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A level choices for a history and politics degree

Basically i would like to eventually go on to do an undergrad in politics and history. My current A-level choices are as follows: History, English (lit), and media studies. The oxford page states that History is highly recommended (which is fine for me :smile: ) But also that sociology, politics or government and politics would be useful. Thing is, my school doesnt do politics or government and politics, only sociology and i'd rather not do sociology unless i really have to. What would you guys recommend and what do you think of the choices i have now?

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If you want the best chance at Oxford, go for traditional subjects. My brother is currently doing History and Politics at LMH, Oxford. He did Geography, Politics, History and Philosophy at AS Level, dropping the Geog for A Level.

Any of these, plus English Lit., any modern or ancient language, and Theology (RS) would all be superb choices. Maths won't harm the application either, the sciences are perhaps a little irrelevant.

I'd avoid subjects like media studies - they can be still be useful and interesting, but will be of less help when applying than a more traditional one. Hope this helps!
i would like to do an international relations (with geography ideally) or a human sciences degree. I'm doing geography, sociology, religious studies and psychology, they can't discriminate you not having gov&pol as not all schools offer it! do people think my options are suitable? ultimately i want to work in the diplomatic service/FCO
History and English Literature are both great subjects to take! I would suggest perhaps switching Media Studies to another subject though, for example Geography or Philosophy, which are generally regarded more highly than Media Studies :smile:
Original post by eviebrizzle
i would like to do an international relations (with geography ideally) or a human sciences degree. I'm doing geography, sociology, religious studies and psychology, they can't discriminate you not having gov&pol as not all schools offer it! do people think my options are suitable? ultimately i want to work in the diplomatic service/FCO


They sound like very good choices. How are you with foreign languages? The FCO would definitely appreciate a MFL A Level. But, if not, perhaps replacing Sociology with English Lit. or History would be a possibility? I don't want to knock Sociology, because I'm sure it's very interesting, but the stuck-up types in the civil service will be looking out for the most traitional A Levels which they know they can trust. But this is just a minor thing, and Geography and RS make up for it. With these subjects you should be able to get into almost any Uni you wish if your grades are good enough, so you won't be held back.
Original post by SunnysideSea
They sound like very good choices. How are you with foreign languages? The FCO would definitely appreciate a MFL A Level. But, if not, perhaps replacing Sociology with English Lit. or History would be a possibility? I don't want to knock Sociology, because I'm sure it's very interesting, but the stuck-up types in the civil service will be looking out for the most traitional A Levels which they know they can trust. But this is just a minor thing, and Geography and RS make up for it. With these subjects you should be able to get into almost any Uni you wish if your grades are good enough, so you won't be held back.


i enjoyed french GCSE and was predicted a* but the school i'm going to for 6th form isn't strong at MFL so i don't want a crap grade in it. However i want to learn french by either doing a language module in my uni degree (maybe spanish) or i may try to work as a chalet girl for a ski season in France. I hate Eng Lit, and didn't do history GCSE! do my MFL skills have to be from an a-level???
Original post by eviebrizzle
i enjoyed french GCSE and was predicted a* but the school i'm going to for 6th form isn't strong at MFL so i don't want a crap grade in it. However i want to learn french by either doing a language module in my uni degree (maybe spanish) or i may try to work as a chalet girl for a ski season in France. I hate Eng Lit, and didn't do history GCSE! do my MFL skills have to be from an a-level???


No, I shouldn't have thought they do (unless half or more of your degree is in in languages). But if you enjoyed it at GCSE then definitely consider it - language students are becoming rarer and, as such, more interesting and sought-after prospects. I don't know (I stopped at GCSE!), but is French A Level the sort of subject in which the content is predominantly self-taught (learning vocab and grammar is basically an activity you do alone)? Perhaps the teachers are more required for the literature side of it, but I would have guessed French A Level relied less on teaching quality than lots of other subjects, like Maths, History or English.

But don't worry about it - your current subjects are great as they are.
(edited 7 years ago)
I did history, lit, econ and politics.

Firstly I would personally check what options you will be taking for English - some of our texts I didn't really get on with, some were more relevant to history than others etc. But I think generally that it develops your analysis in a way that complements something like HisPol.

I would definitely recommend economics, as it's so tied up in politics and history. And personally I do wish that I took maths, as it would have broken up all the essays I was writing. Maybe a language would serve a similar purpose.

However, partly this is personal taste. Do what interests you, but I would say be sure to do two things: carefully look at the options for each subject and the syllabus, to make sure you like what you will actually be studying; and don't do media studies!
Reply 8
Original post by SunnysideSea
If you want the best chance at Oxford, go for traditional subjects. My brother is currently doing History and Politics at LMH, Oxford. He did Geography, Politics, History and Philosophy at AS Level, dropping the Geog for A Level.

Any of these, plus English Lit., any modern or ancient language, and Theology (RS) would all be superb choices. Maths won't harm the application either, the sciences are perhaps a little irrelevant.

I'd avoid subjects like media studies - they can be still be useful and interesting, but will be of less help when applying than a more traditional one. Hope this helps!


Thanks for the help! Sounds like sociology might be a good idea then from what you said there. The only other choice i would consider is philosophy.

I think i might add sociology to the list then. I would also like to take journalism as a post-grad. Are these good choices for that?
Original post by MadWolf
Thanks for the help! Sounds like sociology might be a good idea then from what you said there. The only other choice i would consider is philosophy.

I think i might add sociology to the list then. I would also like to take journalism as a post-grad. Are these good choices for that?


Sociology and Philosophy are both excellent whichever you choose. Is the course your school does 'Philosophy' (AQA), or is it 'Philosophy and Ethics'? If the latter I'd stick with Sociology, if the former I think you'd really enjoy it (very prestigious also), and it would be invaluable for Journalism (e.g. political philosophy is the basis of swathes of journalism)

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Reply 10
Original post by MouseyBrown
I did history, lit, econ and politics.

Firstly I would personally check what options you will be taking for English - some of our texts I didn't really get on with, some were more relevant to history than others etc. But I think generally that it develops your analysis in a way that complements something like HisPol.

I would definitely recommend economics, as it's so tied up in politics and history. And personally I do wish that I took maths, as it would have broken up all the essays I was writing. Maybe a language would serve a similar purpose.

However, partly this is personal taste. Do what interests you, but I would say be sure to do two things: carefully look at the options for each subject and the syllabus, to make sure you like what you will actually be studying; and don't do media studies!


I assume you did the history and politics course? Because it looks like i'm going to be studying everything that your studying apart from politics (since it's not available at my school). Will not having politics or sociology (since that is also now unavailable) be much of a deal breaker for any uni i'm applying to or will my other choices mean i'm in a pretty decent position to study a course like this? Would it be possible to do a foundation year if need be?

Also i may be studying Media. My school has a policy where you can try out subjects for the first month and then in october they are finalised. If i do decide to go through with it, how will it effect the way that unis will see me?
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by MadWolf
I assume you did the history and politics course? Because it looks like i'm going to be studying everything that your studying apart from politics (since it's not available at my school). Will not having politics or sociology (since that is also now unavailable) be much of a deal breaker for any uni i'm applying to or will my other choices mean i'm in a pretty decent position to study a course like this? Would it be possible to do a foundation year if need be?

Also i may be studying Media. My school has a policy where you can try out subjects for the first month and then in october they are finalised. If i do decide to go through with it, how will it effect the way that unis will see me?


I'll start History and Politics this October. I really do not think that A level choices are generally a deal breaker, especially in the humanities. I've heard of people get in for PPE without one or two of the three subjects for instance.

But obviously they would have still had to show an interest in politics or whatever. That's surely the most important thing - you might not be studying politics, but you have to show that it interests you. I guess you could talk about the political aspects of the history you study, for example, in wider reading and in following the news.

Media studies - I don't know man. Maybe it's not gonna hurt your application, but I sure can't see it helping.

If I was to give one piece of advice for Oxbridge (did you even say that was the aim actually?!) it would be to carve out an area of interest, away from the A level stuff you do. Follow your interests, because one book always leads to another. From studying Thatcherism at A level I got interested in capitalism vs socialism, and that led to reading a bunch of different stuff, all of which tied in together for my PS. Develop an area of interest, and don't just read books you think interviewers will like. That is what will make up for not studying politics.
Reply 12
Original post by MouseyBrown
I'll start History and Politics this October. I really do not think that A level choices are generally a deal breaker, especially in the humanities. I've heard of people get in for PPE without one or two of the three subjects for instance.

But obviously they would have still had to show an interest in politics or whatever. That's surely the most important thing - you might not be studying politics, but you have to show that it interests you. I guess you could talk about the political aspects of the history you study, for example, in wider reading and in following the news.

Media studies - I don't know man. Maybe it's not gonna hurt your application, but I sure can't see it helping.

If I was to give one piece of advice for Oxbridge (did you even say that was the aim actually?!) it would be to carve out an area of interest, away from the A level stuff you do. Follow your interests, because one book always leads to another. From studying Thatcherism at A level I got interested in capitalism vs socialism, and that led to reading a bunch of different stuff, all of which tied in together for my PS. Develop an area of interest, and don't just read books you think interviewers will like. That is what will make up for not studying politics.


Huh ok. Well i'm definitetly interested in politics so that shouldn't be too hard! :smile:

Do you know about EPQ's? If you don't they are basically extended projects that a candidate can undertake along side their A-levels that are worth half an A level and can be on anything the candidate wants. This could be a pretty good opportunity for what your talking about!

Could probably do politics in a college if they still dont accept me for this reason or if my other results aren't great. Got all As and Bs for GCSE but still...

On the other hand i could just do it for fun! :smile:
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by MadWolf
Huh ok. Well i'm definitetly interested in politics so that shouldn't be too hard! :smile:

Do you know about EPQ's? If you don't they are basically extended projects that a candidate can undertake along side their A-levels that are worth half an A level and can be on anything the candidate wants. This could be a pretty good opportunity for what your talking about!

Could probably do politics in a college if they still dont accept me for this reason or if my other results aren't great. Got all As and Bs for GCSE but still...

On the other hand i could just do it for fun! :smile:


I definitely would not expect a university to reject you because you didn't do A level politics. But maybe ask them directly.

And ask them about the EPQ too - I know that for all the unis I applied to it didn't matter that I didn't do one. But yeah, treating like a chance to focus on politics sounds like a good idea.

Just to stress, though, I'm no expert! But I'm more than happy to answer any questions you have.
Reply 14
Original post by MouseyBrown
I definitely would not expect a university to reject you because you didn't do A level politics. But maybe ask them directly.

And ask them about the EPQ too - I know that for all the unis I applied to it didn't matter that I didn't do one. But yeah, treating like a chance to focus on politics sounds like a good idea.

Just to stress, though, I'm no expert! But I'm more than happy to answer any questions you have.


Hi. You were saying that some of the english texts you didn't really get along with. Do you feel like that bought down your grade?

I'm asking because we have to do a lot of elizabethan stuff at my new school. I moved halfway through term to do politics. Wondering if it was worth moving back for the better english course
Original post by MadWolf
Hi. You were saying that some of the english texts you didn't really get along with. Do you feel like that bought down your grade?

I'm asking because we have to do a lot of elizabethan stuff at my new school. I moved halfway through term to do politics. Wondering if it was worth moving back for the better english course


No I actually got a really high UMS score, which was kind of a surprise. But i'd still imagine that it's easier to get a high mark doing a subject you really like. For sure it would be more enjoyable anyway
Original post by Leviathan1741
History and English Literature are both great subjects to take! I would suggest perhaps switching Media Studies to another subject though, for example Geography or Philosophy, which are generally regarded more highly than Media Studies :smile:


I can't decide between economics or politics, and I want to do history at Cambridge. What do you thibk would be better/ more impressive?
Original post by punkbreath
I can't decide between economics or politics, and I want to do history at Cambridge. What do you thibk would be better/ more impressive?


What are your other subjects? :smile:
Original post by Leviathan1741
What are your other subjects? :smile:


History and English lit.
Original post by punkbreath
History and English lit.


Could you do one as an AS? I’m doing History too at A-Level and Politics goes so well with it! I never fully understood politics but I did enjoy reading about it and watching videos about it. It’s a very fascinating subject and I have found that a lot links in with History.

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