Recent graduate and PSA Membership and Programmes Officer, Theo, responds to questions about studying Politics at A-Level, undergraduate, and Master’s level.

What prompted you to pursue a degree in Politics & IR? 

I pursued my first degree in politics and IR because I enjoyed the course so much at A-Level. It was well-structured to give you an overview of UK, US, comparative and theoretical political foundations, and sets you up well to study the content at undergraduate level.

What prompted me to study A-Level politics, however, was the political uncertainty in the UK during the 2016-18 period (2016 Brexit Referendum, 2017 General Election…). It was the exclusion from voting which created the allure for myself and fellow students at school to study the subject at A-Level and university. If by lowering the voting age to 16 more students feel they are getting their political ‘fix’, it will not necessarily guarantee an increase in the number of those pursuing degrees in politics and IR. By lowering the voting age, however, it may be worth considering the introduction of a GCSE in politics, perhaps!

Did you enjoy studying politics at university?

YES!!!

Was studying Politics at A-Level good preparation for doing a degree?  

Although politics at A-Level is good preparation for studying politics at degree-level, I wouldn’t necessarily say it was the best preparation for studying politics.

A-Level politics gives you an excellent introduction to core political foundations, but it is less good at developing the writing and research skills needed for doing a degree. This is not necessarily a fault with the subject but rather A-Levels as a whole. Instead, an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is undoubtably the best preparation for doing a degree and gives you an opportunity to practice academic research methods so you can hit the ground running at university!

What surprised you most about studying Politics & IR? 

The biggest surprise about politics and IR at degree-level – in contrast to at A-Level – is the number of different political disciplines you can study. You have the opportunity at university to tailor your degree to what interests you most.

Whether in taught modules or an independent dissertation, you will have the opportunity to explore politics by:

• Region or country
• Topic (anthropology, art, development, economics, history, media, music, philosophy and ethics, sociology, sport…)
• Methodological tradition (e.g. comparative politics, quantitative/qualitative analyses… Remember: politics and IR sit in a sweet spot between the social sciences and humanities!)

It is really important to research the modules offered at a given university and whether they align with your interests (the bigger the department, the greater the breadth of its research). I can almost guarantee, however, that you will find new interests during your studies!

If you want to explore some of these areas further, have a look at the activities of the PSA’s specialist groups.

In your opinion, does being part of a University Politics Society enhance your university experience and your engagement with the subject and academic community?  

Without a doubt, joining your university’s politics society will enhance your university experience and, if you choose to study the subject, it will give you an opportunity to get to know your fellow students in lectures.

Many university politics societies are, however, bound to remaining apolitical. This was the case for the University of Birmingham Politics Society, where I was lucky enough to be elected President, and as a result many of our events were devoted to building a community of students with a shared interest in politics and IR. University political societies – such as those affiliated with political parties – offer greater opportunities to be involved in local advocacy work.

REMEMBER – if you think your university society could be doing more, or you would just like to be involved more the society management, I highly recommend running in committee elections!

Check out the activities of Warwick University Polsoc, the PSA’s Politics Society of the Year 2025

What is one book would you suggest all Politics & IR student read and why?

Levitsky, S., and Ziblatt, D. (2018) How Democracies Die: What History Reveals About Our Future, New York, NY: Penguin Random House.

Regarded as the “most important book of the Trump era”, Levitsky and Ziblatt explore democratic backsliding and competitive authoritarianism under Trump’s first presidency, with comparative analyses of similar trends in Hungary, Poland, Turkey, Venezuela, among others. As one of the first books recommended in my first-year modules, and especially during Trump’s second term as President, this is a must read for any students interested in American current affairs, populism, democratic systems, or comparative politics.

What three films would you encourage all Politics & IR students to watch and why?

Vice (2018, dir. Adam Mackay): A personal favourite – as much for its entertainment value as for its political source material – Vice is a biographical black comedy depicting the career of the most powerful Vice President in US history, Dick Cheney. Exploring themes of power, manipulation, and accountability, this film is a must see for anyone interested in US politics, policy, or public administration,

Dr. Strangelove or: How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964, dir. Stanley Kubrick): Widely considered as Kubrick’s magnum opus, Dr. Strangelove is a satirical black comedy exploring themes of power, patriotism, and the absurdity of nuclear deterrents in Cold War international relations.

12 Angry Men (1957, dir. Sidney Lumet): While not explicitly political in its depiction of jury discussions in a murder trial, 12 Angry Men explores themes of justice, social responsibility, deliberative democracy, and certainty and doubt in elections. Regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, it has been preserved by the US Library of Congress as ‘culturally, historically or aesthetically significant’, in part for its interpreted ‘commentary on McCarthyism, Fascism, or Communism’.

Theo Gannon is a graduate in BA Political Science (University of Birmingham) and MA Global Governance and Diplomacy (University of Leeds)