Undergraduate Study

The Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Hull is internationally-renowned for the quality of its undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, which was rated as ‘Excellent' by the government's Quality Assurance Agency in their most recent independent inspection. We also topped the 2006 National Student Satisfaction survey. The teaching of our expert academic staff is deeply informed by cutting edge, original research. Indeed, the Department was rated as ‘Excellent' in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise. Unlike some departments, those who research in Politics and International Studies at Hull will be the people who will teach you.

Tutorials are delivered to small groups, using a wide variety of traditional and innovative modes of delivery. Many course materials are available to students via our dedicated online learning environment. In addition, the Department runs a number of key skills sessions each year, covering such topics as research methods, essay and dissertation writing, and examination techniques. The University's Brynmor Jones Library offers a huge range of printed books and journals as well as a vast number of electronic journals, covering almost every area of politics and international studies.

If you take any of the single honour degrees (BA Politics, BA Politics and International Studies, BA Globalisation and Governance, BA War and Security Studies), then you will be eligible to apply, on a competitive basis, to spend a semester of your final year on an internship. This could either be working with an MP in the Houses of Parliament, as part of our prestigious Westminster Hull Internship Programme or at a business/museum as part of our alternative internship scheme. Single and joint honours students are also eligible to apply to study abroad for part of their degree.

The Department also contributes to a number of joint degrees, which are run in conjunction with the departments of History, Law, Philosophy, and Economics (including the BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics programme).

Those with slightly higher grades can apply for the BA (Hons) British Politics and Legislative Studies (BPLS). The third year of the 4-year BPLS degree is spent working at Westminster, getting the sort of insights and experiences that no other type of academic course can provide. Unlike many other institutions, Hull's very popular scheme has been running very successfully for nearly twenty years, meaning that you will find many of our graduates walking, lobbying, and commenting on, the corridors of power.

In spite of a steady increase in the entry requirements to take our degrees, the Department's student intake has risen significantly over the past few years. This growth in the student community has been matched by an equivalent increase in the number of staff teaching and researching in the Department, meaning that you will still get the same high level of individual attention that the Department has prided itself on delivering since its creation in the 1960s.

We will be happy to answer any of your questions to help you prepare your UCAS form, and look forward to receiving your application to join our very successful and expanding Department.