Why Politics
I really enjoyed studying A Level Politics the most out of all my subjects, and the content was fascinating to me – especially the comparative politics element. I was most happy in lessons covering things like elections, parties, and other countries’ political systems. For that reason, I chose BA Politics over similar courses like International Relations, because I knew that the content of that course would be more tailored to what I enjoyed most.
Why Durham
Durham’s Politics course appealed to me most because of the wide range of options available throughout the course. The modules that I and my friends have studied cover virtually everything, including political theory, the politics of specific countries and regions like the US, Europe, the Middle East or East Asia, and the history of capitalism, to name a few. Looking at this while applying, I knew no matter what I was studying, it would be something I found interesting – and that is a big plus for motivation to actually sit down and study!
Flexibility
Another plus to the Politics course at Durham is its flexibility. In my first year, I had a choice of two optional modules on top of my four compulsory, with the option available to take classes in International Relations and even in another, entirely different department! This flexibility only increases as time goes on, and now in my final year, I have only one compulsory module – my dissertation, the subject of which is also entirely my choice. I can tailor my degree to exactly the subject areas I want to study. This was really appealing to me when I was applying, knowing that I had the freedom year by year to decide my studies as I wished rather than being guided by a spec like in school.
A lovely place to study
My decision was made easier by seeing how lovely a place Durham is. Witnessing the beauty of the town and campus, I knew how much I would enjoy just walking around and making this place my new home. In addition, the college system was very appealing, as I could see how much of a community it gives you, with events like our charity fashion show, which I was lucky enough to host last year alongside my friend. That extra layer of support makes the difference when making that first move away from home!
A sense of community
The department is also a lovely community, with weekly student-staff coffee mornings to keep our lecturers in contact with us and genuinely aware of any issues we might have. It has also been fantastic in helping me find a career that works with me, with regular events in which we get to meet people from various professions we could go into, including the civil service, journalism, and the charity/NGO sector.
Ultimately, when I was applying, Durham’s Politics course convinced me with its fascinating content and flexibility in choosing what to study. Now I’m here, the sense of community and guidance from the department has convinced me I made the right decision.
Discover more
Feeling inspired? Take a look at our courses School of Government and International Affairs (SGIA)
Download our latest prospectus and college guide here.
Follow The Durham Student on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
