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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Which A level for Politics degree

102 replies

stilldumdedumming · 25/08/2022 13:23

I wonder if anyone can help here. My ds was ill as a child and more or less home educated. He's pretty academic though and very dedicated. So far he has an English GCSE grade A, and 2 A levels Politics A grade and Sociology B grade. He tends to study without tuition as it's very expensive. So he just sits the exam.

He should complete a Cert HE this year at a specialist music college. He has no music grades - so no UCAS points there.

So he would like to do a politics degree and thinks he will need another A level (I know his GCSEs are not enough but he's hoping that will be ok).

What third subject could he do? It needs to be exam only as getting non exam coursework marked is a pain and expensive (otherwise he would do English).

Any thoughts at all?

OP posts:
roarfeckingroarr · 25/08/2022 13:30

Economics would be a good shout and the A level is pretty easy/straight forward.

HyggeandTea · 25/08/2022 13:32

First of all check on UCAS, especially through clearing, if he wants to do a degree this year.Does he have Maths GCSE (that might be a sticking point, and if so he might be best served getting that in the next year)?
Also UCAS will allow him to look at different Uni Politics degrees to see what their entry requirements are...not all require 3 'A' levels. There are also a lot of online and in-person open days which are very worthwhile for research.
www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/subject-guide/politics
www.ucas.com/
www.whatuni.com/degree-courses/search?subject=politics

Winederlust · 25/08/2022 13:33

I did history and politics as a degree and they fit together well. Not sure on what coursework would be involved as my A levels were so long ago! I don't remember there being any though.

Original poster
stilldumdedumming · 25/08/2022 13:34

Thank you @roarfeckingroarr good answer! We like straightforward! I thought so too. I expect it's pretty dry, but that's ok. I thought he'd be interested in that. He's less keen. And he was thinking psychology or law. I can't see psychology being very helpful. Maybe law.

OP posts:
titchy · 25/08/2022 13:36

Music would be an easy on surely? Otherwise Economics or History fit well.

However he absolutely needs Maths GCSE. Do not underestimate how important that is.

A slight niggle - given he has taken a very low load of subjects (only 1 GCSE might be concerning) he will need to convince unis he is now well enough to study at a normal full
Time load.

Original poster
stilldumdedumming · 25/08/2022 13:36

Thanks so much all. Sorry he is looking at 2023 entry, as his cert HE is starting this year.

I know Maths GCSE might be a problem. I just can't see him doing that - he missed so much as a kid!

OP posts:
Original poster
stilldumdedumming · 25/08/2022 13:41

His GCSEs were 2018 so he's recovered pretty well. He had maths tuition but he didn't sit the exam. I suppose he could get the level 2 thing. My friend did that despite her degree and masters to get on a midwifery degree. So I totally hear the maths thing!

I wonder if we'd get insight at uni open day? My dd is just off to uni but she was at school and 6th form so we didn't have to think about unusual qualifications.

OP posts:
perimenofertility · 25/08/2022 13:41

Economics, History, Philosophy would all be relevant subjects for a politics degree.
Agree re lack of maths. Could he do maths gcse alongside one more A level?

Original poster
stilldumdedumming · 25/08/2022 13:43

Thank you so much for all your replies - this is very helpful. I will speak to him
About maths. He won't go willingly!!! Grin

OP posts:
Bouledeneige · 25/08/2022 13:51

Economics is a good shout. Some politics degrees ask for a B or higher in maths if they also do statistics/psephology as part of the curriculum.

English A level is also a good option (for writing skills) and History or Geography.

ItsOnlyWordsInnit · 25/08/2022 14:24

Politics degrees are often remarkably wide-ranging with the kind of social sciences included on the syllabus, but generally history or economics would be solid options. But surely he will need maths GSCE, whether he likes it or not?
Every degree has a different focus, but DD‘s international politics course had elements of macro- and microeconomics as well as statistics, for example. Without an understanding of basic maths that just wouldn’t be doable. I would be wary of any politics course that doesn‘t insist on a decent GCSE grade.

Lineala · 25/08/2022 14:26

Law will be very useful.

Piggywaspushed · 25/08/2022 14:28

There are no A levels specified for a politics degree so the third one matters not one jot.

Piggywaspushed · 25/08/2022 14:30

But... he needs the maths GCSE. Regardless of degree subject every single university sets 4s in English and maths GCSE ( or equivalent) as a baseline entry requirement.

Tiani4 · 25/08/2022 14:36

Maths GCSE at grade 4 or above is essential I'm afraid so he will have to do that.

Psychology is a good A level, law is fun, both require a lot of memory recall on research study names / case law and a way of writing that would give him social science skills for politics degree.

Whatever you do, don't pick a language A Level, they are the hardest to do well in and overwhelming amount to learn.

Tiani4 · 25/08/2022 14:37

Also has he considered looking for a politics degree with a foundation year (so a four year course)- many universities do that for people who don't go the traditional route for various reasons eg mature students but would also fit well for your DS?

Tiani4 · 25/08/2022 14:38

Degree courses with foundation often only ask for about 48 or above UCAS points

Original poster
stilldumdedumming · 25/08/2022 15:20

Right maths loud and clear! I have a masters in stats myself so I do understand. I suppose on the websites many don't seem to talk about GCSEs in the subject requirements. Presumably they assume you have these. Although I did tell him I thought he'd need maths. The problem with a foundation is that he's using student finance for his music course so he will run out of loan money with a 4 year degree. Maybe he should have done foundation instead. Arghh!

Well, he has this year to sort it out but thank you all so much for all the maths calls! He would have been very disappointed to find his 3rd A level did not do the trick!

His memory is outrageously good - which is why I thought law too. Lots to think about. I feel a bit sorry for him as he missed so much school and found it hard to get back into.

Thank you so much - this has been really helpful

OP posts:
pennysarah · 25/08/2022 16:22

I would think do a maths GCSE and History A-level. History has a lot of overlap with government & politics so probably less effort for him whilst doing maths on the side.

Piggywaspushed · 25/08/2022 16:26

History has an NEA though.

Piggywaspushed · 25/08/2022 16:27

stilldumdedumming · 25/08/2022 15:20

Right maths loud and clear! I have a masters in stats myself so I do understand. I suppose on the websites many don't seem to talk about GCSEs in the subject requirements. Presumably they assume you have these. Although I did tell him I thought he'd need maths. The problem with a foundation is that he's using student finance for his music course so he will run out of loan money with a 4 year degree. Maybe he should have done foundation instead. Arghh!

Well, he has this year to sort it out but thank you all so much for all the maths calls! He would have been very disappointed to find his 3rd A level did not do the trick!

His memory is outrageously good - which is why I thought law too. Lots to think about. I feel a bit sorry for him as he missed so much school and found it hard to get back into.

Thank you so much - this has been really helpful

The maths and English are mentioned under general entry requirements for each university, eg:

www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/entry-requirements

Skelligsfeathers · 25/08/2022 16:31

History is ideal
But hexwill need 3 a levels or equivalent
And usually 5 gcses

justaladyLOL · 25/08/2022 16:31

The truth is if he wants to get into politics' the opportunities are very limited unless he has been to Oxford or Cambs

justaladyLOL · 25/08/2022 16:31

Do not do psychology it is not respected by the top unis or employers

Piggywaspushed · 25/08/2022 16:33

I don't think the OP said he did! Politics is an enormously popular degree.

OP do be careful there is a fair amount of misinformation/misleading info on this thread about university admissions and requirements.

I'd target some unis and course and phone them directly.