Politics Undergraduate Brochure 2013

Politics and international studies

Undergraduate study Entry 2013

For students entering with A levels, we would normally expect three passes atthe grades shown in the table. Applicants with qualifications other than Alevels should consult the Undergraduate Prospectus for information aboutacceptable equivalents. Contact the Admissions Service viawww.hull.ac.uk/admissions if you have any queries.

We will consider applicants with fewer than three A levels, although we do notnormally expect AS alone to be a suitable basis for admission. We support theintroduction of Key Skills in the post-16 curriculum and we will take it intoaccount when considering applications.

Degree course UCAS code Typical Length offers (years)

Politics L200 BA/P 300–340 pts 3

Politics and International RelationsL254 BA/PIR 300–340 pts 3

British Politics and LegislativeStudies L230 BA/BPLS 340 pts 4*

War and Security Studies L252 BA/WSS 300–340 pts 3

History and Politics LV21 BA/HP 300–340 pts 3

Philosophy and Politics LV25 BA/PhP 280–320 pts 3

Politics, Philosophy andEconomics L0V0 BA/PPE 300–340 pts 3

Politics, Philosophy and Economics(including Foundation EnglishLanguage) LVQ0 BA/PPEFEL 300–340 pts 4

Politics, Philosophy and Law LVM0 BA/PPL 300–340 pts 3

Politics, Philosophy and Law(including Foundation EnglishLanguage) VLM0 BA/PPLFEL 300–340 pts 4

Religion and Politics VL62 BA/RP 280–300 pts 3

Law and Legislative Studies ML12 LLB/LLS 340 pts 4*

Law with Politics MIL2 BA/LP 320 pts 3

* Year 3 is spent in Westminster with a Member of Parliament. All applicants for thesedegrees are required to undergo an interview as part of the entry process.

In this pamphlet we have tried to present as full a picture of Politics andInternational Studies at Hull as possible, but no doubt we haven’t thought ofeverything. Further information on admissions is available in our entry in theUniversity’s Undergraduate Prospectus; and if you do apply to Hull, we hopeyou will come to one of our open days, where there will be plenty ofopportunities to ask questions. But if there is anything you need to know now,please write to or email us (contact details are given on pages 8).

Dates of semestersSemester 130 Sep 2013 – 24 Jan 2014Semester 23 Feb – 13 June 2014

Key facts

Admissions policyAdmissions informationprovided in this pamphlet isintended as a general guide andcannot cover all possibilities.Entry requirements are generallystated in terms of A level gradesand/or UCAS points, but weencourage applications frompeople with a wide range ofother qualifications and/orexperience. Some further detailsof the various entry routes areincluded in our generalprospectus. Please contact theAdmissions Service (see below)with any specific queries aboutadmissions.

DisclaimerThis publication is intendedprincipally as a guide forprospective students. Thematters covered by it – academicand otherwise – are subject tochange from time to time, bothbefore and after students areadmitted, and the informationcontained in it does not formpart of any contract. While everyreasonable precaution was takenin the production of thisbrochure, the University doesnot accept liability for anyinaccuracies.

AddressFor general enquiries, please write to

Admissions ServiceUniversity of HullHull, HU6 7RXT 01482 466100F 01482 442290E [email protected]

Picture credits© iStockphoto.com© fotolia.com

Politics and international studieswww.hull.ac.uk 1

Welcome to the Department of Politics and International Studies. In2011, the department celebrated its 50th anniversary. Since itsfoundation in 1961, it has earned an international reputation for theexcellence of its research and teaching in a wide variety of areasincluding British politics and legislative studies, comparative politics,European politics, international relations, political economy, politicalphilosophy and war and security studies.

For us, teaching and research go hand in hand, creating an environment ofintellectual stimulation, innovation and reward. Going beyond this, we prideourselves on being ‘the friendly department’ – something which hasconsistently been confirmed in student opinion surveys. It’s this combinationof excellence in teaching and research with a friendly, supportive yetintellectually challenging environment which forms the heart of thedepartment’s strategy and mission for the years to come.

Deciding whether to go to university, and then deciding which university andcourse to choose, is not easy. These are big questions with potentially life-changing implications. This booklet is designed to help you begin to answerthem. It outlines what we can offer in terms of degree programmes, and itprovides other important information. But you may have questions that wehaven’t answered here – if that is the case, then please feel free to get intouch. If you decide to apply to study with us, then we think that it’s evenmore important that you attend one of our Applicant Days, which will giveyou a chance to tour the campus, see the University’s facilities and – evenmore importantly – to meet the department’s staff and students.

I hope to see you in the future and look forward to welcoming you theDepartment of Politics and International Studies.

Justin MorrisHead of Department

Welcome

ContentsWhy Hull? | 2

Frequently askedquestions | 3

Admissions | 8

Which degree? | 9

Undergraduate study | 15

Careers | 17

We pride ourselveson the quality andthe uniquelypersonal, friendlyand supportivenature of ourteaching.

Politics and international studies2

Why Hull?

Our Department of Politics and InternationalStudies is extremely highly regardedIndependent surveys show that the Department ofPolitics and International Studies is one of thefinest in the UK. Its student-centred approach,range of courses, staff expertise and employernetworks combine to make it a student destinationsecond to none.

• The Guardian’s University Guide 2013 ranked usamong the top eight politics departmentsnationally for the quality of our teaching.

• The 2011 National Student Survey placed thedepartment in the country’s top eight for learningand teaching.

• The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise statedthat 75% of our staff’s research was‘internationally recognised’, with 33%‘internationally excellent’ or ‘world-leading’.

Nowhere, we believe, are students betterlooked after• In the 2011 National Student Survey, 99% of our

students praised staff’s ability to explain things.• We have a fully structured student support

system within the department. Every student isallocated a personal supervisor who will want toensure that all is going well for you.

• The Staff–Student Committee, your formal meansof participating in departmental governance,meets to ensure that we know your views and acton them.

• Like all Hull students you have access to ouroutstanding Careers Service. Fordetails, checkout their website at www.hull.ac.uk/careers.

Even after they have graduated, many formerstudents keep in touch throughout their careers.Our active Graduates Association, organisesmeetings, often at the House of Commons, andmaintains a strong sense of community amongdifferent generations of Hull graduates.

Our students are exceptionally successful notjust in getting jobs but in getting the best jobsThe University of Hull has an exceptionally goodtrack record in the area of graduate employability.In addition, Politics staff in particular are integralto a range of political and academic networks –something that really matters when you are jobhunting. The Graduates Association’s Public AffairsDirectory, now in its 10th edition, puts you incontact with other members of the ‘Hull Mafia’ andbrings you to the attention of blue-chip employerswho have hired our graduates before and are keento do so again. We say much more about careerslater in this pamphlet.

The University of Hull is among the moststudent-friendly in the countryThe Daily Telegraph rightly called Hull, with itsattractive tree-lined campus, the ‘friendlyuniversity’. In partnership with the students’ unionwe cater for most of your social, intellectual andleisure needs on campus. There are societies, films,bars, gigs, sports and debating opportunities. Wehave a renowned Art Collection, the Donald RoyTheatre (one of the best university theatres inEurope) and shops. And, with many bistro-stylecafes dotted around the campus, it will not takeyou long to discover your own favourite haunts.

Our academic staff are national andinternational experts in their fieldOur work has been independently (andcompetitively) assessed as being of internationalexcellence. Our research is commissioned by local,national and international bodies. We regularlygive policy advice to ministers.

In some universities you will almost never meet themost senior members of staff; at Hull all staffparticipate fully in our teaching programme. Webelieve that our research helps bring our teachingto life, and that integrating the two enables us tocreate an academic community embracingeveryone from the most senior professor to thenewest first-year undergraduate. It is into thatcommunity that we shall, if you join us, be proud towelcome you.


Frequently asked questions

This section contains brief information, all of itexpanded later.

What degrees do you offer?We offer four Single Honours degrees and nine Jointor Combined Honours degree.

Do I need to have A level Politics?No. We seek only an interest in the subject and awillingness to learn about it.

Do you count General Studies as an A level?Yes.

What about international students?We actively welcome the presence of internationalstudents, whether or not they have A levels.International applications are processed speedilyby post or electronically. See page 8.

What about mature students?The University encourages applications frompeople of all ages and backgrounds. We considerapplicants on the basis of academic qualificationsat Level 3 (A level or equivalent) and/or on the basisof other relevant knowlege and skills. Admissionstutors may interview some applicants.

I’m thinking of taking a gap year. Am I allowedto defer my entry?Yes. Ideally we hope you can use the year to dosomething creative or adventurous, making it aperiod to look back on with pleasure and pride.Though a gap year is not for everyone, for somepeople it enables them to bring more knowledgeand experience to their studies than if they hadjoined us straight from school.

I want a good job. Why should I study politics?A Hull politics degree aims to give you a head startin applying for posts in the civil service, journalism,television, public relations, internationalgovernmental and non-governmental organisationsand charities. But our graduates work in a far widerrange of fields than this. For examples and moredetails see page 17.

A degree from this department can also be of greathelp to those hoping to enter politics itself. Severalof our graduates are currently MPs, a senior staffmember is a Member of the House of Lords (as areseveral former staff members), and our BritishPolitics and Legislative Studies BA enjoys aformidable reputation with all the main parties atWestminster.

Do you interview applicants?The only formal interview is for our British Politicsand Legislative Studies degree. However, we like tomeet those to whom we intend making a formaloffer, so if you are in that position you will beinvited to an open day. This will give you and yourparents a chance to meet both staff and students,and to satisfy yourselves that Hull is the rightuniversity for you.

Howmuch flexibility will I have in what I study?A lot. In fact you will have a wide choice of modules,and your options will increase as the courseprogresses. We describe the structure of our degreeson page 15. Some modules involve intensiveteaching for one semester, others less intensiveteaching over a whole year, so our structure istailored to suit all tastes and learning styles.

If I come to Hull, will I have the chance to do apractical placement?Yes. The department offers two placement schemesthrough its Westminster Hull InternshipProgramme (WHIP). The well-established BritishPolitics and Legislative Studies degree includes oneyear working for an MP at Westminster. All otherSingle Honours students are eligible to apply for aOne Semester Internship. This excitingopportunity, fully integrated into our assessmentstructure, allows selected students to spend onesemester of their final year at Westminster or atanother location relevant to their degree course. Wealso offer opportunities to study abroad atuniversities in Hong Kong, Europe and across NorthAmerica and Australia. For more informationplease visit our website via www.hull.ac.uk/fass.

The GuardianUn

iversity Guide 2013 ranked us am

ong the top eigh

t politics departm

ents nationally for the quality of our teaching; the 2011 National

Stud

ent S

urvey placed us in th

e countries top 8 for learning and teaching; and

recent statistics show

that 83%

of H

ull’s politics students progress to

employment or further study with

in six months of gradu

ating.

Party invitation

Our Westminster Hull InternshipProgramme is an amazing

opportunity: a year’s placement orsemester-long internship with an MP.It’s helped create such a landslide ofour graduates into the corridors of

power – as MPs, civil servants,researchers and political journalists –

that they’ve become known as ‘theHull mafia’.


The Westminster–Hull InternshipProgramme

In an increasingly crowded graduate marketplace,having a good degree is not enough. Today’semployers not only expect their graduate entrantsto exhibit a wide range of interpersonal andtransferable skills, but also to have experience inthe workplace. The Department of Politics andInternational Studies offers a route through whichstudents can obtain this vital experience. We offer ayear long placement in Westminster on the fouryear course British Politics and Legislative Studies(BPLS). In addition, we offer an exciting OneSemester Internship for all our Single Honoursundergraduates. It is a unique opportunity to get atop quality academic education in politicsalongside invaluable practical experience.

Who will you be interning for?If your internship takes you to Westminster, youcan choose from a pool of over 50 MPs. Frombackbenchers to Ministers, whatever your area ofinterest or political persuasion (including none!),we have an MP for you. MPs who have taken ourstudents in recent years include David Davis, EdBalls, Austin Mitchell, Bernard Jenkin and EdMiliband. Among the MPs are two former studentsof the department, Tom Watson and Tracey Crouch.It may also be possible to arrange internships awayfrom Westminster.

Experience-based learningA practical internship will not only give you valuablework experience and an edge in job applications, itwill also develop you significantly as a person. Timeand again our undergraduates return fromWestminster with enhanced personal and studyskills. However, the fact that you are studying awayfrom Hull does not mean you should be any lessentitled to guidance than an on-campus student.

For this reason we employ an online learningplatform for Politics students (eBridge) to benefitfrom while they are away from the department. The‘Politics Westminster Interns' group allowsstudents to have online access to valuable researchresources, web links, and a discussion forum andmessaging service to link you up with academicstaff and other interns.

The online group is managed and maintained by amember of staff dedicated to looking after yourinternship, so you can expect all the support andguidance an on-campus student would receive. Inaddition, we do realise the importance of face-to-face contact. That is why you will have regularmeetings with the Programme Co-ordinator whileyou are on placement.

Careers and the 'Hull Mafia'If you were to take part in the WHIP, you would bejoining a long list of Hull graduates who havecompleted internships at Westminster. Many of ourformer students walk the halls of Parliament in awide variety of roles. From researchers to politicalconsultants, civil servants and more, Hullgraduates work everywhere at Westminster, even asMPs. They are known in Westminster circles by theaffectionate name of ‘the Hull Mafia’!

One-semester internshipsEmployers look for not only a good degree butexperience in the industry as well. This seems like acatch-22 situation, as very few students have theopportunity to work and gain the experience whilestudying. So an internship while you study couldincrease your employability.

The facts• The Department of Politics and International

Studies is developing internship links withseveral organisations in the areas of publicaffairs, media and museums.

• The internships are for one semester(approximately three months) in the firstsemester of your final year.

• Internships are arranged via the department andthe contacts they currently hold.

• Students undertake research and a process ofevaluation while on internship as it is still anassessed semester.


Why choose an internship?Internships are a fantastic opportunity to developinterpersonal skills and practical experience, whilegaining a wide range of transferable skills.

The Departments One Semester Internship Schemegives our students a job-market edge over othernew graduates, in that they have several months'work experience in their chosen field under theirbelt when applying for vacancies. We alsofrequently have find that our graduates are morefocused, confident and decisive after returningfrom their placement; attributes which employershighly regard.

Selection criteriaStudents who apply are interviewed and selectedon the basis not only of their academic record, butalso on their aptitude, commitment to theirprogramme of study, prior research to the choseninternship, Academic references and their overallpresentation throughout the interview.

Study abroadUndergraduate Single and Joint Honours studentsin the department may apply to study abroadduring the first semester of their third year. The timespent on exchange will replace a semester spent inHull, as credits will be transferred and marks will beconverted. Students can apply to study at a widerange of partner institutions (detailed opposite).Departmental partners have a pre-approved politicscurriculum, but students wishing to undertake anexchange on a university-wide scheme must firstresearch their preferred destination to see whetherthey will be able to meet the requirement of theirpolitics degree while on exchange.

Exchange opportunities in the Department ofPolitics and International Studies

Departmental partners• City University Hong Kong • Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) • University of Maine at Farmington

Utrecht network (university-wide)European members including Spain, France,Belgium and Ireland.

MAUI-Utrecht network (university-wide)In recent years, our students have studied at theUniversity of Illinois at Springfield, the Universityof Maine at Farmington, the University of NorthernIowa and Baldwin Wallace College, Ohio.

AEN (Australian-European) network (university-wide)Australian members including Sydney, Melbourneand Tasmania. The Faculty of Arts and SocialSciences also has many partnerships withinstitutions around the world.

Application processStudents must submit a personal statement(explaining why they wish to take part in anexchange) and a provisional learning agreement(detailing the modules they hope to study while onexchange). They should also ask a member ofacademic staff to provide a reference in support oftheir application. In addition, students' academicperformance and attendance record will be takeninto account. All applications are subject to asuccessful interview.


Admissions

We offer four Single Honours degrees and nineHonours degrees taught in collaboration withother departments. A full list can be found onthe inside front cover of this brochure.

We give individual consideration to everyapplication and look for a wide range of evidencethat you will be a good student. When we read yourUCAS application we not only look at youracademic achievements and forecasts; we alsoconsider your school’s view of your character;evidence of leadership, sporting achievement orcommunity service; skills and interests; how youpresent yourself on paper; and evidence of agenuine interest in politics. Typical offers are asshown in the table on the inner front cover.

All candidates who are offered a place are alsoinvited to an open day. These give you and yourfamily a chance to find out more about us, to meetacademic staff and to talk to our present students.We appreciate that, especially for candidates fromoverseas, time, distance and cost may make itimpossible for you to visit us personally, so for youwe have constructed what we hope is aninformative website at www.hull.ac.uk/pas. Butwhere possible a visit is preferable, and we urge allUK-based candidates able to do so to attend.

Informal enquiries are welcome: just phone ourAdmissions Coordinator, Kay Nock – contactdetails below. Kay will deal with queries promptlyand efficiently. Or, to contact our DepartmentalAdmissions Tutor, [email protected].

Mature studentsWe welcome applications from mature students.We treat all applications on their merits, and, whilewe naturally prefer you to have pursued furthereducation since leaving school, we understand thatthis is not always possible and that you may havehad life experiences which have taught you thingsof equal or greater value. Not least in fairness toyou, we do, however, check carefully that you havethe ability and commitment to obtain a degree, andapplicants without the usual qualifications will beinterviewed.

International studentsWe actively welcome applications frominternational candidates: every year students fromall parts of the globe add much to our community.If English is not your first language we naturallyrequire evidence of proficiency, and our normalrequirements are those recognised by theUniversity (see www.hull.ac.uk/admissions fordetails). Many international students arrive inAugust and take the Language Institute’s excellentintroductory programme. This helps youlinguistically, inducts you to our culture and helpsyou meet other international students.

We recognise fully how challenging, and yetexciting, studying abroad is, and our staff here areexperienced in helping you settle in. From themoment we offer you a place you will be allocatedan international admissions supervisor whom youcan email at any time with any queries, and whowill ensure that you are fully prepared for your timewith us.

We welcome European exchange and NorthAmerican JYA students. The latter should normallyhave at least a 3.0 grade point average.

Students with disabilitiesWe welcome applications from disabledcandidates, for whom we have excellent facilities inthe Miriam Hebron Centre. See the DisabilityServices website at www.hull.ac.uk/disability, anddo not hesitate to contact us for further advice andinformation before applying.

Further informationKay NockAdmissions CoordinatorFaculty of Arts and Social SciencesUniversity of HullHull, HU6 7RX01482 [email protected]

If you don’t comewith a particularspecialism in mindbut want to samplewhat the subjecthas to offer andthen plan your owncourse, the BAPolitics is a smartchoice.


Major/minor degreecourses

BA PoliticsOur BA in Politics provides a broad knowledge and understanding ofpolitical processes and institutions. If your interest in politics is wide-ranging and you do not want to commit yourself to a more specialisedchoice when you apply, this degree could be for you. It will steer you intothe core knowledge of the discipline, enabling you to choose second- andthird-year modules on the basis of your developing interests and careeraspirations.

In your first year you receive a solid foundation in politics, taking introductorymodules covering political philosophy, comparative politics, internationalrelations and British political history. In short we equip you with the coreknowledge necessary to make sense of the discipline as a whole. As well as amodule of your choice from outside the department, first-year modules willinclude

• British Political History since 1945• Human Nature, Society and the State• Comparative Politics

In the second and third years your core teaching reduces and your choicesincrease. You may have identified a career preference where specialisation isadvisable, or have developed a fascination for one broad area of study – fromEuropean politics to South-East Asia, from security studies to the USpresidential system. Alternatively you may prefer to be free to pick a variety ofnew topics and leave us with a mature and wide-ranging grasp of the politicalideas and processes that influence so much of our lives.

In the second year you not only study the British governmental system,political theory, and research in politics but also make your own choices froma wide range of options. In your third year you have an even greater choice ofcoursework and, closely guided and supported by an appropriate member ofstaff, write a dissertation on any relevant topic of your choice.

If you don’t come with a particular specialism in mind but want to samplewhat the discipline has to offer and then be increasingly free to plan your owncourse, the BA Politics, our largest-intake degree, is a very smart choice. Anddon’t forget that as a student on this degree you will be eligible to take part inour internship programme.

10 Politics and international studies

British Politics and LegislativeStudies (BPLS)

This unique four-year degree includes a one-year placement in Parliament.

As this is a more specialised course than our BAPolitics, we offer you more of a steer in your modulechoices and you will take modules in BritishPolitics, Parliament (comprising two modules,taken in your second year) and ComparativeLegislatures. We still believe in maximising choice,however, so you will also benefit from the wide andvaried range of module options available in thedepartment. You will gain a strong theoretical andpractical grounding in the role of Parliament in theBritish political system and in parliamentarybehaviour and procedures, but your learning, ifspecialised, will not be narrow. The days are longgone when an understanding of Britain alone wassufficient to make sense of our history and politics.The degree is thus designed to ensure that you get abroader grounding in the discipline of politics. Yourfirst year will thus be as much an introduction tothe study of politics as to British political system.

Preparation for the placement year begins in thesecond year, not only through the modulesdedicated to Parliament, but also through aninduction process. Preparation includes aWestminster field trip, a process of identifying theMP (or peer) each student wishes to be placed with– there is a pool of over 50 parliamentarians fromwhich to choose – and the generation of guidancethrough a dedicated BPLS Handbook and a VLE, towhich students retain access throughout theirplacement year, enabling them to have instantcontact with the department.

At the Palace of Westminster, you will take twopractitioner-led seminar courses. The first focuseson how Parliament is run, with speakers usuallyincluding the Librarian of the House of Commons,the Serjeant at Arms from the House of Commons,Black Rod from the House of Lords, the Clerk of theHouse of Commons, the Reading Clerk of the Houseof Lords, the Parliamentary Commissioner forStandards, the Lord Speaker and the Speaker of theHouse of Commons. The second focuses on howParliament is viewed by those who observe it orseek to influence it. Speakers include journalists,civil servants, parliamentary consultants, andparliamentary officers of different organisations,including some of our leading charities. All the

speakers in this second series of seminars aregraduates Hull Politics. The seminars are chairedby the degree co-ordinator, Lord Norton, who isalso available to discuss progress and deal with anyqueries during the placement.

The principal activity while you are placement,though, is working for an MP or peer. The work istypically varied and demanding, though there is noset template – the demands will vary fromparliamentarian to parliamentarian. You are able toindicate your preferences for placement based onwhatever criteria you deem best suited to you. Itmay be because of party and/or because the MPchairs a select committee, or is a member of theShadow Cabinet, or is a minister, or has particularinterest in a policy area that is of special interest toyou.

While on placement, you undertake study for aresearch project – and also a self-evaluationdocument – as well as pursue research for yourfinal-year dissertation. The placement provides aunique opportunity for original research and tohone your research skills. The dissertation iscompleted in your final year. Also in your final year,you take a module in Comparative Legislatures,enabling you to better understand Westminsterthrough comparing it to other legislatures aroundthe world.

The degree provides not only a wonderfulopportunity to experience Parliament but alsoenables you to develop your personal skills. BPLSstudents find that they benefit enormously in termsof self-confidence as well as in developing time-management and interpersonal skills.

BPLS is for you if you have an interest inparliamentary politics or are considering a career inparliamentary research, political consultancy, themedia, the civil service, or wish to work as aparliamentary affairs officer for company, charity orother organisation.

Social workwww.hull.ac.uk 11Politics and international studies

‘As a third-year Politics student, I’veseen and done the very best that Hullhas to offer, both in and out of theUniversity. Whether it was the excellentfacilities and attentive staff, the hugerange of societies, sports teams andunion opportunities or just the city itself,my time here has been busy to say theleast! I also recently completed a one-semester internship on the WHIPprogramme, which has provided me withnumerous opportunities and openings inand out of Parliament.’

Josh AtkinsBA Politics

12 Politics and international studies

BA Politics and International Relations

Do you want to learn more about your world?Employers ranging from televisionprogrammers to the diplomatic service arelooking for people with expertise ininternational affairs. Indeed, as emergingtechnology and emerging social trends breakdown borders, virtually all careers areacquiring a global dimension. Studyinginternational politics is personally rewardingand intellectually valuable as well. In theUniversity of Hull’s Honours programme inPolitics and International Relations, you willhave the opportunity to explore this topic withforemost scholars in the field.

This degree prepares students for a wide range ofcareers, some obvious, and some less so. Clearly,governments need people who understandinternational affairs. Unsurprisingly, graduates ofHull’s Politics and International Relations (PIR)programme have been found advising members ofparliament and serving within relevant ministries.Fittingly, other graduates have found similarpositions in other countries throughout the world.

Governments do not solve all the world’s problems– so non-governmental organisations (NGOs) stepin. PIR alumni work to make this planet a betterplace in such groups as Africa Matters. Meanwhile,world news is big news – and this programme isexcellent preparation for a media career. PIRgraduates are in print, on TV, on the radio and on-line. This degree is also an excellent first step forthose who hope to earn higher degrees in thesubject and go into research institutes (also knownas think-tanks) or academia.

Moreover, PIR is a versatile subject – and thisallows graduates to use their degrees in innovativeways. Directors of private firms know thatinternational affairs affect business opportunities –and PIR alumni have secured positions ininternationally active corporations. Crime hasbecome international as well – and graduates ofthis programme have moved into law enforcement.As the world shrinks, opportunities for PIRgraduates expand.

The reason why a PIR degree is such a good startfor so many professions is that the subject ofinternational affairs is profoundly important. War,

terrorism, poverty and global environmentalchallenges remind us that world politics is literallya matter of life and death. The ancient Chinesestrategist Sunzi (Sun Tzu) noted roughly the samepoint in approximately 500 BCE. He added that, forthis reason, it is imperative that such matters bethoroughly studied.

Sunzi is right, but he could have said more.International politics is about more than crises. Toparaphrase yet another famous thinker, the Greekphilosopher Aristotle, it is about people’s attemptsto live and live well, everywhere on this planet, andpotentially beyond. It involves art and economics,ethics and technology. It addresses the mostpressing issues shaping our lives today, and thedeepest questions human beings have asked aboutthemselves throughout time. When you studyinternational politics, you study that, nothing less.

World politics covers a broad range of topics andthe academic discipline of international relationsexplores them using a broad range of theories andresearch methods. When you study Politics andInternational Relations at Hull, you spend your firstyear learning what the subject includes and whatthe various approaches are. In your second andthird years, you have increasing freedom to focuson the topics of greatest interest to you. Hull’sDepartment of Politics and International Studiesoffers a wide variety of optional modules on a widevariety of topics, but if they aren’t enough, theUniversity of Hull’s free elective system allows youto choose classes from throughout the institution.This means, for instance, that you can combineyour study of international politics with the studyof foreign languages – and complete your degreeready to travel to some of the places you have beenreading about.

And if you don’t want to wait, remember thatstudents in this programme are eligible for thedepartment’s overseas placements programme. PIRstudents are also eligible for the department’sinternship scheme. Both are invaluable foracquiring the experience that employers valuemost – and both are a lot of fun. Rather like the PIRdegree itself.


Despite humanity’s sense of advancement, warhas remained a constant feature of politics. It is,therefore, difficult to argue with the sanguineadvice of the Chinese strategic theorist Sun Tzuwhen he writes: ‘war is a matter of vitalimportance to the state; the province of life anddeath; the road to survival or ruin. It ismandatory that it be thoroughly studied.’ TheBA War and Security Studies follows this advice,and seeks to understand war’s place in politicsand society. The degree also provides anunderstanding of best practice in war, strategyand security.

This exciting and imaginative degree gives you athorough understanding of the nature and politicalfunctions of war and armed conflict from bothhistorical and contemporary perspectives, as wellas of the role of armed force in maintaining peaceand security.

You will spend your first year studying the theoryand history of war and its relationship to politics.This will include becoming familiar with some ofthe most important conflicts in modern history,including the great wars of the twentieth-century.You will also be given an excellentgrounding in international politics and foreignpolicy analysis. In your second year you will takemore advanced, specialised modules in modernstrategy and international security and defencepolicy. In addition, you will be able to choose froma wide range of options, including

• Sea Power• Air Power• New Terrorism and Counterterrorism• War, Politics and Society

In your third year you will write a specialistdissertation under close and expert supervision.You also get to explore ever more advancedsubjects. Options in the third year include

• Intelligence and National Security• The United States in Vietnam• Nuclear Strategy• Small Wars• Maritime Security• Defence Policy of the UK

The BA War and Security Studies provides a well-rounded education in the field, and at the sametime enables you to explore particular subjects inconsiderable depth. You will be taught by expertson the theory and practice of war and security. Ouracademic staff, many of whom have workedalongside the military, promote the idea that theoryand practice are both essential to develop anunderstanding of war and security. History is ourteacher and theory enables us to make sense ofhistorical events. With a strong theoretical andhistorical understanding we can more accuratelyanalyse contemporary conflicts, and thereby seekto understand the wars that continue to occuraround us.

This degree will equip you for a wide range ofcareers, not only in such areas as the armed forces(including the special forces), the intelligenceservice, the Diplomatic Corps and the Foreign andCommonwealth Office, but also in the manyprofessions where a combination of analytic abilityand up-to-date knowledge of international relationsand security is at a premium.

BA War and Security Studies


Degrees with other departmentsA joint degree is a perfect choice if you have an interest in two distinctbut related disciplines. Joint Honours degrees naturally tend to beslightly less flexible than Single Honours because you have to master thebasics of two subjects, but we have never found this to be a problem. Onthe contrary, students who take our joint degrees often value theopportunity of, as it were, getting two subjects for the price of one.

We offer four Joint and four Combined Honours degrees:

• History and Politics• Philosophy and Politics• Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE)• Politics, Philosophy and Economics (including Foundation English

Language)• Politics, Philosophy and Law• Politics, Philosophy and Law (including Foundation English Language)• Law and Legislative Studies• Law with Politics

Joint degrees are split 50:50, so you take half your modules in one departmentand half in the other; PPE entails an equal three-way split involving also theDepartment of Philosophy and the Business School.


Undergraduate study

Our modules coveralmost every areaof politics: fewother universitiescan offer suchdiversity.

Degree structureOne of the strengths of Hull degrees is that they are all modular. Each has aset of core modules which cover the essential elements of the degree,together with a range of optional modules which allow you to tailor thedegree to your own interests and needs.

Though naturally your module pattern will vary according to the degree youtake, the overall logic of the scheme is consistent. All degrees begin withmainly core modules designed to ensure that you have the essentialknowledge to proceed, and then allow you as much choice as possible indesigning the rest of your course. In fact our final-year modules cover almostevery area of politics: few other politics departments can offer such diversity.And, because we are quite a large department, we can offer a very wide rangeof modules.

You can expect to take six modules a year – four you will complete in a singlesemester and two you can take at a more leisurely pace over a full year. Andyou are free to take one of these modules in another department; indeed weencourage you to do so, as this can be a mind-broadening experience.

For full and up-to-the-minute details of the range of modules on offer, go toour website via www.hull.ac.uk/fass.

Teaching and learningWe like to think that our department combines academic excellence withfriendliness and informality. All the team, academic and secretarial, are veryapproachable and take a keen interest in students’ progress anddevelopment. We were especially pleased that the 2011 National StudentSurvey ranked us so highly (in the country’s top eight, with 95% of ourstudents expressing overall satisfaction) for learning and teaching, reflectingthe level of support we offer students and the learning facilities available tothem, because these are areas to which we are strongly committed and towhich we have devoted much effort. Not surprisingly, we have very low levelsof withdrawal and academic failure.

Teaching qualityTeaching in Politics is of very high quality, well thought through and ofteninnovative. Intended learning outcomes are made clear to students, sessionsare effectively organised, and pace and methods are appropriate. Examplesof best practice include the use of role play within tutorials and thesuccessful running of seminar groups by the students themselves.


Academic facilities and supportThe University’s Brynmor Jones Library holds 270,000 items in the socialsciences, of which 40,000 are in politics, with 360 politics periodicals and 82web-based journals. We have a wide range of specialist holdings, including aEuropean Documentation Centre and a Collection of Parliamentary Papers.We have excellent IT facilities, with 1,000 PCs on campus, some of them inour 24-Hour Centre, and dial-in access for students. Study-bedrooms arenetworked, and IT support is available in halls of residence.

Should you wish to perfect your language skills (or your skills in English ifyou are an international student) or learn a new one, our state-of-the-artLanguage Learning Centre is available to you: have a look at the ModernLanguages website via www.hull.ac.uk/fass.

The University’s Study Advice Service offers educational support andguidance in key areas such as IT skills, academic English, study skills andnumeracy. Our departmental study skills programmes, designed withpolitics students in mind, will help you adjust to the demands of yourparticular course of study.

Personal supportThe University has always given a high priority to student support. Aprofessional and confidential Counselling Service is available if you havedifficulties that you would prefer to discuss with someone outside thedepartment. Our excellent multi-faith chaplaincies are a source of friendshipand support to many. The Careers Service, one of the best there is, offersadvice at any time during (and beyond) your stay with us. Nightline is aconfidential listening and information service provided by the students’union. The union’s Advice Centre offers free and impartial advice andinformation.

Last but by no means least, as a member of the department you will have apersonal supervisor as a first port of call in case of problems. He or she willhave dedicated office hours when you are welcome to look in withoutappointment; in practice, though, we try to be accessible most of the time.

Teaching style and assessmentIn most modules you will learn in a combination of lectures and smalltutorials or seminars; by the final year virtually all your learning will be inseminars only. Our emphasis on small-group work (most of our groups arefor about 8–12 students) permits and encourages high levels of studentparticipation, and makes our teaching varied, creative and stimulating.Modules are assessed at the end of the semester in which they are taught,normally by a mixture of essay and examination. First-year assessment is‘qualifying’ only. This means that you must pass the year to qualify toprogress to the second year, but your marks do not count towards yourdegree. Your degree classification is calculated on the basis of second- andthird-year module and dissertation marks.

The University’sBrynmor JonesLibrary has a widerange of specialistholdings, includinga EuropeanDocumentationCentre and aCollection ofParliamentaryPapers.

www.hull.ac.uk

Careers

Hull politics graduates enter a wide range of careers in politics, publicrelations, the media, business, management, finance andadministration. For more details, click ‘Alumni’ on our web page.

Many graduates stay in touch through membership of the GraduatesAssociation, a very active body which organises a number of meetings eachyear, often at the House of Commons. The Graduates Association publishes aPublic Affairs Directory, the vehicle by which senior graduates offer help andnetworking opportunities to junior colleagues on the understanding that,one day, it will be their turn to do the same. Not surprisingly the phrase ‘HullMafia’ is widely used to describe London-based graduates in particular.

Political activityA number of former students have been elected as Members of the Britishand European Parliaments. Some are or have been Special Advisers toCabinet ministers; one was Special Adviser to the Prime Minister. Politicsgraduates have worked in the headquarters of the Conservative, Labour andLiberal Democrat parties. One is presently Assistant Director of theConservative Research Department; others serve as research assistants toMPs or MEPs.

Civil servantsHull graduates are to be found in the Home Office, the Department forEducation and Skills, the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign Office. Othersserve in the Scottish and Northern Ireland civil services and the EuropeanCommission.

The mediaA number of our graduates have secured jobs in the printed and electronicmedia. Some work in the BBC as editors or producers; some work for ITN (inone case as Programme Editor) and Channel 4; others are with independentproduction companies, national newspapers and the regional media.

UniversitiesOthers have taken lecturing and research posts at, for example, the LSE andthe Universities of Oxford, Bath, Exeter, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne,Nottingham, Strathclyde, Ulster and Wales.

Political consultantsMany graduates have been snapped up by Westminster-based politicalconsultancy firms such as APCO, Connect Public Affairs, GJW, LSA CharlesBarker, Shandwick and Westminster Strategy. Others have taken posts asparliamentary officers for leading firms and charities.

© University of HullPublished September 20122779~ME

Politics and international studies 17

From British political history to USforeign policy and from the fall of the

Berlin Wall to the legacy of NewLabour, our choice of modules is

unmatched among UK universities.

Go beyond | www.hull.ac.uk

Politics Undergraduate Brochure 2013

Documents

british politics

politics vl62 barp

politics lv21 bahp

politics lv25 baphp

politics mil2 balp

entry requirements

entry process

various entry routes