Courses and structure

First year

You take the following four foundation units valued at 30 credits each:

• Ideas, Ideologies and Conflicts is an introduction to political theory and an exploration of why central political ideas and concepts influence our understanding of the world around us.
• *Politics of Other Cultures provides students with an understanding of the importance of colonialism and imperialism, and resistance to these, in the shaping of our world, and explores the relationship between politics and culture.
• UK and European Comparative Governance and Politics introduces the comparative approach to politics and government, in addition to building a foundation understanding of the politics and governance of four key members of the European Union: the UK, Germany, Italy and France.
• World Politics takes a critical look at the study of world politics, emphasising that there are different and competing perspectives on how to approach the subject, drawing on perspectives from both international relations and international studies.

*Alternatively, you may choose to opt out of the above unit and take the following unit in its place:

• Political Economy and Public Policy provides an introduction to the main theories and concepts in economics, and to debates about major issues in public policy that are informed by economic analysis.

Each unit is assessed by one essay and a two-hour unseen examination.

Second year

You are required to choose courses to the value of 120 credits from a range of choices which currently includes:

• Africa in the Global Political Economy (30 credits)
• An(other) IR (15 credits) (subject to approval)
• An(other) Japan: Politics and Popular Culture (30 credits)
• Chinese Politics (30 credits)
• Comparative European Politics (30 credits)
• Contemporary International Relations Theories (15 credits) (subject to approval)
• Life: a User’s Manual (30 credits)
• Modern Political Theory (30 credits)
• Political Economy (30 credits)
• Themes and Issues in British Politics since 1945 (30 credits)

With special permission, you may take one 30 credit unit from those available in other departments at Goldsmiths.

Find out more about the units listed above.

Third year

You are required to write a dissertation on a subject of your choice in the broad discipline of politics. You then choose courses to the value of 90 credits from a range of choices which currently includes:

• Anarchism (15 credits)
• An(other) China (15 credits)
• Art War Terror (15 credits)
• Britain in the EU (15 credits) (subject to approval)
• European Union and Immigration: The Contours, Politics and Economics of New Policy Domain (15 credits)
• Nationalist Conflict and International Intervention (15 credits)
• New Radical Political Economy (30 credits)
• Party Systems and Electoral Systems (15 credits)
• Political Economy of the European Union (30 credits)
• Politics and Welfare (15 credits)
• Politics of the African City (15 credits)
• Beyond all Reason (15 credits)
• Public Policy Analysis (15 credits)
• Discourse, Power and Politics (15 credits)
• Rhetoric and Politics (15 credits)
• Risk and Politics: Theory and Practice (15 credits)
• Technology and Political Mobilisation (15 credits) (subject to approval)

Find out more about the units listed above.

Assessment

Most units in the first and second years are assessed by a combination of written essays and unseen examinations. In the third year, there is a greater focus on coursework, and a substantial dissertation on a topic chosen by you.

Skills and careers

Skills

This programme will develop you intellectually, and will enhance your transferable and communication skills – learning to plan your workload, to research solutions, and to express your ideas coherently.

Careers

Our graduates go on to a wide variety of careers. Some go on to postgraduate study or further training in law, accountancy, social work, business administration, or to specialise in one area of their academic studies, whilst others go directly into employment.

Recent graduates have found employment in administration and management; in various departments of central and local government; in finance, in the media; in research and computing; in voluntary agencies; in health, education and housing management; the probation service; in company management, and as lecturers and teachers.

• Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths
• Our alumni

About the department

The Department of Politics

Politics at Goldsmiths focuses on three key themes: conflicts, cultures and crossing boundaries. In tackling conflicts, clashes of ideas and nations. Our emphasis on political culture draws in politics from street-level upwards. By crossing boundaries, we reach beyond the study of Politics to many other disciplines. In doing all of this, we offer a number of exciting specialisms including Asia, Africa, and postcolonialism, as well as political theory and core aspects of British and European politics.

Why study in the Department of Politics?

• The Department of Politics was awarded an excellent 22 points out of 24 in the latest Teaching Quality Assessment of Politics and Economics.
• Our research strengths include Chinese politics, European politics, African politics and political thought, British politics, modern political and social thought, history of ideas, Marx and Marxism, the politics of health, international relations and public administration, the relationship between art and politics.
• You'll benefit from extensive computing facilities, direct access to the campus network, a wide range of packages, including SPSS, Microsoft Office, e-mail, Internet, and other software according to individual needs.
• We have research links with private and public institutions.
• We have external links with bodies including the Home Office, Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, and representations on the Joint University Council, the European Commission and national bodies.

Staff

Find out more about the specialisms of staff in the Department of Politics.

Student and graduate profiles

 

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"Studying politics at Goldsmiths didn’t just teach me facts and figures, but changed how I think. Politics here challenges you – it breaks down the truths you accepted without questioning and encourages you to think for yourself. Since graduating in 2008, I’ve completed a Masters, worked for an MP and a not-for-profit organisation based in Washington, and I taught here in the Department of Politics. At present, I’m running a political campaign, lobbying parliament on defence issues.

I attribute much of my success to the lessons I learned at Goldsmiths. The work I did on population engagement and conflict resolution issues at the not-for-profit was directly informed by classes I took on nationalist identity and the interplay between culture, power and the individual. The atmosphere at Goldsmiths requires you to defend and hone your beliefs – it’s lively, it’s academically challenging, and at the end of my degree I was better informed and much more confident and articulate. This confidence has proved invaluable in the work place!

I loved my time here as a student and can’t imagine my life otherwise. I met such an amazing variety of people and made friends for life. I did my MA at another London university, and the comparison between the students and staff was marked. At Goldsmiths, your fellow students are passionate and out to change the world, and the members of staff are hugely supportive. You’re not viewed as a walking pay cheque, but as a person with views and a future. It doesn’t matter how diverse your views are, or where you fit on the spectrum – you have a place here, not just studying but in the student community as well. I cannot express how much I loved my time studying here and how highly I recommend it!"

Beth, BA Politics (graduated 2008)

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"Arriving at Goldsmiths after my gap year I was nervous having never visited Goldsmiths before. I chose it solely due to the recommendation of a friend knowing I wanted to be in London. It was a gamble that I certainly believe paid off.

Since first landing on campus I threw myself into anything I could. With my previous experience in local politics, I followed this up by standing standing as Chair of the Students’ Union and also stood in a local by-election to be a Lewisham councillor. Amazingly I won both elections! I am pleased to be able to not only live in Lewisham as a student but to be a part of the real community that I represent. Goldsmiths has provided me with the perfect opportunity to balance academic work with my commitment to the local people.

Studying at Goldsmiths has always been about what you are willing to put into it. When I came I wanted to engage with my lecturers and build lasting relationships with them in the hope that I would be able to gain from their experiences. I have found the research that they have been conducting continually fascinating and always appreciate their motivation to often go far and beyond expectations when trying to help.

Unusually in my first year I did a research internship in Parliament which was definitely complemented by my degree. The flexibility of lecturers and seminars has enabled me to build up an extensive range of experiences that I believe will lead me to the top of the graduate pool."

Jenni, BA Politics