Studying Politics & International Relations at University
Studying Politics & International Relations at University (pdf) is a current, comprehensive guide for students, parents and schools who want to know more about studying Politics or International Relations at University. Compiled and published by the PSA in December 2025. Politics & International Relations degrees deepen your understanding of the world and how power is gained, lost, and applied at all levels. From critical thinking and communications to data analysis and policy development, studying Politics & International Relations will help you develop a wide set of skills so you can be an informed and active citizen, and attractive to employers. […]
Post-16 Skills and Education in England
By Michelle Doyle Wildman, PSA Chief Executive The government’s post-16 education and skills white paper was published on Monday 20 October 2025. So, what’s in the 70-page tome and what has the reaction to it been? Ed Bridges, Head of Policy & Public Affairs for the Academy of Social Sciences helpfully produced a summary for learned societies to use, and I have consequently drawn upon this heavily below. Thank you, Ed! The first notable aspect is that this strategy looking to reform post-16 education and skills in England is a joint endeavour between the Department for Education, Department for Science, Innovation and […]
New British Academy report shows degree course cold spots across the UK
Our friends at the British Academy (BA) have produced a hard-hitting new report which shows that financial difficulties or strategic choices in our universities have led to large swathes of the UK becoming cold spots for social sciences, humanities and arts degrees. What are the implications and why does this matter? More students than ever are choosing to study close to home – some 56% of undergraduates in 2023/24. Historically underrepresented or disadvantaged students are more likely to opt to study locally, so the disappearance of degree opportunities (especially on a regional scale) risks deepening inequalities and will impact the strength […]
Post-16 Results 2025: A-Level Politics bucks the trend with potential for growth overall
By Michelle Doyle Wildman, PSA Chief Executive It was wonderful celebrating the success of our young people (and their teachers) over the last few weeks as the Scottish Highers, International Baccalaureate and A level results rolled in. It’s thrilling to see so many take up their long-desired places at university and start their higher education journeys. It was interesting to see that our friends at the British Academy have refreshed their SHAPE Observatory with a new School Indicators dashboard. This dashboard includes over twenty years’ of data on: GCSE and A level in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales National 5, Higher and […]
A-Level Results Day – Thinking About Doing a Politics Degree?
By Michelle Doyle Wildman, PSA Chief Executive Congratulations if you have now received your exam results. We hope you have achieved the grades you need to continue your studies at university! If you didn’t get the grades you hoped for (or indeed did better than expected), we encourage you to both contact your chosen universities to discuss your options, and to check out the wide range of courses available to you through the UCAS clearing system. And it won’t surprise you to learn that we hope you will consider opting to study Politics and International Relations at university, this year […]
Considering doing a degree? Why not choose Politics & IR?
By Michelle Doyle Wildman, PSA Chief Executive What can you do with a Politics & IR Degree? Politics Degrees are relevant, enjoyable, and useful. Recent analysis by the British Academy – New report uncovers popularity of Politics and International Relations degrees, with graduates outearning national averages – found that this is a popular subject among prospective students, on its own or combined with other subjects. Politics & IR graduates have a strong set of skills which make them popular with a range of employers too so that they enjoy above average salaries compared to non-graduates and other graduates. Median earnings of first […]
Recognition and Reward for a Teaching-Focused Career Track
By Professor Rose Gann, PSA Chair and Professor of Politics Education, Nottingham Trent University The British Academy report on Politics and International Relations (PIR) in higher education notes a striking growth in numbers of academic staff on ‘teaching-only’ contracts within the discipline (British Academy, 2025). Numbers have more than doubled in recent years and now represent 21% of all academic staff in PIR. Historically, ‘teaching-only’ contracts have been considered by some as somehow less prestigious than research or teaching- and-research contracts. This is now changing. It is becoming clear that not only are staff numbers growing, but these staff are also playing and increasingly important role in developing the student experience and embedding effective teaching and learning practices within universities (Hulme 2022; Loch et Al., 2024). Furthermore, greater consideration is being given to […]
Who is taking A-level Government and Politics? A 15-Year Snapshot
By Michelle Doyle Wildman, Chief Executive of the PSA and Joan McDappa, PSA’s Diversity and Projects Officer Our friends at the British Academy have just made available a new dashboard tool that offers insight into demographic and socio-economic characteristics of post-16 students in England studying Level 3 qualifications (excluding apprenticeships) over the fifteen years preceding 2021/22 as a whole and for each subject including A Level Government and Politics. This builds on the information provided on subject choice in 2024 A level Government & Politics: in good health but ripe for growth | The Political Studies Association (PSA) […]
New British Academy Report on Politics and International Relations provision in UK Higher Education
Politics & IR remains popular as a degree with impressive employment outcomes for graduates, and punches above its weight in research A new British Academy report, produced in partnership with the Political Studies Association, on Politics and International Relations (PIR) provision in UK higher education shows a 20 per cent increase in first degree enrolments and a 41 per cent rise in postgraduate taught enrolments between 2011/12 and 2022/23, with PIR graduates earning a median salary up to £9000 more than the average graduate ten years after leaving university. The report was steered by an advisory group representing the PSA, BISA […]