I applied to do a degree in Politics because I was really keen to learn and I really wanted to know more about the subject - then I went to the lectures!
Having had no formal teaching in Politics before, I found it quite hard because everyone else had done either A-Level Politics or Higher ... Read review
Advantages: Easy if you did A-Level Disadvantages: Hard if you didn't
...to do a degree in Politics because I was really keen to learn and I really wanted to know more about the subject - then I went to the lectures!
Having had no formal teaching in Politics before, I found it quite hard because everyone else had done either A-Level Politics or Higher Modern Studies. Being expected to learn post-war British politics in 10hrs of lectures was therefore a bit too hard for me! Quite honestly I couldn't be arsed ... ...for people whose hobby is Politics - and that seemed to be most of the people I met in the class. One guy even told me that he wished Margaret Thatcher was his Godmother (!)
So the course was alright - I was glad I did it because it looks good on my CV, and I believe it gets better after 1st year for all concerned. Second year is mainly about International Politics and there are certainly a lot of interesting honours courses to choose ... more
I applied to do a degree in Politics because I was really keen to learn and I really wanted to know more about the subject - then I went to the lectures!
Having had no formal teaching in Politics before, I found it quite hard because everyone else had done either A-Level Politics or Higher Modern Studies. Being expected to learn post-war British politics in 10hrs of lectures was therefore a bit too hard for me! Quite honestly I couldn't be arsed to learn such a large volume of information. I much preferred learning political theory (eg. Marx, Rousseau) but everyone else seemed to find that dull! There is also quite an interesting if brief interlude where you learn about political concepts such as conservatism and socialism, and freedom and justice. I imagine this is very boring for people whose hobby is Politics - and that seemed to be most of the people I met in the class. One guy even told me that he wished Margaret Thatcher was his Godmother (!)
So the course was alright - I was glad I did it because it looks good on my CV, and I believe it gets better after 1st year for all concerned. Second year is mainly about International Politics and there are certainly a lot of interesting honours courses to choose from.
Beware! Everyone in politics seems to be very partisan aligned - be prepared for LOTS of fights, especially between the foreign exchange students!
Advantages: No control. Easy Disadvantages: The same, can be too free for some.
...that's exactly right about Edinburgh Politics 1 - In my opinion (Can we be taken to court for these opinions?) Okay so lets justify that brash comment a bit (can my director of studies find out who I am?) I hope you, young potential politics students realise the risks I take in bringing you this sage advise.....You're basically redoing A-levels, but the essays are easier and only 3 are written in the year. But, after all these years of writing without ... ...people). But he didn't do Politics A-level, and the people in my tutor set who didn't do a-levels had no idea.
SO the course is boring. Tutors can inspire but generlly pold through.
Don't get me wrong, I liked my tutor - I didn't complain, it's my fault I guess, but everyone does the same as me. Not much - as little as possible and that really is little. Don't have to go to the two one hour lectures a week, nor are you made to do reading or go ...
Hicks 01.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Politics
Advantages: Diversity Disadvantages: Haven't got there yet!!
being a campus based one that is near two big cities - Leicester and Nottingham!
*Personal Experience*
I suppose I actually had no idea of what I wanted to do; I had previously wanted to be a chef, then a lawyer, then a journalist (I hope you can understand how difficult this is to achieve with only one personal statement!!). Finally, I settled on a choice that allowed me some bredth and diversity, without being too general and become a so called 'nothing degree'. Basing it on the options I was doing at school, I knew I already had a passion for current affairs shown through my interest in both economics and politics and so this was the best possible choice for me.
At the time though the course was my main priority rather than the uni (perhaps a little stupid) and as a result, I was a little erratic with my choices and probably ...
tashat 19.05.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Politics
Advantages: Good choice of modules Disadvantages: Lack of contact with students before start of Uni.
I'm a joint honours Politics & French student at the University currently.
The politics department is based in the Law and Social Sciences Building which is next door the the main library on campus. The building itself is OK though i've found it difficult finding a couple of rooms a couple of times early on in first year.
The department is fairly well organized, though I don't feel I recieved enough information about the department before starting University - perhaps because I wasn't doing straight Politics.
The modules on offer are good, theres a wide range and some really interesting and relevant topics are covered.
Assessments are essays and written examinations... usually either 50/50 split of 25/75 (essay/exam). The essay questions I have found genuinely interesting (such as assess the role of the UN in Rwanda) so i ...
Miskin 15.06.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Politics
Advantages: Quality of teaching and supervisions, choice of papers Disadvantages: High workload (but that is true of every Oxbridge course)
As a former SPS student, who studied in the US and London as well, I can only say that the standard of teaching and supervisions (tutorials) was absolutely excellent. Particularly undergrads will not experience an as thorough and inspiring syllabus somewhere else - the supervisor to students ratio and the quality of research is world-class if not unique to Cambridge and Oxford. As to SPS vs. PPE - it depends what you are looking for. If you are interested in history of political thought / political philosophy and international political economy, then Cambridge may be more interesting. If you like economics and politics more, then Oxford is your obvious choice. Undergrads who do not feel looked after at Oxbridge or complain about the faculty, should talk to their peers at other universities! ...
