We are delighted to announce that the Department of Politics and International Studies (PAIS) is ranked 4th out of 85 UK Politics departments in The Complete University Guide 2021. This influential national league table reflects key data, including student satisfaction (NSS), research excellence, and graduate prospects.

This is a move up from 5th place last year and is alongside our number 1 position in the Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide league table 2020 – a position that we have held for two years in a row.

Professor Nick Vaughan-Williams, Head of PAIS, commented:

‘Students and staff in PAIS have a common purpose: to support each other to find their own critical voice, to look at seemingly intractable global challenges afresh, and to push the limits of existing debate and accepted orthodoxies in the study of politics and international studies. This latest ranking is further evidence of our winning formula for success, which reflects the hard work and dedication of all members of the PAIS community. The Department entered the current global pandemic in a position of strength, and our plans to deliver a blended approach to learning, the student experience, and academic support in 2020/21 mean that we will emerge stronger than ever.’

Dr Justin Greaves, PAIS’ Director of Student Experience and Progression, commented:

‘This outstanding result is testament to all the brilliant students and staff in PAIS. This league table shows how we are a leader, both within the Russell Group and the sector as a whole, in terms of the student experience and employability. I am particularly pleased that we are placed No 1 in the Russell Group for student satisfaction and as one of the leading departments in the country for graduate prospects. I look forward to working with all our new and returning students to ensure that the PAIS department goes from strength to strength, combining an outstanding student experience with the highest possible levels of academic support’

We thank all staff and students who have contributed to this incredible achievement. With a number of exciting and ambitious plans for the 2020/21 academic year and beyond, we look forward to sustaining and building on these successes in the months and years ahead.