Work experience politics year 12

Does anyone have any suggestions on what work experience I want to do if I want to do a degree in politics / international relations at university. I’m in year 12 and I am currently struggling to find something to do. I’m not sure if I should do law work experience as they do go hand in hand.

Reply 1

McGinger

Politics and IR is not a vocational degree - its not an apprenticeship. Its a hefty academic degree and you need to be able to show that you can grapple with complex intellectual ideas and concepts. So you need to read beyond your A level syllabus and expand your academic understanding of this subject so that you can discuss some topics in your PS.

Go into your local public library, find the Politics section and pull out any books that sound interesting, then read them and think about what they are discussing.

Useful online webinars - register in advance to be sent the link.
University of East Anglia Event | Webinar: Politics taster (UK Politics - Reviewing the party conference season) - 14th October 2025
University of Sheffield Event | Politics taster session: The new ‘crisis of masculinity’ and the future of gender politics in Britai - 5th November 2025

Reply 2

s00300

Original post

by McGinger

Politics and IR is not a vocational degree - its not an apprenticeship. Its a hefty academic degree and you need to be able to show that you can grapple with complex intellectual ideas and concepts. So you need to read beyond your A level syllabus and expand your academic understanding of this subject so that you can discuss some topics in your PS.
Go into your local public library, find the Politics section and pull out any books that sound interesting, then read them and think about what they are discussing.
Useful online webinars - register in advance to be sent the link.
University of East Anglia Event | Webinar: Politics taster (UK Politics - Reviewing the party conference season) - 14th October 2025
University of Sheffield Event | Politics taster session: The new ‘crisis of masculinity’ and the future of gender politics in Britai - 5th November 2025