Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL1001B: State of Britain

This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

  • What is Public Policy and why do we study it?

  • Policy making in the British State: parliamentary processes, institutions and actors

  • Multi-level policy I: Public Policy in a Devolved Britain

  • Multi-level policy II: The Europe Union and British Public Policy

  • Governance and the concept of policy networks: The Rise of the Hollow State?

  • Agenda setting: ideas and actors

  • Policy Implementation and the Tools of Government

  • Making policy in an era of New Public Management

  • Case Study: Health Policy and the NHS

  • Trends in British Policy Making: From Blair to Cameron

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
26.5123.50

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity16.511 x 1.5 hour Lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity10Tutorials are based on lecture topics. Every student will be expected to present a tutorial paper during the year.
Guided Independent study5Preparation for formative seminar presentation
Guided Independent study40Preparation and writing of essay
Guided Independent study40Preparation and revision for examination
Guided Independent study38.5Reading for tutorials

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).