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Political Economy BA/BSc

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Overview

Our Political Economy BA/BSc is a high-quality, interdisciplinary programme that will equip you with the skills and knowledge to understand, analyse and contribute to the political and economic institutions of the 21st century, both in the UK and globally.

Depending on the modules you choose, you can graduate with either a BA or a BSc degree.

The course information sheet is a printable version of the information on this web page, which you can download here.

 

Key benefits

  • Academic study of advanced, cutting-edge economic and political concepts.
  • With over 150 scholars, the Department of Political Economy is a part of the largest concentration of scholars in the field of politics, public policy and international studies in Europe.
  • Your learning will be supported by an internationally recognised team of experts and leaders in their fields.
  • The degree features a wide range of dynamic core and optional modules covering all aspects of political economy.
  • You can choose to take a number of optional courses offered through our Politics BA/BSc and PPE degree courses, in addition to those offered as part of the main Political Economy degree course.

Key information

UCAS code L200

Duration Three years FT

Study mode Full-time

Course type Single honours

Further details

Awarding institution King's College London

Faculty Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy

Department Department of Political Economy

Locations

 

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Political Economy at King's

In the heart of London

Find out more about studying our Political Economy BA/BSc course here at King's.

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Course detail

Description

Our Political Economy BA/BSc aims to provide you with a thorough understanding of political and economic events and processes in a global context. You will learn to think critically and independently about the issues you encounter in your studies, and develop a range of skills that will support your intellectual, vocational and personal development.

Your first year will provide the foundations for the study of economics, politics and the intersection of the two subjects. You will then be able to choose between two pathways through the final two years of the degree, depending on your interests. If you choose the BA, you will focus primarily on political analysis and processes, while choosing the BSc leads to a course with a stronger emphasis on economic analysis.

Teaching

We use lectures, seminars and group tutorials to deliver most of the modules on the programme. You will also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study. You will be assigned a personal tutor who will provide support and guidance for your studies.

Contact time: On average, you can expect to receive approximately nine hours of taught lectures and six hours of seminars and group tutorials.

Sitting within the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy, the Department of Political Economy has an interdisciplinary, social science ethos, fostering a stimulating intellectual environment that has attracted leading scholars. Our research-led curriculum encourages critical analysis and debate on contemporary international political and policy issues.

Assessment

We will assess your progress and attainment on all the modules you take on both the BA and BSc degrees through a range of techniques including written examinations, coursework, assessed essays and presentations. You may also benefit from some informal assessment during individual modules to help steer your studies and enhance your learning.

Location

Political Economy BA/BSc is taught primarily at our Strand Campus, putting you close to all the facilities offered by the College and within easy reach of the cultural attractions of the Southbank and Covent Garden. The library and computing facilities are readily accessible together with the opportunity to use the University of London library at Senate House.

Other related courses

 

Structure

Year 1

Courses are divided into modules.  Each year you will normally take modules totalling 120 credits.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide upto-date, innovative and relevant courses of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on this course page for updates.

Required Modules

You are required to take the following modules:

  • Fundamentals of Politics Research (15 credits)
  • Comparing Political Systems (30 credits)
  • Introduction to Political Theory (30 credits)
  • Principles of Economics (30 credits)
  • Quantitative Methods (15 credits)
Optional Modules

There are no optional modules for this course in Year 1, however you can also take an assessed 15 credit language module in addition to your 120 credits.

Year 2

Required Modules

After your first year you will choose between the BA and BSc pathways. The following module is required for both of these courses:

  • Political Economy (15 credits)

If you choose the BSc you will also be required to take the following modules, which are also available as optional modules for BA students:

  • Macroeconomics (15 credits)
  • Microeconomics (15 credits)
  • Econometrics (15 credits)
Optional Modules

In addition you are required to select further modules to bring your total credits to 120 for the year from a wide range of options for the Department of Political Economy. Optional modules may typically include:

In your second year you are allowed to take up to 30 credits in modules offered by other departments across King’s College London. You can also take an assessed 15 credit language module in addition to your 120 credits. 

As a second-year student you also have the option to study abroad with one of our partner institutions for the second semester of the year. These currently include:

  • Hong Kong University (Faculty of Economics & Business)
  • National University of Singapore
  • 3 Campus Programme (students attend Keio, Yonsei and HKU)
  • University of North Carolina
  • Georgetown University
  • Sciences Po, Paris (you would require basic French language for this option although a significant number of English-language taught modules are now available) – this option is not appropriate for BSc students because the required economics modules are not guaranteed.
  • University of California – this option is not appropriate for BSc students because the required economics modules are not guaranteed.

Year 3

Required Modules
There are no required modules in Year 3.
Optional Modules

You are required to take 120 credits of optional modules in Year 3, of which at least 75 credits must be from modules taught within the Department of Political Economy. The wide range of optional modules may typically include:

  • Understanding Extremism & Populism (15 credits) 

In your third year you are allowed to take up to 30 credits in modules offered by other departments across King’s College London. 

Entry requirements

 

Required grades

A*AA

Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A-levels. However, if offered the grade achieved may be taken into account when considering whether or not to accept a candidate who has just fallen short of the conditions of their offer.

Required grades

35 points overall (including TOK/EE) and three Higher Level subjects at 766

Required grades

45 Level 3 credits: 39 must be from units awarded at Distinction, with the remaining Level 3 credits at Merit

Required grades

D2 D3 D3

Combinations of Pre-U principal subjects and other qualifications (such as A-levels) considered

Required grades

Further information below

If you are taking the new RQF BTEC Nationals (2016), you will not be required to fulfil the module requirement stipulated above - you will only need to get the right overall grade. If you are taking the QCF BTEC Nationals (2010), you must achieve both the required overall grade and the specified module grades. If you are unsure which BTEC you are studying, your teacher or school/college counsellor should be able to tell you.

Required grades

Further information below

If you are taking the new RQF BTEC Nationals (2016), you will not be required to fulfil the module requirement stipulated above - you will only need to get the right overall grade. If you are taking the QCF BTEC Nationals (2010), you must achieve both the required overall grade and the specified module grades. If you are unsure which BTEC you are studying, your teacher or school/college counsellor should be able to tell you.

Required grades

Further information below

If you are taking the new RQF BTEC Nationals (2016), you will not be required to fulfil the module requirement stipulated above - you will only need to get the right overall grade. If you are taking the QCF BTEC Nationals (2010), you must achieve both the required overall grade and the specified module grades. If you are unsure which BTEC you are studying, your teacher or school/college counsellor should be able to tell you.

Required grades

88% overall

 

Visit our admissions webpages to view our international entry requirements and English language entry requirements.

Required subjects

None

Preferred subjects

None

Further information and other requirements

Entry requirements
A-level A*AA

 

Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A-levels. However, if offered the grade achieved may be taken into account when considering whether or not to accept a candidate who has just fallen short of the conditions of their offer.
Access to HE Diploma

D: 39 credits

M: 6 credits

P: 0 credits

 Access to Humanities (or similar) Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits: 39 must be from units awarded at Distinction, with the remaining Level 3 credits at Merit
Cambridge Pre-U D2 D3 D3 Combinations of Pre-U principal subjects and other qualifications (such as A-levels) considered
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF from 2010)  

DDM with eleven Distinctions and two A-levels at grades A*A

or

D*DD with fourteen Distinctions and two A-levels at grades AA
BTEC Level 3 Diploma (QCF from 2010)  

DM with six Distinctions and two A-levels at grades A*A

or

D*D with ten Distinctions  and two A-levels at grades AA
BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma (QCF from 2010)  

D with four modules at Distinction and two A-levels at grades A*A

or

D* with five modules at Distinction and two A-levels at grades AA
Scottish Highers & Advanced Highers

AAA at Highers

and

AA at Advanced Higher

 Must be a combination of three Scottish Highers and two Scottish Advanced Highers. We do not count the Higher and Advanced Higher in the same subject
International Baccalaureate 35 points including 7,6,6 at Higher Level. Note the total point score of 35 includes TOK/EE
Other International Qualifications   Visit our admissions webpages to view our international entry requirements
English Language Requirements  Band B Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements

 

Selection procedure

Application deadline: January 15th 2019

Help and support

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, or if English isn't your first language, our academic preparation courses can help you get ready for study in the UK.

Preparation courses

Fees and funding

Full time tuition fees UK:

The UK tuition fee for the 2019-2020 academic year is currently £9,250 per year. This is based on the UK Government’s cap.

Full time tuition fees EU:

Students starting their programme in 2019/20 (September 2019) who are eligible to pay EU fees will pay the same rate of tuition fees as UK students. This will apply for the duration of their programme, but may be subject to change by the UK Government for subsequent cohorts from 2020/21.

The UK tuition fee for the 2019-2020 academic year is currently £9,250 per year. This is based on the UK Government’s cap.

Full time tuition fees International:

The International tuition fee for the 2019-2020 academic year is £24,900 per year.

Please note that the International tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

All International applicants to Undergraduate programmes are required to pay a deposit of £2,000 against their first year’s tuition fee. This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an unconditional offer to study with us, and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King’s.

 

Additional costs/expenses

If you study abroad as part of your course, you will not be charged tuition fees by the host university (although some partners do charge a small administration fee for applying). Please see the Study Abroad webpages for details of the relevant partner universities.

King’s will continue to invoice for a proportion of King's tuition fees.  At present these are as follows: 

  • Home students studying for a semester abroad will receive an invoice for £6,000 for King’s tuition fees for the year.
  • Overseas students studying for a semester abroad will receive an invoice for two thirds of the King's tuition fees for the year.

You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling. 

In addition to the costs above, you can also expect to pay for: 

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies 
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions 
  • Library fees and fines 
  • Personal photocopies 
  • Printing course handouts 
  • Society membership fees 
  • Stationery 
  • Graduation costs

Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses 

For further information, please visit our fees and funding pages.

 

Financial help and support

Visit the fees and funding webpages to find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans and other financial help available at King's.

Career prospects

Through your Political Economy BA/BSc degree, you will develop skills and a platform of knowledge that will be valued by a wide-range of employers in government, policy development, communications and also in business and social enterprise.

Career destinations

Recent graduates from the Department of Political Economy have found employment as:

  • Public affairs executive, London Chamber of Commerce & Industry
  • Junior political consultant, Ketchum Pleon
  • Production management assistant, BBC
  • Press and communications officer, European Parliament
  • Communications officer, Drugscope
  • Finance analyst, BNP Paribas

Testimonials

Rodolphe

Rodolphe

I chose King's College London because I wanted to study at a top university. It offers a world-class education as you are taught by renowned teachers in fantastic facilities and this explains its international reputation.

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