This is an archived page and for reference purposes only
This degree offers you the opportunity to study the closely related disciplines of Politics and Law in a three-year programme, with a pathway enabling you to obtain a Qualifying Law Degree*. You gain a solid grounding in politics, both national and international, and are able to choose modules that reflect your interests from the extensive range on offer. Our modules reflect the research interests of our staff, and cover areas including conflict resolution, federalism, comparative politics, European integration, ethnic conflict, terrorism, the theory of international relations, political theory, and the politics of countries such as China, Japan, Russia and the USA.
Overview
You also develop an understanding of the law, taught from a critical perspective which will allow you to engage in informed debate about contemporary legal issues (with an understanding of its history and development).
Kent Law School is recognised as one of the leading law schools in the UK. It has an international reputation both for its world-leading research and for the high quality, innovative, critical and socio-legal education that it provides.
*Please be aware that the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board are conducting independent reviews of the legal training and education required to qualify as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales. These reviews cover the ‘Academic Stage’ of training and may impact upon the role of the law degree as part of the training process. Please see the website of each regulator for more information (www.sra.org.uk/t4t and www.barstandardsboard.org.uk).
Independent rankings
In the National Student Survey 2015, 92% of Politics students were satisfied with the overall quality of their course and 90% of Kent Law students were satisfied with the overall quality of their course.
Kent was ranked 5th in the UK for politics in The Guardian University Guide 2017. In The Times Good University Guide 2016 Politics at Kent was ranked 10th in the UK for graduate prospects.
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Teaching and assessment
Kent Law School emphasises research-led teaching which means that the modules taught are at the leading edge of new legal and policy developments. Kent Law School is renowned nationally for research quality, being ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. All of our research active staff teach so you are taught by influential thinkers who are at the forefront of their field.
Our main teaching methods are lectures, seminars, working groups, PC laboratory sessions and individual discussions with your personal tutor or module teachers. Assessment is through continuous feedback, written examinations, assessed essays and oral presentations.
Assessment can also incorporate assessment through oral presentation and argument in in the style of legal practice (such as mooting), and client based work and reflection through our Law Clinic.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- meet the needs of those motivated primarily by an intellectual interest in politics and political issues and problems, and wishing to study the discipline of politics and law
- meet the needs of those with an interest in the relationship between politics and law
- be compatible with widening participation in higher education by offering a wide variety of entry routes
- place questions of political order and decision-making at the centre of social-scientific analysis
- ensure that students gain a knowledge and understanding of political analysis in a supportive and responsive learning environment
- enable students to grasp political concepts and methods and understand their contested nature
- develop students’ capacities to think critically about political events, ideas and institutions
- encourage students to relate the academic study of politics to questions of public concern
- teach the foundations – major concepts, issues and approaches – of the joint discipline
- offer a range of politics modules to enable students to study in some depths aspects of politics which may raise important issues relevant to the joint discipline being studied
- offer a range of modules from the joint discipline’s list of modules which may enhance students’ understanding of the inter-disciplinary significance of politics as well as the political significance of elements of the joint discipline.
- offer a range of modules covering the foundations of legal knowledge, as defined by the Law Society and the Bar Council, which will enable students who successfully complete them to obtain exemption from the initial or academic stage of training for entry into the legal professions
- provide a curriculum supported by scholarship and a research culture that promotes wide-ranging intellectual enquiry and debate
- enable students to develop skills relevant to their vocational and personal development.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- key concepts, theories and methods and how they are used to analyse political ideas, institutions and practices
- the structure, institutions and operation of different political systems
- the social, economic, historical and cultural contexts of political institutions and behaviour
- the political dynamics of interaction between people, events, ideas and institutions
- factors accounting for political change
- the contestable nature of many concepts and different approaches to the study of politics
- the normative and positive foundations of political ideas
- key concepts, theories and methods used in the joint discipline
- selected areas of study in the joint discipline which may be especially pertinent to politics.
Intellectual skills
You gain intellectual skills in how to:
- gather, organise and deploy information from a variety of primary and secondary sources
- identify, investigate, analyse, formulate and advocate solutions to problems
- develop reasoned arguments, synthesise relevant information and exercise critical judgement
- reflect on and manage your own learning and seek to make use of constructive feedback to enhance your own performance and personal skills.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in:
- understanding the nature and significance of politics as a human activity
- the application of concepts, theories and methods in the analysis of political ideas, institutions and practices which are relevant to politics or the joint discipline
- how to evaluate different interpretations of political issues and events
- the ability to describe, evaluate and apply different approaches to collecting, analysing and presenting information in both politics and the joint discipline
- appreciate the theoretical, practical and policy issues arising in areas of politics which may be particularly relevant to the joint discipline
- identify both political and joint disciplinary and related issues which require to be researched
- effectively locate and use relevant sources in politics and the joint discipline in relation to the issue being explored
- conduct independent research in politics and the joint discipline using a range of resources, both paper and electronic.
Transferable skills
You develop transferable skills in the following areas:
- communication – how to communicate effectively in speech and writing and with the aid of IT; how to organise information clearly; how to use communication and IT for the retrieval and presentation of information, including statistical or numerical data
- numeracy – how to make sense of statistical materials; integrate numerical and non-numerical information, and understand the limits and potentialities of arguments based on quantitative information
- information technology – how to produce written documents; undertake online research; communicate using email; process information using databases
- working with others – how to define and review the work of others; work co-operatively on group tasks; understand how groups function; collaborate with others and contribute to the achievement of common goals
- improving own learning – how to explore personal strengths and weaknesses; review your working environment; develop specialist learning skills (for example in foreign languages); develop autonomy in learning; demonstrate initiative and manage your own time
- problem solving – how to identify and define problems; explore alternative solutions and discriminate between them.
Careers
Combining Politics and Law opens up a wide range of careers opportunities, including legal practice for those who follow the qualifying pathway. The Kent Law School has a specialist Law Clinic and Mooting programme which allow students to experience both real and simulated legal practise. The School of Politics and International Relations and the Law School each have a dedicated Employability Officer to help and support students in finding a suitable careers and making the most of the skills they have developed through the programme.
Recent graduates have gone into areas such as local and central government, the diplomatic service, EU administration, financial services, non-governmental organisations, journalism, international business or international organisations.
Professional recognition
This programme can lead to a Qualifying Law Degree*, which exempts you from the first stage of professional examinations required for qualification as a solicitor or as a barrister by the English Law Society and Bar Council.
*Please be aware that the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board are conducting independent reviews of the legal training and education required to qualify as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales. These reviews cover the ‘Academic Stage’ of training and may impact upon the role of the law degree as part of the training process. Please see the website of each regulator for more information (www.sra.org.uk/t4t and www.barstandardsboard.org.uk).
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | ABB |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 points at HL |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | ||
| Part-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.