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best universities for politics?

9

god knows if this has already been asked but I'm interested in studying politics at university, and will be applying this autumn, but don't really know which places are considered *the best* for this.

I'm mainly interested in universities in scotland and have looked at newspaper league tables, and, according to The Times, the University of Strathclyde is considered better for politics than the University of Glasgow, yet, upon asking my politics teacher which he would regard as the best in Scotland, he seemed particularly keen on Glasgow and Edinburgh.

I'd be grateful if anyone could give me a(non biased) opinion on this, including any non-Scottish universities which are rated for politics.

thankyou thank you thank you.

Reply 1

currency_westlake

Best:
Oxbridge, LSE, York
Next:
Warwick, Essex, Sheffield, Aberystwith,
And then:
Manchester, Nottingham, Durham, Bath

+ the rest

Based on my opinion but also on what I've heard form my uncle that is a lecturer in Politics at Durham.

I think I should put my biases on the table, I've picked LSE as my firm (ABB) and Warwick as my insurance (ABB)

I haven't put any scottish uni's down, as far as I know none of them have quite reached the standard of those that I listed above. If you're prepared to go a bit further south, then apply to York. It's not only a lovely place, but according to my uncle and a few others it has the ebst Politics course in the country.

Reply 2

marychrist

OP

9

I should have probably noted in my previous that I'm not quite as bright as the majority of people on this forum, so will probably only be aiming for three B's. Obviously LSE sounds fantastic and if I wanted to be in London for university I would be interested, if only I was capable of getting the grades.

I did ask my politics teacher about politics courses at scottish universities, and he recommended Glasgow, Edinburgh, St Andrews.. Stirling, Aberdeen at a push. I asked him about Strathclyde and he didn't seem very impressed, but he was an Oxbridge student and doesn't seem very keen on anything that isn't even remotely prestigious.

I am ridiculously confused, but thank you anyway. :smile:

ps Good luck with LSE, what course is that you're applying for?

Reply 3

LongGone

18

tomhitchings

Best:
Oxbridge, LSE, York
Next:
Warwick, Essex, Sheffield, Aberystwith,
And then:
Manchester, Nottingham, Durham, Bath

Despite the fact that I applied to Durham and am actually going to Nottingham for politics, I don't think either of them are particualry rated for politics. I don't really mind though, because the Notts course content really suits me. I nearly applied to Aberdeen, makes a good back up if nothing else because the grades are so low. I think the fact that it's a long trip put me off! But if you can get BBB then there should be quite a bit of choice. Look at the actual content of the courses, and see what they have to offer you!

Reply 4

BazTheMoney

In my opinion: Oxford, Sheffield and LSE. Though Oxford dosen't offer straight Politics and LSE only offers it in the form of BSc Government.

Reply 5

LongGone

18

BazTheMoney

In my opinion: Oxford, Sheffield and LSE. Though Oxford dosen't offer straight Politics and LSE only offers it in the form of BSc Government.

Yeah, Sheffield is supposed to be good, and quite ideal for those aiming at around BBB, since that their standard offer. (Admitly I'm slightly biased since its my insurance :smile:

)

Reply 6

LongGone

18

Also, the times league table for politics:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/displayPopup/0,,13442,00.html

Although I'd take it with a pinch of salt, since the right university for you is quite a personal thing, and overall reputation matters more when it comes to employment etc. I found it useful last year for finding a starting point for Unis to look at though.

Reply 7

marychrist

OP

9

Frances

Despite the fact that I applied to Durham and am actually going to Nottingham for politics, I don't think either of them are particualry rated for politics. I don't really mind though, because the Notts course content really suits me. I nearly applied to Aberdeen, makes a good back up if nothing else because the grades are so low. I think the fact that it's a long trip put me off! But if you can get BBB then there should be quite a bit of choice. Look at the actual content of the courses, and see what they have to offer you!

Do you have any idea what universities, apart from Sheffield, which require BBB, are any good for politics? I've had a look at The Times University Guide a few weeks ago, which confused me further, because prestigious universities like Glasgow are rated lower than somewhere like Strathclyde for politics..

I probably will end up applying for Aberdeen, but as a back up- the entry requirements are something like CCC.

Reply 8

mobbdeeprob

St. Andrews has a very good politics course.

Reply 9

LongGone

18

marychrist

Do you have any idea what universities, apart from Sheffield, which require BBB, are any good for politics? I've had a look at The Times University Guide a few weeks ago, which confused me further, because prestigious universities like Glasgow are rated lower than somewhere like Strathclyde for politics..

I probably will end up applying for Aberdeen, but as a back up- the entry requirements are something like CCC.

I wouldn't pay too much attention to the subject tables to be honest- they can be a bit funny and often don't reflect the overall rankings. The main thing is to find a place and a course that you're happy with.

Out of the universities I applied to Leeds wanted BBB and Lancaster BBC. Others with similar grades that I can think of are Birmingham, Southampton, East Anglia, Exeter, Newcastle, and Royal Holloway. I'm not sure how well they rank for Politics, but they're all good overall- but very different to each other, so see which suits you. Essex and Aberystwyth have good, well known politics departments, but theirr offers are quite low I think.

Reply 10

marychrist

OP

9

Thank you, you have been v. helpful :smile:

good luck with yr a-level results! xo

Reply 11

socialist cook

8

Frances

I wouldn't pay too much attention to the subject tables to be honest- they can be a bit funny and often don't reflect the overall rankings. The main thing is to find a place and a course that you're happy with.

Agreed, I've applied to Durham(as my firm)which tends to be lower in the league tables than Aberystwyth(my insurance)

Frances

Out of the universities I applied to Leeds wanted BBB and Lancaster BBC. Essex and Aberystwyth have good, well known politics departments, but theirr offers are quite low I think.

Hehe I applied to Leeds twice, just in case I didn't get on the Politics and Parliamentary Studies course, in the end I didn't and I couldn't be bothered with a straight Political Studies course for BBB.

Hehe Aberystywth, having low offers, unfortunately not in my case- by some fluke I appear to have the same offer for Aberystywth as I do for Durham(ABB)..
thinking about it it could be because my course at Aber is quite specialised- International Politics and Intelligence Studies :cool:

Reply 12

currency_westlake

marychrist

I should have probably noted in my previous that I'm not quite as bright as the majority of people on this forum, so will probably only be aiming for three B's. Obviously LSE sounds fantastic and if I wanted to be in London for university I would be interested, if only I was capable of getting the grades.

I did ask my politics teacher about politics courses at scottish universities, and he recommended Glasgow, Edinburgh, St Andrews.. Stirling, Aberdeen at a push. I asked him about Strathclyde and he didn't seem very impressed, but he was an Oxbridge student and doesn't seem very keen on anything that isn't even remotely prestigious.

I am ridiculously confused, but thank you anyway. :smile:

ps Good luck with LSE, what course is that you're applying for?

My offer is for Government which, despite what someone else has said on this post, is basically just the same as a regular Politics course.

A lot of people have rightly been mentioning Sheffield, however I have found out that from next year onwards their typical offer will be ABB, as opposed to this years BBB. Although, from my experience (I applied to Sheffield) and having spoken to the admission tutors, they accept almost everyone (only 10 rejected out of 250 this year!) and I think that they would probably accept you if you just missed out on the grades (i.e. BBB, as you predict yourself). I would recommend applying to Sheffield, it's a good uni and it's especially good for Politics.

If I were in your situation I'd pick my best subject and go for ABB. I am absolutely convinced that anyone who is determined and works hard enough can achieve a grade A. If you really want it then you can do it.

I would also recommend that you apply to some English universities, that would make finding the right course far easier!

Best of luck, tom

Reply 13

LongGone

18

socialist cook

Hehe I applied to Leeds twice, just in case I didn't get on the Politics and Parliamentary Studies course, in the end I didn't and I couldn't be bothered with a straight Political Studies course for BBB.

I just applied for the Politics and Parliamentary Studies thing, and didn't get in. but I got an offer for the straight politics anyway. They gave me BB as well- not sure if that was because they liked me or because they missed a B off by accident. :confused:

Reply 14

nan Siarich

marychrist

god knows if this has already been asked but I'm interested in studying politics at university, and will be applying this autumn, but don't really know which places are considered *the best* for this.

I'm mainly interested in universities in scotland and have looked at newspaper league tables, and, according to The Times, the University of Strathclyde is considered better for politics than the University of Glasgow, yet, upon asking my politics teacher which he would regard as the best in Scotland, he seemed particularly keen on Glasgow and Edinburgh.

I'd be grateful if anyone could give me a(non biased) opinion on this, including any non-Scottish universities which are rated for politics.

thankyou thank you thank you.

Glasgow if only for its Debating Society which is by far the best in the world.

Reply 15

Acaila

17

(Very true)

The two to recommend would be Edinburgh and Glasgow. I have heard Edinburgh being described as taking over from Oxbridge as the stamping ground of politicians to be, and I've heard the teaching in Glasgow is very good. I think their entrance requirements are roughly BBB.
St Andrews don't do politics as such, only International Relations which I think has quite high entrance requirements.
I wouldn't say Strathclyde had anything like a good reputation for politics. The redbricks would be a better bet imo.
Also Aberdeen is quite a good uni, although the course didn't appeal to me to the same extent.

Reply 16

BazTheMoney

nan Siarich

Glasgow if only for its Debating Society which is by far the best in the world.

I think Oxford is the best in the world for debating. Oxford Union.

Reply 17

Acaila

17

Go Cambridge! :biggrin:

Err no hijacking intended. But Glasgow does have a great reputation for debating. :smile:

Reply 18

BazTheMoney

Acaila

Go Cambridge! :biggrin:

Err no hijacking intended. But Glasgow does have a great reputation for debating. :smile:

Yeah, but the Union is in a league of its own. Yes Glasgow has a great reputation, but Oxford is probable the most famous non-governmental debating chamber in the world

Reply 19

Acaila

17

Of course it does :rolleyes:

If you don't mind my asking, why are you so keen to study in Scotland? :smile:

I'm very glad to hear someone saying that :biggrin:

best universities for politics?

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