How long is the BA in Political Science?

The BA in Political Science runs for three years full-time on-campus with Westminster field weeks, or up to four years part-time through online and distance-learning routes with the same assessment standard.

Can I study the BA in Political Science fully online?

Yes. The BA in Political Science is delivered on-campus, fully online with weekly live seminars, or by distance learning, with quantitative-methods labs accessible through a browser-based R and STATA environment.

Is the BA in Political Science recognised by UK employers?

Yes. The BA in Political Science is a UK-accredited honours degree aligned with Political Studies Association standards and recognised by the Civil Service, parliamentary research roles and polling employers.

What are the entry requirements for the BA in Political Science?

Three A-levels at BBC or equivalent, GCSE English grade 5 and Maths grade 4, IELTS 6.5 for international applicants. The BA in Political Science welcomes mature applicants with a portfolio and short interview.

What does the BA in Political Science cost and is funding available?

Tuition for the BA in Political Science varies by route and domicile. Means-tested bursaries and merit scholarships are offered each intake — contact LSCT admissions for the current fee schedule and eligibility.

BA in Political Science in London in London | LSCT (Harold) | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The BA in Political Science at the London School of Commerce and Technology (LSCT) is a three-year undergraduate degree for students who want to study power, institutions and elections with the analytical seriousness employers actually pay for. The syllabus combines political theory with quantitative methods, comparative politics and a substantial dose of British politics taught from a short walk away from Parliament Square.

You will read Hobbes and Hayek alongside R and STATA, run regression analyses on British Election Study data and present your final-year dissertation to a panel that includes a working pollster or policy analyst. The degree is aligned with Political Studies Association standards and structured to prepare you for postgraduate research, Civil Service recruitment or a junior analyst role in polling and political consultancy.

You will study in small, tutor-visible cohorts; meet visiting professionals fortnightly; and work to deadlines that mirror professional practice in the law & social sciences sector. UK public institutions are undergoing a sustained programme of reform that touches central government, the devolved nations and the courts, and the syllabus is updated annually to reflect the most recent constitutional, regulatory and policy changes affecting practice.

Key Features

Political Studies Association-aligned syllabus with guest seminars from working pollsters and parliamentary staff.
Three study modes — on-campus in central London, fully online with weekly live seminars, or distance learning with cohort deadlines.
Year-two placement with a polling firm, think tank, MP's office, charity or international NGO.
Quantitative methods taught with R, STATA and the British Election Study so graduates leave with a real analytical toolkit.
Westminster field weeks — observe Prime Minister's Questions, select committees and party conference fringe events.
Final-year specialism in British politics, international relations, political theory or political economy.
Doctrinal peer review — fortnightly written argument review with cohort and a named tutor across the cohort programme.

What You Will Learn

The degree teaches political science as a methodologically rigorous discipline. By graduation you will read an academic paper critically, run your own statistical analysis from data to publishable chart, and argue a normative position without resorting to slogans.

British politics and government — Westminster, Whitehall, devolution and elections.
Comparative politics — electoral systems, party systems and regime types.
International relations — realism, liberalism, constructivism, and current crises.
Political theory — from classical to contemporary thinkers.
Quantitative methods with R and STATA.
Qualitative methods — interviews, ethnography and process tracing.
Public opinion and polling using BES and BSA data.
Dissertation — an original empirical or theoretical project.
Legal research and citation at OSCOLA standard with weekly reading-list drills.
Written advocacy for tribunal and committee work — concise, structured, persuasive.

Across every module you keep a structured working portfolio of advisory notes, mooted submissions and case analyses — a single source of truth you can show at interview and continue to maintain after graduation. Programme assessment combines coursework, in-class exercises and a substantial practice-led piece of work assessed by a working senior practitioner.

Who This Course Is For

This degree suits students who want serious training in political analysis rather than political opinion.

A-level leavers aiming for Civil Service, parliamentary or think-tank careers.
International students seeking a UK political science degree taught in English.
Career changers from journalism, charity work or business moving into political research.
Future researchers preparing for an MA or PhD in politics or international relations.
Returners to work re-entering legal or policy roles after a career break, with refreshed UK-context training.

Career Pathways

LSCT political science graduates move into analytical, policy, research and political-communications roles across government, parliament, think tanks, polling, NGOs and the private sector. Typical destinations include:

Researcher (Parliament, think tank, MP's office)
Policy Officer (charity, professional body, public affairs)
Civil Service Generalist (Fast Stream and direct entry)
Polling and Insight Analyst
Political Risk Analyst
Public Affairs Account Executive
Public Affairs and Government Relations Officer at a UK trade body or NGO

The BA in Political Science is a strong foundation for postgraduate study in political science, international relations, public policy or political economy.

LSCT careers service maintains a working contact book of UK law firms, government legal teams and policy employers, hosts at least one industry-careers day per academic year and offers structured one-to-one application support during your final stage. Many graduates also build long-term professional networks through the Inns of Court, the Bar Council and Political Studies Association events that LSCT students are encouraged to attend.

Entry Requirements

Three A-levels at grades BBC or above (IB 28+, BTEC DMM, Foundation Year pass) — Politics, History, Economics or Sociology are particularly welcome for the BA in Political Science.
GCSE English Language at grade 5/C and Mathematics at grade 4/C (or equivalent).
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
A personal statement; mature applicants (21+) may apply with a portfolio and short interview.
Applicants with prior legal study, policy or paralegal experience are particularly encouraged to mention these on the application form for the programme.

Why Study at LSCT

The London School of Commerce and Technology (LSCT) is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London and part of Harold International College. We teach in small cohorts so every student is visible to their tutor, run a single intake schedule that students can rely on, and partner with UK professional bodies so qualifications carry weight with employers. London puts Whitehall, the City, Silicon Roundabout, the Royal Courts of Justice, the West End and the NHS estate within a short tube ride of every classroom. For political scientists that means Westminster, the Supreme Court, the major think tanks in Tufton Street and Westminster, and the polling-firm offices around Holborn are part of your weekly study route.

Our law and social sciences students complete observation weeks at Westminster, the Royal Courts of Justice and council scrutiny meetings as part of the assessed coursework. Students also benefit from our partnership with Harold International College of London, with shared library access, careers-service connections and the option to take a small number of elective modules across the wider Harold International programme catalogue subject to availability.

Whichever study mode you select, you will join a single, intake-aligned cohort with weekly tutor visibility, a named programme tutor for the duration of your studies, an institutional access plan offering peer support and structured careers advice, and the full library and online-resource subscription package of Harold International College of London. Many students travel to London for two short on-campus residentials per academic year — these are optional for online learners but supported by LSCT for students who can attend.

Apply for BA in Political Science

The BA in Political Science is built to launch your career in the law and social sciences sector. Click Enrol Now to submit your application; admissions reply within one working day and arrange a short conversation with a politics tutor to align your module choices with your career goals.