We put a premium on innovative research and are committed to the delivery of high quality teaching on all our programmes.Undergraduate Politics
The Politics Department at the University of Exeter is one of the best in the UK. With bases at both the Streatham Campus in Exeter and the Cornwall Campus near Falmouth, we put a premium on innovative research and are committed to the delivery of high quality teaching on all our programmes.
In today’s environment of rapid global, technological and cultural transformations, Politics and International Relations are among the most relevant and exciting areas of study. Studying Politics or International Relations takes you to the heart of these issues where you’ll explore the political, historical, institutional, social, economic and cultural forces that mediate the exercise of power within and between nations. Whether thinking about issues such as the environment, security, elections, the nature of democracy or party politics, the disciplines have a high degree of relevance, and their study is applicable in a number of different kinds of careers.
Our teaching is research-led and all third year options are specialist seminar-centred modules that reflect the interests of our academics. Current research strengths include social movements, security studies, international relations, Middle East politics, European politics, public policy and administration, climate change and sustainability, campaigns and elections and political theory. We are committed to providing a broad education in politics and international relations, which will expose you to a range of different and sometimes competing perspectives and approaches
- One of the UK's best politics departments
- 6th in the UK for world leading research1
- 9th for Politics in The Times Good University Guide 2012 and 4th in The Sunday Times University Guide 2012
- International staff with a wide breadth of expertise with governmental and non-governmental organisations
Teaching is at the heart of university life and is something that I throw myself into with relish. I teach public policy and administration focused modules across all undergraduate years and was delighted to be shortlisted for the Best Lecturer Award in Exeter’s the Students’ Guild Teaching Awards 2010. My teaching is led both by my academic research and by my own experience of working in government. Real world policy dilemmas are used to explore how decision-makers experience and engage in politics bringing otherwise abstract theories to life. For example, the assessment in my second year course on policy analysis casts students in the role of policy advisers. By writing about a policy problem of their choice, and researching the various possible decisions that decision-makers in government could make, students change from being analysts who are one-step removed from the political process to policymakers who must win attention for their issue and design a policy response that is politically, economically and ethically credible. I use my experience from working in the civil service, and my own research on policy advice, to teach the analytical methods and research skills essential for ‘speaking truth to power’ (and knowing how to respond when power speaks back!).
Dr Claire Dunlop, Senior Lecturer in Politics
1 RAE 2008 based on the percentage of research categorised as 4*
