Politics BSc (Hons) - 2022/3
Awarding body
University of Surrey
Teaching institute
University of Surrey
Framework
FHEQ Level 6
Final award and programme/pathway title
BSc (Hons) Politics
Subsidiary award(s)
| Award | Title |
|---|---|
| DipHE | Politics |
| CertHE | Politics |
| Ord | Politics |
Modes of study
| Route code | Credits and ECTS Credits | |
| Full-time | ULB10006 | 360 credits and 180 ECTS credits |
| Full-time with PTY | ULB10006 | 480 credits and 240 ECTS credits |
QAA Subject benchmark statement (if applicable)
Politics and International Relations
Other internal and / or external reference points
N/A
Faculty and Department / School
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences - Politics
Programme Leader
KITCHEN Nicholas (Politics)
Date of production/revision of spec
12/09/2023
Educational aims of the programme
- To enable students to understand and use a range of concepts, approaches and methods appropriate to politics, and to develop an understanding of their contested nature and of the problematic character of political enquiry.
- To provide students with a foundation of knowledge and understanding of theory and analysis, and to encourage them to apply these to issues in contemporary national and international affairs.
- To develop students' capacity to think critically about events, ideas, people and institutions at local, national, regional and international levels, opening up their cultural and global horizons.
- To assist students to develop a range of cognitive and social skills relevant to their intellectual, vocational and personal development.
- To provide a curriculum which encourages breadth and depth of intellectual enquiry and debate, supported by scholarship, a research culture, and staff reflection and development.
- To create a learning environment that is receptive to the needs and views of students and encourages them to achieve their full potential, even while fostering an atmosphere where students as independent learners can take responsibility for their own learning processes.
- To understand and respect issues related to diversity and to employ a range of methods and approaches in relation to diverse needs.
- To give students opportunities to apply their theoretical knowledge and understanding to the resolution of real-life problems and so develop their skills in respect of professional as well as academic life.
- The programme is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability and Resourcefulness and Resilience
Programme learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | Awards | Ref. | |
| Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of key concepts, principles and theoretical approaches associated with the study of politics + IR. | K | BSc (Hons) | |
| Apply concepts, theories + methods at an advanced level used in the study of politics and IR to the analysis of the political arena, and in doing so demonstrating advanced knowledge of the working of political systems at the national and international level. | KPT | BSc (Hons) | |
| Evaluate in an advanced fashion different interpretations of political issues, events and policies for national and international contexts, reflecting on issues of global diversity, networked societies and sustainable thinking. | KPT | BSc (Hons) | |
| Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the relationship between argument and evidence in the discipline of politics and IR. | K | BSc (Hons) | |
| Gather, organise, and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety secondary and primary sources in an advanced way. | CT | BSc (Hons) | |
| Identify, investigate, analyse, formulate and commend solutions to specified problems, reflecting on issues of global diversity, networked societies and sustainable thinking. | CPT | BSc (Hons) | |
| Construct reasoned argument, synthesize relevant information and exercise critical judgement in the articulation and application of evidence/data in an advanced fashion. | CPT | BSc (Hons) | |
| Reflect on self and peer learning. Seek and apply constructive feedback. | CPT | BSc (Hons) | |
| Recognise the importance of demonstrating and good research skills, especially related to academic integrity and ethics. | CT | BSc (Hons) | |
| Demonstrate an in dependent attitude to study which requires critical and reflective use of statistics and computer technology for learning purposes. | CP | BSc (Hons) | |
| Demonstrate appropriate communication skills, both oral and written. | PT | BSc (Hons) | |
| Demonstrate effective and appropriate use of computer and information technology, including audio-visual technology, for the retrieval and presentation of information and data. | T | BSc (Hons) | |
| Work independently, demonstrate capacity for initiative, manage time and competing demands, emerge as a well-organised, self-critical and mature learner, ready to tackle problems in a globalised, networked, digital and sustainable thinking environment. | PT | BSc (Hons) | |
| Show a capacity to collaborate with others in large or small groups in order to achieve clearly defined tasks. | T | BSc (Hons) | |
| Demonstrate a breadth of knowledge of key concepts, principles and theoretical approaches associated with the study of politics + IR. | K | DipHE | |
| Apply concepts and theories + methods in a way that demonstrates a breadth of knowledge as used in the study of politics and IR to the analysis of the political arena, and in doing so demonstrating a robust knowledge of the working of political systems at the national and international level. | KPT | DipHE | |
| Evaluate in a substantive fashion different interpretations of political issues, events and policies for national and international contexts, reflecting on issues of global diversity, networked societies and sustainable thinking. | KPT | DipHE | |
| Demonstrate an robust understanding of the relationship between argument and evidence in the discipline of politics and IR. | K | DipHE | |
| Gather, organise, and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety secondary and primary sources. | CT | DipHE | |
| Identify, investigate, and commend solutions to specified problems, reflecting on issues of global diversity, networked societies and sustainable thinking. | CPT | DipHE | |
| Construct reasoned argument, synthesize relevant information and exercise critical judgement in the articulation and application of evidence/data in a substantive fashion. | CPT | DipHE | |
| Reflect on self and peer learning. Seek and apply constructive feedback. | CPT | DipHE | |
| Recognise the importance of demonstrating and good research skills, especially related to academic integrity and ethics. | CT | DipHE | |
| Demonstrate an in dependent attitude to study which requires critical and reflective use of statistics and computer technology for learning purposes. | CP | DipHE | |
| Demonstrate appropriate communication skills, both oral and written. | PT | DipHE | |
| Demonstrate effective and appropriate use of computer and information technology, including audio-visual technology, for the retrieval and presentation of information and data. | C | DipHE | |
| Work independently, demonstrate capacity for initiative, manage time and competing demands, ready to tackle problems in a globalised, networked, digital and sustainable thinking environment. | PT | DipHE | |
| Show a capacity to collaborate with others in large or small groups in order to achieve clearly defined tasks. | T | DipHE | |
| Demonstrate general knowledge of key concepts, principles and theoretical approaches associated with the study of politics + IR. | K | CertHE | |
| Apply concepts and theories + methods in a way that demonstrates a general knowledge of the study of politics and IR to the analysis of the political arena, and in doing so demonstrating good knowledge of the working of political systems at the national and international level. | KPT | CertHE | |
| Evaluate in an effective fashion different interpretations of political issues, events and policies for national and international contexts, reflecting on issues of global diversity, networked societies and sustainable thinking. | KPT | CertHE | |
| Develop a solid understanding of the relationship between argument and evidence in the discipline of politics and IR. | K | CertHE | |
| Gather, organise, and deploy evidence and information from a variety secondary sources. | CT | CertHE | |
| Identify and commend solutions to specified problems, reflecting on issues of global diversity, networked societies and sustainable thinking. | CPT | CertHE | |
| Construct reasoned argument, synthesize relevant information and exercise critical judgement in the articulation and application of evidence/data in a basic. | CPT | CertHE | |
| Reflect on self and peer learning. Seek and apply constructive feedback. | CPT | CertHE | |
| Recognise the importance of demonstrating and good research skills, especially related to academic integrity and ethics. | CT | CertHE | |
| Demonstrate an in dependent attitude to study which requires critical and reflective use of statistics and computer technology for learning purposes. | CP | CertHE | |
| Demonstrate appropriate communication skills, both oral and written. | PT | CertHE | |
| Demonstrate effective and appropriate use of computer and information technology, including audio-visual technology, for the retrieval and presentation of information and data. | C | CertHE | |
| Work independently, demonstrate capacity for initiative, manage time and competing demands, ready to tackle problems in a globalised, networked, digital and sustainable thinking environment. | PT | CertHE | |
| Show a capacity to collaborate with others in large or small groups in order to achieve clearly defined tasks. | T | CertHE |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Programme structure
Full-time
This Bachelor's Degree (Honours) programme is studied full-time over three academic years, consisting of 360 credits (120 credits at FHEQ levels 4, 5 and 6). All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Bachelor's Degree (Ordinary) (300 credits)
- Diploma of Higher Education (240 credits)
- Certificate of Higher Education (120 credits)
Full-time with PTY
This Bachelor's Degree (Honours) programme is studied full-time over four academic years, consisting of 480 credits (120 credits at FHEQ levels 4, 5, 6 and the optional professional training year). All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Bachelor's Degree (Ordinary) (300 credits)
- Diploma of Higher Education (240 credits)
- Certificate of Higher Education (120 credits)
Programme Adjustments (if applicable)
N/A
Modules
Year 1 - FHEQ Level 4
Module Selection for Year 1 - FHEQ Level 4
All modules in Year 1 are compulsory.
Year 2 - FHEQ Level 5
Module Selection for Year 2 - FHEQ Level 5
Semester 1 you will study this compulsory module (15 credits):
POL2027 - APPROACHES TO RESEARCH
Semester 2 you will study two compulsory modules (15 credits each):
POL2028 - RESEARCH METHODS
POL2029 - THEM AND US: COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
In addition to the compulsory modules, select THREE optional modules in Semester 1, and TWO optional modules in Semester 2 (15 credits each).
Year 3 - FHEQ Level 6
Module Selection for Year 3 - FHEQ Level 6
All modules are optional.
Students must complete a total of 120 credits. Students taking the dissertation module should select no more than 3 additional modules in either Semester 1 or Semester 2.
Note that POL3085 Research Lab cannot be taken in conjunction with the dissertation.
Year 1 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 4
Module Selection for Year 1 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 4
All modules in Year 1 are compulsory.
Year 2 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 5
Module Selection for Year 2 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 5
Semester 1 you will study this compulsory module (15 credits):
POL2027 - APPROACHES TO RESEARCH
Semester 2 you will study two compulsory modules (15 credits each):
POL2028 - RESEARCH METHODS
POL2029 - THEM AND US: COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
In addition to the compulsory modules, select THREE optional modules in Semester 1, and TWO optional modules in Semester 2 (15 credits each).
Year 3 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 6
Module Selection for Year 3 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 6
All modules are optional.
Students must complete a total of 120 credits. Students taking the dissertation module should select no more than 3 additional modules in either Semester 1 or Semester 2.
Note that POL3085 Research Lab cannot be taken in conjunction with the dissertation.
Professional Training Year (PTY) -
| Module code | Module title | Status | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POLP025 | PROFESSIONAL TRAINING YEAR MODULE (FULL-YEAR WORK) | Core | 120 | Year-long |
| POLP026 | PROFESSIONAL TRAINING YEAR MODULE (WORK-STUDY 50/50) | Core | 120 | Year-long |
| POLP027 | PROFESSIONAL TRAINING YEAR MODULE (FULL-YEAR STUDY) | Core | 120 | Year-long |
Module Selection for Professional Training Year (PTY) -
Students must choose 1 of the above 3 modules.
Opportunities for placements / work related learning / collaborative activity
| Associate Tutor(s) / Guest Speakers / Visiting Academics | Y | |
| Professional Training Year (PTY) | Y | |
| Placement(s) (study or work that are not part of PTY) | N | |
| Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme) | N | |
| Study exchange (Level 5) | Y | |
| Dual degree | N |
Other information
Students can transfer between the programmes at any point over the duration of their study.
Students are made aware of the variants of the different programmes during welcome week and during module option choice meetings. Students are also advised to consult personal tutors and programme leaders when considering a switch in their programme.
Quality assurance
The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2022/3 academic year.