The TSR Community Awards 2025 are now live >>

BSc or BA Politics

asdodge1

i was wondering what the difference between BSc and BA politics is.

Reply 1

CoolSocks

asdodge1

i was wondering what the difference between BSc and BA politics is.

Yes i've wondered about this. If anyone could kindly shed any light on it?

I read that the BSc degree involves more maths, so if this is true and there is a significant difference between the two, one should consider their strengths and weaknesses when choosing which?

Reply 2

shady lane

I don't think there is any difference. I'm on a Politics MSc, but then again every degree at LSE is a BSc/MSc except for straight history.

Reply 3

Wise One

If I remember correctly, sometimes BScs in Politics and Political Science have a couple of modules on electoral systems, which they tend to link in with polls, statistics and quantitative research methods.

Reply 4

andyjim123

ive not started a degree so im not in too much of an experienced position, but having had to decide between a BSc Politics (Bristol) and a BA Politics (Warwick) there doesn't seem to be much difference at all - the Bristol course didnt contain any maths from what i could tell and was just as theoretical and essay based as the warwick degree. It just depends on the university really! hope that helps :smile:

edit:just saw wise_one's post, that could have been the difference as there was a compulsory module at Bristol on research methods - may have contained a statistical element, but i wouldnt have thought enough to warrant much mathmatical knowlege if that isn't your forte (like me!)

Reply 5

CoolSocks

This is where I read about the BA and BSc issue for Politics, in the 'Politics Requirements 2007 thread' -

"One thing guys when choosing your Politics unis, be careful what you apply for. Do you want to do a BA in which the majority of subject matter is of a qualitative format i.e. theoretical and evaluative or a BSc in which it is predominately more analytical, dealing with numbers and figures. My degree is English and Politics so I was much more interested in the BA side of things. If you are a more humanities type then think carefully if you see BSc."