What to Expect Studying Politics at University

If you’re going to university to study politics soon, I am so proud of you! You chose the best subject there is!

This is me on a rainy August day in 2018 when I found out I was going to be a politics student at Bristol, and I was so indescribably excited!

The excitement never went away, but reality did set in. I had never been formally taught politics before and when I did get to Bristol in September, I felt overwhelmed. My classes were full of incredibly talented people and I felt like I was the only one who didn’t know all the theories, or what the word ‘ontology’ meant. 

That’s why I wrote down what I wish I’d known as a brand-new politics student, and I especially hope they will help people like me, who are diving head-first into a completely new subject!

Don’t Fret If You Have No Prior Experience

Universities design their courses to be accessible to those who haven’t done A-level politics. Everyone will encounter new concepts and approaches, and everyone will find it hard at first. There is a big step up to university, whatever A-Levels you have done. And if you have completed a politics A-Level but didn’t get the grade you were hoping for, I hope this gives you some consolation too.

If your course doesn’t ask for a Politics A-Level as a noninterchangeable prerequisite (and I have yet to find a British university programme that actually does) they won’t expect you to have done the A-Level, and you will certainly not be the only one who hasn’t. A-Level politics is becoming increasingly popular, but many schools still don’t offer it, so other students will be in the same boat as you. I do believe those who took the A-Level to have a slight advantage in the beginning, but that doesn’t mean you can’t achieve high grades! Some tips below…

Subfields and Course Structure

Politics has a lot of subfields that are interlinked in complex ways, but the three most important ones that will pop up in your first year, and that most universities structure their mandatory first-year units (and really their whole undergraduate degrees) around, are:

• Comparative politics: exploring political systems, institutions, processes, and behaviours, and comparing them between different countries and within a country by using empirical methods
• International relations: studying how different states interact with one another, concerning e.g. foreign policy, globalisation, or war (and sometimes with a more historical perspective), using, again, empirical methods
• Political theory: (or political philosophy) focuses on how politics should work by asking normative questions about the nature of politics, government, and society (including topics such as justice, equality, rights, ethics, authority, and freedom)

It is useful to think of what you are studying in this way, even if the actual units you do have different names, as it will enable you to find resources and further reading on the subjects more easily, and help you situate any optional units you may do within the discipline. It also helps you to contextualize the theories you learn and to pick the right units for you, as you may prefer one way of approaching politics over another. A girl on my course accidentally picked a unit that was a lot more theoretical than she would have liked because she wasn’t really aware of the different approaches to politics even in her second year, much to her chagrin.

So, this is important to avoid disappointment. Also be aware of how different units fit together and try to find a good balance between getting a broad education (which can be especially difficult if you do Joint Honours) and focusing on the areas of politics that interest you the most. Nobody likes every single part of their degree (no, really), but try to focus on whatever interests you the most in any given situation. And doing your research on new units is the best thing you can do to end up with lectures you will actually enjoy!

How To Speak Up In Seminars

I was used to friendly debate in my A-Level classes, but studying politics took that to the next level. Politics students naturally have strong opinions. At university, the onus is on you to speak up, with the teacher mostly asking general questions for the whole group to discuss and fewer specific ones for a particular student to answer. It’s important to bring your ideas to the table if you want to learn from your peers and understand the weaknesses in your own arguments.

This can be especially hard for students who haven’t done the A-Level, as basic ideas might be new to them. Another important hindrance I noticed when I arrived at university, which I had previously (naively) thought was confined to the workplace, was that women spoke up less during political debate and were more often interrupted by their male peers, especially in our first year.

Even with programmes that have relatively even gender ratios, it sometimes doesn’t feel like it in the actual seminar. My best friend agrees and adds that, being half-Chinese, they were also painfully aware of a race element in this during their own political sciences studies elsewhere. The reasons for this are obvious, but there are strategies that can make your participation in seminars more comfortable if you feel scared to speak up (for whatever reason)/are frequently interrupted.

This is certainly an intersectional issue, with societal responses to disabilities, neurodiversity, mental health issues, sexuality, age, prior education, and social background all potentially hindering students from participating in a discussion, as well as gender and race. Awareness of this inequality is one the most important things I can offer a new politics student, as awareness is the first step to change. Your feelings are valid but shouldn’t stand in the way of your grades.

First of all, the seminar tutor will do their best to keep discussions balanced. If you want to add something, or you have been interrupted, make the tutor aware by raising your hand, seeking eye contact, or simply speaking up. Don’t go quiet and let the other person take the floor; everyone has a right to finish their thoughts.

My tutors were brilliant at each turn, but they can only keep track of so many arguments in their seminar when people are talking over each other; ask for help, because they will have your best interest in mind. Many people struggle with imposter syndrome, but you need to remember that you earned your place in this seminar.

A way to feel more confident in a discussion is to do all the preparations beforehand. There is such a thing as taking them too seriously, and I used to waste ages on very close readings; often skimming an article and focusing on the arguments that stand out to you is enough.

Seminar preparation is a skill you need to practice and not overdo to the detriment of your assignments. But in general, make sure you have done the reading and prepared your own thoughts on the topic at hand. Bringing your own take to the table is much more important than remembering every single fact from the article. Obviously, further reading beyond the reading list is never a bad idea.

You can try to occasionally take notes when your peers speak – this can help both your understanding of the topic and for you to prepare a counter-argument if the tutor asks for one. That way you will feel more prepared when you say your piece, as your argument will be written out in front of you rather than just existing in your head.

At the end of the day, if you’re really struggling, you can say so in the seminar or talk to the tutor or even your peers afterwards. Oftentimes it is not somebody’s intention to interrupt you and the tutor might not have noticed that you’re not confident with public speaking. Making others aware of this will give them an opportunity to support you and create a more balanced discussion; which will engender a more productive learning environment for everyone!

Most of all, please don’t worry about or overthink your seminars before they have even started! This is a widespread problem, but it won’t affect everyone, and I noticed it improve considerably as we moved into higher years at university. And my strategies can help you too.

Be brave! I believe in you.

Some Essay Advice

University essays differ from A-Level essays quite a bit, especially if you haven’t studied politics before. The most important point is that at university you’re expected to be quite a bit more creative and think outside the box. Don’t go overboard with originality, especially not in your first year, but also don’t be afraid to put a twist on your response.

A tutor of mine once gave the example of a student who had written an essay on whether former British colonies were now “free” from colonialism. One of his interpretations of freedom was ‘enough resources for decent standards of living’. It’s not the first thing you think of, but he also wasn’t reinventing the wheel. Just a little creativity can go a long way in showing your engagement with the subject matter/reading. A top tip is to apply an already existing idea in a new way.

But if you’re unsure whether you’re on the right track, approach your tutors and seek out office hours. Good communication with your lecturers matters. They will be happy to help, correct any errors in your arguments, or recommend further reading for an essay. It differs between universities, but often they’re also allowed to look at an essay plan of a specific length before accepting your submission.

If this is an option, always get your essay plan checked! As a brand-new politics student, it’s vital to seek out as much advice as you possibly can, and most lecturers are overjoyed to talk about their preferred topic of research with curious students.

The News

Another way to prepare for your degree is to seek out the news (bonus points if you go beyond British sources to learn about other countries’ politics) and maybe download a few different apps to get an overview of opinions and events across the political spectrum.

This wasn’t as important for my seminars as I thought it would be before university, but including a new policy or a current election/issue in your assessments can be great. Showing your lecturers that you read widely and are aware of the news can make your work really stand out from the crowd!

At the end of the day…

Doing you’re A-Levels is hard and a university degree is no cakewalk either. Don’t burn yourself out before you’ve even started your degree! 

It’s good to be aware of a few things and to do some research before you arrive, but I would advise you to enjoy the last few weeks of your summer so you can start university refreshed, rested, and ready to learn! And don’t forget to take regular breaks at uni, enjoy your weekends, and take time away from your studies during the holidays! It’s more important for your wellbeing and your grades/performance than you might think.

Important points to take away

• Everyone is in the same boat
• Be aware of subfields in politics and the specific course structure of the degree that awaits you
• Do your research and try to be a little creative
• Speak up in seminars as much as you can
• Ask for help if you struggle to participate
• Seek advice wherever you can
• Don’t burn yourself out!

On that note, I wish you all the best with your new adventure and hope you have a good start to the coming academic year, your very first as a student of the most awesome degree there is in this world!