(BA) Bachelor of Arts
Political Theory and Public Policy
Withdrawn
University of Essex
University of Essex
Government
Colchester Campus
Honours Degree
Full-time
Politics and International Relations
BA 7L29
08/05/2024
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
- A-levels: BBB - BBC or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A-levels.
- BTEC: DDM - DMM or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels. The acceptability of BTECs is dependent on subject studied and optional units taken - email ugquery@essex.ac.uk for advice.
- Combined qualifications on the UCAS tariff: 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A levels or equivalent. Tariff point offers may be made if you are taking a qualification, or mixture of qualifications, from the list on our undergraduate application information page.
- IB: 30 - 29 points or three Higher Level certificates with 555-554.
- IB Career-related Programme: We consider combinations of IB Diploma Programme courses with BTECs or other qualifications. Advice on acceptability can be provided, email Undergraduate Admissions.
- QAA-approved Access to HE Diploma: 6 level 3 credits at Distinction and 39 level 3 credits at Merit, depending on subject studied - advice on acceptability can be provided, email Undergraduate Admissions.
- T-levels: We consider T-levels on a case-by-case basis, depending on subject studied. The offer for most courses is Distinction overall. Depending on the course applied for there may be additional requirements, which may include a specific grade in the Core.
Contextual Offers:
We are committed to ensuring that all students with the merit and potential to benefit from an Essex education are supported to do so. For October 2024 entry, if you are a home fee paying student residing in the UK you may be eligible for a Contextual Offer of up to two A-level grades, or equivalent, below our standard conditional offer.
Factors we consider:
- Applicants from underrepresented groups
- Applicants progressing from University of Essex Schools Membership schools/colleges
- Applicants who attend a compulsory admissions interview
- Applicants who attend an Offer Holder Day at our Colchester or Southend campus
Our contextual offers policy outlines additional circumstances and eligibility criteria.
For further information about what a contextual offer may look like for your specific qualification profile, email ugquery@essex.ac.uk.
If you haven't got the grades you hoped for, have a non-traditional academic background, are a mature student, or have any questions about eligibility for your course, more information can be found on our undergraduate application information page or get in touch with our Undergraduate Admissions Team.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall, or specified score in another equivalent test that we accept.
Details of English language requirements, including component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here
If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.
English language shelf-life
Most English language qualifications have a validity period of 5 years. The validity period of Pearson Test of English, TOEFL and CBSE or CISCE English is 2 years.
If you require a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
Pre-sessional English courses
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Pending English language qualifications
You don’t need to achieve the required level before making your application, but it will be one of the conditions of your offer.
If you cannot find the qualification that you have achieved or are pending, then please email ugquery@essex.ac.uk
.
Requirements for second and final year entry
Different requirements apply for second and final year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a visa to study in the UK. Details of English language requirements, including UK Visas and Immigration minimum component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here
Additional Notes
If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to this degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
- Applied Data Science: In order to be eligible for the qualifier, you must successfully complete the following modules: Year Two: GV207-5-AU (15 credits) – ‘Political Analysis: Introduction to OLS’ (must also achieve a mark of 70 to be awarded the qualifier) And at least one of the following: GV205-5-SP (15 credits) – ‘Measuring Public Opinion’ GV217-5-SP (15 credits) – ‘Conflict Analysis’ SC208-5-SP (15 credits) – ‘Crime and Inequality Across the Life Course’ Final year: GV300-6-FY (30 credits) – ‘Quantitative Political Analysis’ GV840-6-FY (30 credits) – 'Project:Politics' (must include sufficient quantitative methods as agreed by your Academic Supervisor, and multivariat regression analysis must be undertaken) [Note: GV840-6-FY can be substituted with either of the other final year project modules: GV831-6-FY, GV831-6-FY, GV836-6-FY, EC831-6-FY, GV834-6-FY, or GV830-6-FY]
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
To acquire good knowledge of the conceptual foundations of politics and be familiar with key aspects of the history of political thought.
To introduce students to important debates in political theory and public policy.
To ensure students are well-grounded in the concepts and principles that underpin public policy, and public life more generally.
To develop an awareness of the way language, rhetoric, and ideology influence the character of public institutions and discourses.
To show how ethical and normative considerations can be integrated into our understandings and analyses of public life.
To help students build a strong foundation in a range of theoretical approaches.
To develop a capacity for independent study and research in the area of political theory and public policy.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: knowledge of the conceptual foundations of politics and be familiar with key aspects of the history of political thought.
A2: Know how to tackle a research problem, and familiarity with relevant methods.
A3: Good grounding in debates, concepts, and principles that underpin public policy and public life more generally.
A4: An awareness of the way language, rhetoric, and ideology influence the character of public institutions and discourses.
A5: Know how ethical and normative considerations can be integrated into our understandings and analyses of public life.
Learning methods
Lectures, participation in discussion and debate, and presentations in seminars and classes, reflective essays and other projects, independently produced assignments, oral and written feedback on essays and other assignments.
A1 specifically in GV150-4-SP (Politics and Power); but other options too.
A2 specifically in GV110-4-AU (Scientific Reasoning for the Social Sciences), as well as options.
A3 specifically in GV250-5-AU (Principles of Social Justice), GV253-5-AU (Analysing Policy Discourse), and GV254-5-SP (Ethics and Public Policy), as well as options.
A4 specifically in GV252-5-AU (Discourse, Rhetoric and Power), but also options such as GV253-5-AU (Analysing Political Discourse).
A5 specifically in GV250-5-AU (Principles of Social Justice), GV253-5-AU (Analysing Policy Discourse), and GV254-5-SP (Ethics and Public Policy), as well as options.
Assessment methods
Modules assessed through presentations, written assignments, essays, projects, and such like, and/or closed examinations.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: To question received thinking.
B2: To develop independent thinking
B3: To muster evidence
B4: To evaluate and analyse evidence
B5: To reason critically.
B6: To argue coherently and concisely
B7: To communicate ideas effectively in writing
B8: To carry out independent research
Learning methods
Lectures, participation in discussion and debate, and presentations in seminars and classes, reflective essays and other projects, independently produced assignments, oral and written feedback on essays and other assignments, individual interviews and group sessions with Study Skills Officer.
Assessment methods
Presentations, written assignments, essays, projects, exams.
C: Practical skills
C1: Organise and structure an extended argument
C2: Use concepts correctly
C3: Compile systematic bibliographies.
C4: Provide references according to accepted conventions.
C5: Use libraries and IT to access information and scholarly resources
C6: Sift and synthesise complex information
C7: Conducting oneself in a scholarly and professional manner
Learning methods
C1-7. Lectures, participation in discussion and debate, and presentations in seminars and classes, reflective essays and other projects, independently produced assignments, oral and written feedback on essays and other assignments.
C5 specifically in induction sessions for library use.
Assessment methods
C1-7. Written assignments and essays, closed examinations, supervised research paper.
C1 especially in research paper.
C3-6 specifically in essays and research paper.
C2 essays, examinations, and research papers.
D: Key skills
D1: Clear, focused, relevant and effective expression and communication.
D2: Access and organise information from a variety of electronic sources
D3: Understand the use of evidence in argument.
D4: To manage projects and timetables. To find, understand and organise information. To work with ideas.
D5: Discuss and debate issues with fellow members of classes and seminars, or work on joint assignments or projects
D6: To develop positive responses to feedback and criticism.
Learning methods
D1-5. Participation in and presentations to seminars and classes, written assignments and essays, research papers.
D4 specifically in scheduling and balancing requirements for modules taught in parallel.
D6 specifically in individual guidance on essays, oral and written feedback on essays.
Assessment methods
D1-5. Classroom discussion, written assignments and essays, examinations, research papers
D6 classroom presentations, written assignments and essays.