Course Overview

If you want to understand the past to prepare for your future in a changing world, studying History is the way forward.  A knowledge of politics helps you to understand what governments do, shedding light on how some of history’s pivotal events were motivated by the political leaders of the day.

Whatever your interests - whether cultural, social, military, political, economic or religious history - there is someone in the department teaching your kind of history. Moreover, historians in other departments in the University expand the range of courses on offer, notably in the fields of Byzantine and African history.

The Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) has a broad expertise covering all areas of Political Science allowing you to learn from true specialists, with long-established strengths in the fields of political theory, European politics, international relations theory, security studies, diplomatic studies, political sociology, political economy, environmental politics, Pacific Asian politics and British politics.

Both fields of study help you to acquire important analytical and research skills in your degree. You will be investigating unfamiliar territory throughout your course questioning some of the prevailing myths, preconceptions and prejudices that surround history from the Middle Ages to the present day as well as learning about campaigns, elections, protest movements, policy issues and political ideas. 

General Eligibility

• Three GCE A levels (including International A Levels)

• The International Baccalaureate Diploma

• SQA Highers and Advanced Highers (many programmes will accept Highers without additional Advanced Highers)

• The Cambridge Pre-U (minimum three separate subjects)

• A mix of A levels and Cambridge Pre-U subjects (minimum three in total)

• The Irish Leaving Certificate Higher Level

• The European Baccalaureate

• Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (the grade required will be the same as from an A level and must be combined with 2 A levels.)

Part Time Work Details

20 Hours of Work permit weekly for international students.

Language Requirement

• In order to undertake a programme of study here at the University, you will need to demonstrate that you have a suitable level of English proficiency.

  You can demonstrate your level of English with IELTS/TOEFL/PTE or alternative qualifications. The sections below will tell you what grades you need in these qualifications for the subject area you want to study.

  English tests/qualifications normally need to have been taken within two years of the start date of your programme.

  For those joining us for 2022, we will accept the following additional tests as evidence of English language proficiency:

  • TOEFL Home Edition

  • IELTs Online

  • PTE Academic Online