- 4th in the UK for our research impact in Philosophy in REF 2021 (Times Higher Education)
- =18th in the UK for Politics (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023)
Study in Brighton – one of the UK’s most politically diverse cities – and explore ideas around political power, stability and change.
You’ll learn from experts in topics ranging from political corruption to continental philosophy. This helps you to link analysis of modern political issues with philosophy.
You’ll also benefit from regular political debates featuring guest speakers. There are also opportunities to present at our annual philosophical conference.
Internship
As a final-year student, you can apply for a competitive internship with a Westminster MP.
We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.
Sussex provided me with the connections to be offered the job and my degree gave me transferable skills for the role.”Letitia Egan
Politics and Philosophy BA
Campaign Manager for the Conservative Party
Open Days and virtual visits
Meet us on campus or online
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for this course are currently under review – please check back in early March 2024.
Modules
This is a joint-honours course, offering you a combinations of subjects, each taking up 50% of your time.
Find out about our types of undergraduate degrees, their structure, modules and credits
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
Autumn teaching
Spring teaching
Options
Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.
While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
Autumn teaching
Spring teaching
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
Check back in January 2025 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2025/26.
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
Autumn teaching
Options
Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.
While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
- Capitalism and its Critics
- Communicating Politics
- Metaphysics
- Phenomenology
- Philosophy of Language
- Philosophy of Race
- Philosophy of Science
- Political Systems and Institutions: Contesting Electoral Autocracy
- Political Systems and Issues: France
- Political Systems and Issues: Germany
- Political Systems and Issues: India
- Political Systems and Issues: International Institutions and Issues
- Political Systems and Issues: Ireland
- Political systems and issues: Italian Politics and Society
- Political Systems and Issues: The European Union
- Political Systems and Issues: Turkey
- Political Systems and Issues: USA
Autumn teaching
Spring teaching
Trips abroad
We organise trips to Germany and France so you can learn more about the current political scene and meet with politicians and academics there.
If you study German politics, you can go on a trip to Berlin to visit the German parliament for discussions with politicians from all major parties.
You also visit other prominent historical landmarks such as the Holocaust Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall.
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
Check back in January 2025 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2025/26.
Study abroad (optional)
Apply to study abroad – you’ll develop an international perspective and gain an edge when it comes to your career. Find out where your course could take you
If your application to study abroad is successful, you’ll have to meet the academic requirements at Sussex and also at the partner university. Find out more about studying abroad as a Sussex student
Placement (optional)
To help you gain experience and increase your employability, you can apply for an optional placement as part of your course. You’ll be responsible for applying for and securing your placement. Our dedicated careers team can provide you with information and advice. If you’re successful in obtaining a placement, this will form part of your course.
Find out more about placements and internships
Please note that if you’re receiving – or applying for – USA federal Direct Loan funds, you can’t transfer to the version of your course with an optional study abroad period in any country or optional placement in the USA if the number of credits for the placement/internship exceeds 25% of the total credits for your course. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid
Options
You choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.
While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
- Electoral Autocracy and its Critics
- Environmental politics in the Anthropocene
- Ethics
- Global Crisis and European Political Economy
- Islamic Philosophy
- Modern European Philosophy
- Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence
- Political Change: Eastern Europe in Transition
- Political Change: Money, Power and Campaigns
- Political Change: Political Parties and Party Systems
- Political Change: The European Union as a Global Actor
- Political Change: The Politics of Euroscepticism
- Political Change: The Rise of Anti-politics
- Political Psychology
- Politics and International Business
- Politics from Below: Cooperation, Conflict and Resistance
- Democracy and Inequality
- Feminism and Women's Political Activism in Britain
- Governing Technology
- Immigration and the Liberal State
- Independent Study/Internship Option
- Political Corruption
- Populism and Politics
- The Neoliberal Age? Making Sense of Political and Social Change in Modern Britain
- The Politics of (Post-)Truth
- The Politics of Feeling
- Themes in Analytic Philosophy
- Themes in Language, Truth and Literature
- Themes in Post-Kantian Philosophy
- Themes in Social and Political Philosophy
Autumn teaching
Spring teaching
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
Check back in January 2025 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2025/26.
Writer-in-Residence Scheme
Stephen Bush, the award-winning journalist, and columnist and associate editor at the Financial Times, is our Political Writer in Residence.
In this role, he’ll deliver a number of writing workshops for first-year Politics students. This gives you the opportunity to develop your skills as a political writer and to become an outstanding political communicator. Stephen will also provide personalised feedback on student blogs.
Working with students challenges me to think about how I write day to day. And with our archive right here at Sussex it couldn’t be a better fit.”Stephen Bush
Columnist and Associate Editor, Financial Times
Silver
The student experience and student outcomes are typically very high quality.
This rating was awarded in 2023, for four years.
(Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)
Find out more about our approach to teaching and supporting you to thrive
Our staff
Philosophy
Politics
Fees
Fees are not yet set for the academic year 2025/26 – please check back in September 2024. Note that your fees, once they’re set, may be subject to an increase on an annual basis.
Find out about typical living costs for studying at Sussex
Find out about our terms and conditions
Scholarships
Details of our scholarships are not yet set for entry in the academic year 2025/26.
Careers
By taking a Politics and Philosophy BA you will gain the knowledge, analytical and practical skills for a career in politics, management or to go onto further study.
You could go into roles such as:
- parliamentary or think-tank researcher in the UK and UN civil services
- campaign manager for pressure groups or non-governmental organisations
- press or communications officer.
Outside the classroom, you can join our Philosophy Society, where you can get involved in philosophical debates, attend talks by visiting speakers and network with other philosophy students.
Graduate destinations
Recent Politics graduates have gone on to jobs such as:
- UK anti-corruption policy team lead, Home Office
- campaign management, The Diana Award
- journalists, BBC and Sky News.
(Department of Politics careers database)
Working while you study
Our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can help you find part-time work while you study. Find out more about career development and part-time work