Which UK University Should I Study at to Be a Politician?

Politicians need excellent verbal communication skills, logical and analytical thinking and  attention to detail. To be a politician you’ll need a strong academic background, an active involvement in campaigning and other political activities, as well as an understanding of politics, society and culture.  

The United Kingdom is home to some of the top politics schools in the world, including four universities in the world top 20. 

There are 27 British universities featured in the QS World University Ranking by Subject 2021 for politics and international studies. So, if you’re looking to become a politician, you have plenty of outstanding institutions to choose from. 

Read on as we reveal the top 10 politics and international relations schools in the UK, and dive into what makes these schools so attractive to future politicians. 

Top 10 Schools for the Politics and International Studies Subject Area in the UK  Based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021
UK Ranking	World Ranking	Institution	Location
1	3	University of Oxford	Oxford
2	5	London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)	London
3	6	University of Cambridge	Cambridge
4	17=	King's College London (KCL)	London
5	21	SOAS - School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London	London
6	42	UCL (University College London)	London
7	48=	University of Essex	Colchester
10=	51-100	Queen Mary University of London	London
10=	51-100	The University of Manchester	Manchester
10=	51-100	The University of Sheffield	Sheffield

=10. The University of Sheffield 

 

Topping off our countdown in joint 10th place in the UK and ranking 51-100 in the world is the University of Sheffield. The school’s politics and international relations course offers research-led teaching. It aims to give students a strong grounding in political analysis and theory while applying these theories to relevant global issues, such as international trade and climate change.  

Data from the university found that 90 percent of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating. To further enhance their CV, students will have the opportunity to complete a year in employment where they can complete a work-based learning dissertation, working closely with an outside organisation to conduct research that they really need. 

=10. The University of Manchester 

Also ranking in joint 10th is the University of Manchester, placing 51-100 globally for its politics and international relations course. The school boasts one of the largest politics departments in the UK, with more than 45 research active staff.  

In their first year, students will complete a series of introductory courses to prepare for second and third year where they can specialise in areas of interest. Students can also get involved in the university’s politics society, which hosts a variety of events – from a ‘meet your MP’ series to workshops with notable political figures, researchers and alumni.  

=10. Queen Mary University of London 

 
Flickr: Ewan Munro 

The last entry in 51-100 globally, also ranking in joint 10th place in the UK is Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). In QMUL’s politics and international relations course, students will achieve a firm understanding of government, political thought, empirical and theoretical approaches to international relations, and how multiple levels of political governance – national, regional and international – interact in the world. 

Throughout the course, students will have access to one-on-one guidance, tailored workshops, career webinars and other career advice. There is also an opportunity for students to study abroad in their third year as QMUL has links with universities in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.  

7. University of Essex 

Flickr: Alvin Leong 

Ranking in seventh place in the UK and joint 48th worldwide for their BA Politics and International Relations programme is the University of Essex. The course offers access to a wide range of modules and topic areas that will help any political career, including elections, referendums and the psychology of voters; civil war and international peacekeeping; and protest, revolution and democracy. 

Outside of the classroom, the university offers a range of societies for politics students, including debating and the Model UN, as well as a series of seminars and events run by the politics department. Essex has a wide range of successful political alumni, including the former president of Costa Rica and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Dr Oscar Arias, as well as the former Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt. Hon. John Bercow . 

6. UCL (University College London) 

 

Sixth in the UK and joint 42nd in the world for politics this year is University College London (UCL). UCL’s politics department aims to provide students with a broad and deep understanding of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policymaking, and administration. 

UCL’s politics department runs an assortment of events throughout the year, including the ‘Policy and Practice’ seminar series which includes presentations by high profile policymakers, practitioners and academics. UCL’s politics department also offers a specialist careers consultant who helps students looking to get into careers in politics. 

5. SOAS - School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London 

 

The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) is ranked fifth in the UK for politics and international relations, and 21st worldwide. Teaching international politics from a non-Western angle, through a diverse range of scholars, SOAS’s politics courses offer both a theoretical and a hands-on approach to politics. The university also holds a wide array of talks and events. 

SOAS is in the political and cultural hub of London, and the university has a wide choice of societies that politics students might wish to be part of including debating society, free speech society, policy forum, politics society, and UN society. 

4. King's College London (KCL) 

 

Fourth in the UK this year for politics and international relations is King’s College London (KCL), ranking joint 17th globally. The course covers international politics, comparative politics, and political theory and aims to develop students’ analytical and research skills.  

The KCL Politics Society host a variety of high-profile conferences, workshops and publish a quarterly journal. They regularly organize talks by politicians, journalists, scholars and diplomats. The King’s Think Tank is a student-led policy organization dedicated to opening up political debate and policy to students at King’s College London. They hold twice-monthly panel events with renowned experts. 

3. University of Cambridge 

 

Third in the UK, and sixth in the world for politics and international relations this year is the University of Cambridge. Their programme explores politics within and between countries, covering a wide range of topics from human rights to international conflict. 15 UK prime ministers and many other world leaders are counted amongst the university’s alumni.  

Those interested in a career in politics may want to join one of the universities many political clubs, each of which regularly host high profile speakers and panel discussions on contemporary topics. There are several campaign groups available to join, including Cambridge Defend Education, Cambridge Zero Carbon, and the CUSU Ethical Affairs Campaign. 

2. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) 

 

Fifth in the world, and second in the UK for politics is the London School of Economics (LSE). LSE’s politics and international relations courses compare political processes and empirical analyses to answer questions about the political world. 

LSE offers plenty of political societies for students who want to get involved. The LSE Government party gives students the opportunity to socialise and attend academic events with political thinkers both inside and outside LSE. The United Nations society encourages students to engage with a network of organisations and individuals within the professional world. They also run the university’s Model United Nations team, which won 74 awards in the 2018-2019 academic year. 

1.University of Oxford 

 

The top university for studying politics and international relations in the UK is the University of Oxford, placing third in the world. The programme aims to teach three different areas of the subject: the study of government and politics, the study of international relations and organisations, and the study of political theory and philosophy. 

The University of Oxford is also home to a variety of individual political party groups, each of which are active campaigners and hold events with local MPs and political figures, whilst also participating in charity work. An impressive 28 British prime ministers have been educated at Oxford University, including the current prime minister, Boris Johnson.