements/

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.

UK applicants who meet course requirements are guaranteed a conditional offer. We assess applications on individual merit. We consider making reduced offers, eg. to Care Leavers or students with extenuating circumstances. We encourage you to disclose any relevant circumstances.

The Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales is considered as equivalent to one full A-Level and students can take x2 A-levels alongside this. EPQ students predicted Grade B or above will receive a one-grade offer reduction.

Learn more on the Swansea University website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted 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.

Data from:
This course and 13 other languages and area studies courses
Date range:
2022-2024

Grades held by accepted students

For Swansea University, the top and bottom 5% of student grades have been removed from these calculations. This change helps to remove any extraordinary circumstances that could impact the data. Learn more here .
CCC Most common
  1. A*AA
  2. Highest grades
  3. DDD
  4. Lowest grades

Offer rate for UK school & college leavers

99% Students aged 17/18 who applied to this course were offered a place.

How do you compare?

See how students with your grades have been accepted onto this course in the past.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

55 Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)

90 Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

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

For the latest fee information, please check the individual course page on our website. Our full range of programmes are listed here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/

Further information on tuition fees can be found here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees/

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