What are the top 10 Political Science departments in the UK?

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Socrates

Here we go again. I swear you must be getting commission from Warwick's advertising department.

LSE's Politics is stronger, imo, than Cambridge, which don't even offer Politics at undegrad level (and rather offer SPS, which is remarkably different in a lot of ways).

I don't think there are many (other than perhaps Illigan...) who would disagree with you on that one...

Reply 21

Socrates

IlexAquifolium

I don't think there are many (other than perhaps Illigan...) who would disagree with you on that one...

You can never be sure in this area of TSR...

Reply 22

ILIGAN

^ Well, don't worry people. I take your words with some value that's why I asked. I'm an MBA aspirant, not Politics, so my knowledge in this are is limited. :smile:

And to Socrates: you don't have to get paranoid. I have praised Warwick is a few instances in some threads on this board because I believe that it is a high quality school -- one of the very best in the UK for undergrad education. And I also happen to believe that --on generall-- the best UK unis are Cam, Ox, LSE, Imperial, Warwick and St Andrews. Again, that's for undergrad. Of course, you couldn't mention best UK uni without: UCL, Durham, Edinburgh, Bristol, Bath, Notts, York, Cardiff, Newcastle and manchester.

Reply 23

J-OD

one question.. i cant seem to find the politics course at Bath, - is it only available with a language?

Reply 24

River85

J-OD

one question.. i cant seem to find the politics course at Bath, - is it only available with a language?

Politics and IR

http://www.bath.ac.uk/esml/pwir/

There's also politics and economics plus the language and European study programmes.

Reply 25

J-OD

oh..there we go, the pages on the prospectus must have been glued together :smile:

Reply 26

unknown demon

QMUL has a great department.

Reply 27

bluntpencil

Just to let you know, Political Science and Political Studies are two different disciplines. Political Science, looks at it from a more quantitive approach; looks at it from a way similar to pure science. In contrast, Political Studies, approaches it from a qualitative approach.

UK universities, as well as continental Europe tend to focus on Political Studies, where as the US is more of the Political Science approach.

I'm assuming you're not actually making a distinction between the two and are actually just asking for the the top 10 'Politics' departments. However, really LSE, Essex and Strathclyde are the only 3 who offer Political Science. Everywhere else, you will be taught Political Studies.

Reply 28

Undisputed

bluntpencil

erhhh no, most universities offer science versions of politics (less so at undergraduate level), look at the number of unis offering MScs in different areas of politics. and political science and political studies are subsumed under one department anyway so i think thats what op was getting at.

Reply 29

bluntpencil

Undisputed

This is what I was told in my lecture on Tuesday, when the lecturer was explaining the difference between the two.

Reply 30

tomdav

bluntpencil

You are right, but its hugely pedantic to bother picking up on it. Its a difference in approach, not a different discipline altogether.

Reply 31

Kitty Pimms

tomdav

You are right, but its hugely pedantic to bother picking up on it. Its a difference in approach, not a different discipline altogether.

Indeed - and it rarely characterises a whole course.

I can see where your lecturer is coming from (and I've seen a few Sheffield undergrads repeat that sentiment), and I think as a general term it's quite valid; but it isn't right IMHO to label the approaches of entire departments or even countries as two seperate subjects.