BA Hons English & Politics and International Relations at University of Strathclyde

Study with us

• read texts from a wide range of literary periods, and debate key issues such as identity, race, gender, what it is to be a human
• work with staff who are world-leading researchers and prize-winning novelists and poets and benefit from their cutting edge approaches to the study of literature, language, writing and theory
• benefit from award-winning international academics engaged in real-world research in various fields including elections and voting, public policy, political parties, comparative political systems, international relations and security studies
• politics & International Relations at Strathclyde is ranked 1st in Scotland for research impact beyond academia

Why this course?

As an English student at Strathclyde, you'll enjoy the best of old and new: a grounding in the classics as well as an insight into new fields of literature.

We'll show you how exciting and wide-ranging our subject can be. Employers like the skills developed in an English degree: written and verbal communication, analysis and discussion of ideas and broad, creative thinking.

As a politics student, you'll look at the work of governments and their policies and study the behaviour of those who govern - and who they are governing - both at home and abroad. You'll also gain knowledge of domestic and international institutions and issues relating to conflict and cooperation.

We cover diverse and relevant issues, such as international terrorism to the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum.

Our graduates go on to work in a number of areas, with many pursuing academic research careers in the UK, Europe and North America.

Our BA degrees in Humanities & Social Sciences are broad-based to start with. In Year 1 you'll study three subjects, including your chosen subject(s).

Learning & teaching

English

You'll learn through lectures, seminars and workshops and take part in small group work, individual and group presentations, debates and writing exercises. Some classes also take place in computer labs and include analysis of texts using software tools.

We offer a research task in which staff, undergraduates and postgraduates work together (Vertically Integrated Project).

Politics

In Politics Years 1-3, lectures and tutorials are the main forms of teaching. In methods classes, lab sessions and practical group work are used. At Honours level, all classes are taught in a small group seminar format.

Tutorials, seminars and student presentations form an essential part of your learning and development. In addition, you'll work on essays, book reviews and other class projects.

At Honours level, students work on a specific project for their Honours dissertation under the personal supervision of a member of the teaching staff.

Careers

English

English graduates from Strathclyde include TV journalists, councillors, the Scottish novelist Andrew O’Hagan and former head of the Scottish Arts Council James Boyle. An English degree helps graduates find work in areas such as publishing, the civil service, administration and creative writing.

Politics

Our graduates are employed in the media, management, teaching, sales and advertising, local government, further and higher education and social work.

Knowledge of the political process is also useful in a business career and this degree provides the normal route of entry into business traineeships. Employers are particularly interested in the high-level written and verbal skills of Politics graduates and their ability to research and analyse information.

Courses in Politics are recognised in the training of Modern Studies teachers, and a Politics degree is also particularly appropriate for entry to the civil service.

Students who specialise in research methods acquire social science research skills and expertise in the analysis of data, while the study of institutions is an extremely good background for those entering government service or communications, eg journalism, television and advertising.

There's also a tradition of Strathclyde Politics graduates entering academic research centres in the UK, Europe and North America.