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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Which Uni for Politics

35 replies

DoodleDog · 19/11/2020 17:38

I know that @ShaunnatheSheep has already asked about this but my son is looking at different grades. His predicted grades are BBB.

He desperately wants to go to London and so his choices are as follows;

Queen Mary require ABB for Politics & IR. BA
Goldsmiths require BBB for Politics Philosophy and Economics BA
City require BBB for Politics BSc
Reading require BBB for Philosophy & Politics BA
Southampton require ABB for Philosophy & Politics BA

Does anyone have any knowledge of these that they can share or if you think there is a better option based on his grades, he likes the economics modules but some courses aren't open to him as he got a 4 in Math.

I really like Keele as it seems to have a good reputation, but as it is not London and it's his mums suggestion, it doesn't seem an option.

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 19/11/2020 18:45

If he got a 4 in maths, he really needs to steer clear of economics!

Why is he so keen on London? Nothing wrong with those unis but it limits his choices.

Original poster
DoodleDog · 19/11/2020 18:59

Hi @Piggywaspushed. He has read that the economics parts on the above are fine and he is not worried about that at all.

He feels that he needs to be in the capital ideally to study politics because that is where it all goes on. He does also have a love affair with London - as do I - and his Uncle when to Queen Mary.

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 19/11/2020 19:23

OK, fair enough but economics requires a lot of maths, data manipulation etc.

One of the best known and respected politics courses is at Hull, ironically, which has close links with Westminster. Another very highly regarded uni in the field is Aberystwyth. It's not all about being in London!

Oldowl · 19/11/2020 19:34

The University of Essex is highly regarded for Politics too. It is on the edge of London!

marthastew · 19/11/2020 19:48

I have a degree in politics from a non-London university and now work in politics in London. If it's a real passion, getting involved in student politics is the way to go and then work for an MP once he has graduated before moving into his chosen focus area.

HotGlueGun · 19/11/2020 19:57

Hull was always renowned for politics. My biggest regret not going there to study it after they gave me an unconditional offer. He really should consider this one if he's serious about politics.

Original poster
DoodleDog · 19/11/2020 20:23

Thanks for the replies.
@Oldowl, we live about 20 mins from Essex Uni and he wants to go away from home and his teachers have said not to study there.

@marthastew Can I pick your brains and ask if the fast track scheme is a good thing to do? He has done work experience, for our local MP, in Westminster and his plans are to be a future Prime Minister.
I had suggested that he go elsewhere for his BA/BSc and then London for his MA/MSC if that's what he wants.

OP posts:
Cam2020 · 19/11/2020 20:35

I went to QMUL - I don't know, much about the politics department and I went a very long time ago, but it has being a RG uni going for it.

A friend of mine studied politics at Royal Holloway but again I'm showing my age so my knowledge is about 20 years out of date Blush. That's also RG.

KittyMcKitty · 19/11/2020 20:40

My ds has applied for a mixture of politics & Phil & Pol.

He has applied to QMUL - their standard offer is ABB for Pol but it has been in clearing the previous 2 years at BBB.

I would steer clear of Economics with only a 4 in Maths at GCSE. I thought most asked for A level maths? Certainly when my ds was considering PPE many seemed to. To do A level Economics you need a 7 in maths.

Hull ask for BCC. Sussex was in clearing this year with v low grades.

Liverpool was also in clearing this year on BBB although their standard offer is AAB.

KittyMcKitty · 19/11/2020 20:44

Sorry forgot to add Manchester’s standard offer for Phil & Pol is ABB.

ConstantlyCooking · 19/11/2020 20:49

Remember that universities often accept lower grades than they offer. The offers are often almost a marketing ploy - no institution wants to be seen to be a lesser uni. One of the websites (which uni - I think) has the average ucas points for students accepted in the previous year.

cologne4711 · 19/11/2020 21:14

I second Hull - it's on my ds' list. And maybe think again about Essex because even it is close, it could be a great covid option if things don't change as soon as we think. DS is applying to Southampton as it is an hour away and would be commutable. There's always the option of a Masters to go elsewhere.

What about Kent? That asks for BBB.

Interesting about Liverpool and clearing! Loughborough is ABB and Leicester had clearing places for CCC so could be worth a punt too.

KittyMcKitty · 19/11/2020 21:19

@cologne4711 I don’t know if this year was a one off with Liverpool and clearing. Ds has just received their standard offer of AAB for Politics.

Hoghgyni · 19/11/2020 23:10

Definitely avoid economics with grade 4 maths. My DD is currently studying PPE with a grade 9 at GCSE and A level. She is finding the maths content challenging. Although they may say that you don't need A level maths, most would expect basic numeracy at a much higher level than a grade 4 GCSE.

MarchingFrogs · 20/11/2020 09:22

A friend of mine studied politics at Royal Holloway but again I'm showing my age so my knowledge is about 20 years out of date. That's also RG.

Not that it actually matters, but if RHUL has recently become the 25th member of the Kimpton Fitzroy London Group, they've all kept it pretty quiet...

Sophoa · 20/11/2020 09:27

My son has just had a Southampton offer BBB

Bluntness100 · 20/11/2020 09:35

@ConstantlyCooking

Remember that universities often accept lower grades than they offer. The offers are often almost a marketing ploy - no institution wants to be seen to be a lesser uni. One of the websites (which uni - I think) has the average ucas points for students accepted in the previous year.
This isn’t actually correct.

Legally if the uni makes an offer then they need to honour it. So the grade boundaries are set at such a level that they do not end up on a position where they have too many confirmed students. If They do not get the required numbers at that grade setting, then they pick and choose from the rest.

It’s not a marketing ploy, it is simoly so they do not have more students than they can cope with.

I would also advise he stays away from economics as it’s not his strong suit and he is likely to find it very difficult.

Remember the higher the grade entries also for a uni shows how much self study is required, and the complexity of the degree. They are not all the same, and lower entry level unis spoon feed more, than those with the higher entry requirements, and that’s because you need to be about that level to stand a chance of being successful.

GrumblyMumblyisnotJumbly · 20/11/2020 10:55

Hull might offer a good course and it might be cheap to live in but it's not the nicest of places (sorry for offending it's residents).

PresentingPercy · 20/11/2020 11:52

Southampton is possibly the best on the list for status. Followed by QMUL and Reading. Hill is marmite. Yes it has the work experience but it doesn’t produce prime ministers. Loads now do masters in politics because they cannot get jobs in the field they want. Think tanks are also another avenue but again very difficult to get in.

Politics is hard to get into in a meaningful way without joining a political party. Unless he’s the next Dominic Cummings of course.

Politicians tend to be pretty bright. At the highest levels. Jobs in Politics are really difficult to get too. Not impossible but knowing people is key. So with his grades he might like to think of alternative careers as well as his dream. What makes him stand out from the thousands of others who want a political career? Where do most prime ministers go to university? What degrees do they have?

Economics isn’t a good idea. Joining a political party is the most important thing.

PresentingPercy · 20/11/2020 11:52

Hill - Hull

Chapterx · 20/11/2020 11:55

In addition to uni why doesn’t he get involved in local politics? Stand in local elections next year.
If he wants to be an MP he’ll need to start working his way up within his chosen political party as they’ll need to select him as a candidate.

Original poster
DoodleDog · 20/11/2020 13:14

Thank you for all this information, it is really helping.

OP posts:
marthastew · 20/11/2020 23:07

If he really wants to go into party politics then the civil service and doing a masters isn't the way to go. Work for an MP, become involved in student and local politics, attend your local party meetings. It's not something to study for - it's your whole life.

PresentingPercy · 20/11/2020 23:25

Working for an MP is a dream job for many and very difficult to achieve. In a political sense anyway. Working for nothing in a constituency office is a possibility and getting known as an active member.

Zandathepanda · 22/11/2020 00:50

PresentingPercy I know two members of the front bench, one quite well and they really, really are not that bright. The ability to be a nodding dog seems to be paramount. And the PM was unable to follow his own rules and get covid/isolate for covid twice.