Politics, International Studies and German BA (UCAS M164)
General entry requirements
A levels
A level typical offer
AAB, to include a modern or classical language.
A level contextual offer
We welcome applications from candidates who meet the contextual eligibility criteria and whose predicted grades are close to, or slightly below, the contextual offer level. The typical contextual offer is BBB including B in German. See if you’re eligible.
General GCSE requirements
Unless specified differently above, you will also need a minimum of GCSE grade 4 or C (or an equivalent qualification) in English Language and either Mathematics or a Science subject. Find out more about our entry requirements and the qualifications we accept.
We advise that you also check the English Language requirements for your course which may specify a higher GCSE English requirement. Please find the information about this below.
IB
IB typical offer
36, to include 5 at Higher Level in a modern or classical language.
IB contextual offer
We welcome applications from candidates who meet the contextual eligibility criteria and whose predicted grades are close to, or slightly below, the contextual offer level. The typical contextual offer is 32 including grade 5 in Higher Level German. See if you’re eligible.
General GCSE requirements
Unless specified differently above, you will also need a minimum of GCSE grade 4 or C (or an equivalent qualification) in English Language and either Mathematics or a Science subject. Find out more about our entry requirements and the qualifications we accept.
We advise that you also check the English Language requirements for your course which may specify a higher GCSE English requirement. Please find the information about this below.
BTEC
Will be considered as long as essential entry requirements are met.
International qualifications
Language requirements
All applicants have to meet our English Language requirements. If you cannot demonstrate that you meet these, you may be invited to take part in our Pre-sessional English course at Warwick.
Frequently asked questions
Warwick may make differential offers to students in a number of circumstances. These include students participating in a Widening Participation programme or who meet the contextual data criteria.
Differential offers will usually be one or two grades below Warwick’s standard offer.
All students who successfully complete the Warwick IFP and apply to Warwick through UCAS will receive a guaranteed conditional offer for a related undergraduate programme (selected courses only).
Find out more about standard offers and conditions for the IFP.
We welcome applications for deferred entry.
We do not typically interview applicants. Offers are made based on your UCAS form which includes predicted and actual grades, your personal statement and school reference.
Course overview
This degree combines the study of Politics and International Studies with a specific focus on German language and culture. It looks at how German society and culture have been central to the development of modern Europe.
You can also get involved with extracurricular activity linked to your studies, such as the PAIS Film Club. You will spend your second or third year studying or on work placement in Germany or Austria.
The course is good preparation for a career in politics, although it develops transferable skills in investigative and evaluative research, presentation and critical analysis, which can be applied in many careers.
Study abroad
The third year of the degree is usually spent studying and/or on work placement in Germany or Austria.
Possible study abroad universities include:
- Universität Konstanz
- Freie Universität Berlin
- Universität Wien
- Technische Universität Wien
- Universität Salzburg
- Technische Universität Dresden
- Universität zu Köln
- Ludwig Maximilians Universität München
- Universität Würzburg
- Humboldt Universität zu Berlin
Core modules
This joint degree is 50:50 between Politics and Modern Languages, with an optional split of 75:25 in the final year. It is four years and normally includes a year of study or work placement abroad in Germany or Austria.
Explore approaches to political ideas. Critically engage with national and global political issues. Improve your German language skills. You can focus on a range of sub-fields including:
- Political theory
- Political systems
- Comparative politics
- German and Austrian society and culture
- International security
- International political economy
- German literature
- German cinema
- International development
Address questions relating to the emergence and resolution of conflicts. The relationship between states and markets, the importance of international organisations. The significance of Germany in the political and cultural development of Europe.
Year One
- Introduction to Politics
- World Politics
- Modern German Language 1 or Modern German Language for Beginners
A German Studies cultural module:
- The Changing Face of Germany in Film
- Power and Passion: The Making of Modern German Culture
Year Two
- Political Theory from Hobbes
- Modern German Language II or Modern German Language II (post-beginners)
Year Three
This year is spent studying or on a work placement in Germany or Austria.
Year Four
- Issues in Political Theory
- Modern German Language IV
Optional modules
Year Two - optional modules in Politics
- Politics of International Development
- Politics in the UK
- Politics of the USA
- Theories of International Relations
- Politics of Contemporary China
- States and Markets: An Introduction to International Political Economy
- International Security
- Core Issues in Comparative Politics
- Themes in European Integration
- Capitalism and its Alternatives
- Political Economy and the Liberal Democratic State
- Introduction to Comparative Public Policy
- 21st Century Challenges and Public Policy Solutions
- Introduction to Qualitative Methods
- Introduction to Social Analytics I
- Introduction to Social Analytics II
- Understanding Social Inequalities
- Intermediate Social Analytics: Survey Design and Data Collection
- Intermediate Social Analytics: Survey Analysis and Reporting
Year Two - optional modules in German Studies
- The Strange World of Franz Kafka's Short Stories
- Film in the Weimar Republic and under National Socialism
- Violent Women in the German Cultural Imagination
- Modernity and its Discontents
- Bertolt Brecht: Theatre as Revolution
- Exploring Zeitgeist: Politics, Culture and Society in Germany Today
Year Four - optional modules in Politics
- Gender and Development
- Governing Britain Since 1918
- European Union Policy-Making
- Politics of Globalisation
- United States Foreign Policy
- Britain and the War on Terror
- Critical Security Studies
- Vigilant State: The Politics of Intelligence
- East Asian Transformations: A Political Economy Perspective
- State, Power, Freedom: European Political Theory
- The Political Economy of Money
- International Relations of the Americas
- Latin America: Democratisation and Development
- War in the 21st Century
- Politics and Culture in the Middle East
- Violence, Rights, Justice and Peace in the Middle East
- The Global Energy Challenge
- The Politics of Climate Change
- Applying Quantitative Methods to Social Research
- Experiments in the Social Sciences and Humanities
- Public Opinion
- Determinants of Democracy
- Dissertation
Year Four - optional modules in German Studies
- German Memories of WWII - From Perpetration to Suffering
- Gender Trouble in Contemporary German Culture
- Reflections of National Socialism in Post-war German Writing
- Germany and the Holocaust: Interpretations and Debates
- Business and Society in Contemporary Germany
- Self and Others: Identity, Ethnicity and Gender in German Culture around 1800
Assessment
Modules are usually assessed through a mixture of exams and essays.
- Summative assessments - include exams and coursework that go towards your final grade.
- Formative assessments - do not contribute marks to your final grade. However, they help you understand key learning points and assessment styles.
- Language assessments - we will track your progress through language assignments, essays, presentations, portfolio submissions and examinations (written and oral).
Throughout your course you will receive detailed, personalised feedback to help you to improve your skills.
Teaching
Lectures and Seminars
Most modules are taught using a combination of weekly lectures and seminars. Lectures give an introduction to a topic to help prepare you for discussions in seminars. In seminars, you can engage in debates and share your views. For your language modules, you will have written and spoken language classes in small groups.
Learning support
You will have a personal tutor who you can speak to about any questions you may have. There are also regular feedback sessions and opportunities to speak to module directors and seminar tutors.
Class sizes
Our Year One seminars usually have no more than 14 students. Our Year Two and Three seminars usually have no more than 18 students. Lecture sizes vary.
Typical contact hours
There are 8-12 hours of classroom contact available per week. This is also supplemented with group work, one-to-one advice, feedback sessions, and the use of web-based materials.
Tuition fees
Scholarships and bursaries
Your career
We have a dedicated careers consultant who can support you with your career choices. We offer one-to-one appointments and workshops to help you find a career path, internship or work placement.
Where a Politics degree can take you:
- Government and politics (national, regional and international)
- Public affairs
- Education
- Charity and campaigning
- Media
- Public relations
- Journalism
- IT
- Banking and finance
- Recruitment
- Hospitality
- Advertising
Our graduates have gone on to work for employers such as:
- United Nations
- BBC Television
- Houses of Parliament
- OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development)
- Lloyds Banking Group
- Human Rights Watch
Politics and International Studies at Warwick
Join an innovative, creative and passionate department with a lively and interactive culture. Stretch and challenge yourself with the support of friendly staff and your peers.
Find out more about us on our website
Our courses
- Politics (BA)
- Politics and International Studies (BA)
- Politics and International Studies with Chinese (BA)
- Politics and Sociology (BA)
- Politics, International Studies and French (BA)
- Politics, International Studies and German (BA)
- Politics, International Studies and Hispanic Studies (BA)
- Politics, International Studies and Italian (BA)
Related degrees
Life at Warwick
Within a close-knit community of staff and students from all over the world, discover a campus alive with possibilities. A place where all the elements of your student experience come together in one place. Our supportive, energising, welcoming space creates the ideal environment for forging new connections, having fun and finding inspiration.
Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.
Warwick Accommodation
Finding the right accommodation is key to helping you settle in quickly.
We have 12 self-catering undergraduate halls of residence on campus.
Our student property management and lettings agency manages more than 8,000 rooms both on and off campus, and provides advice to all full-time undergraduates.
Our campus
You won't be short of ways to spend your time on campus - whether it's visiting Warwick Arts Centre, using our incredible new sports facilities, socialising in our bars, nightclub and cafés, or enjoying an open-air event. Or if you need some peace and quiet, you can explore lakes, woodland and green spaces just a few minutes’ walk from central campus.
Food and drink
We have lots of cafés, restaurants and shops on campus. You can enjoy great quality food and drink, with plenty of choice for all tastes and budgets. There is a convenience store on central campus, as well as two supermarkets and a small shopping centre in the nearby Cannon Park Retail Park. Several of them offer delivery services to help you stay stocked up.
And don't miss our regular food market day on the Piazza with tempting, fresh and delicious street food. Soak up the atmosphere and try something new, with mouth-watering food for all tastes.
Clubs and societies
We currently have more than 300 student-run societies.
So whether you’re into films, martial arts, astronomy, gaming or musical theatre, you can instantly connect with people with similar interests.
Or you could try something new, or even form your own society.
Sports and fitness
Staying active at Warwick is no sweat, thanks to our amazing new Sports and Wellness Hub, indoor and outdoor tennis centre, 60 acres of sports pitches, and more than 60 sports clubs.
Whether you want to compete, relax or just have fun, you can achieve your fitness goals.
Studying on campus
Our campus is designed to cater for all of your learning needs.
You will benefit from a variety of flexible, well-equipped study spaces and teaching facilities across the University.
- The Oculus, our outstanding learning hub, houses state-of-the-art lecture theatres and innovative social learning and network areas.
- The University Library provides access to over one million printed works and tens of thousands of electronic journals
- Three Learning Grids offering you flexible individual and group study spaces.
Travel and local area
Our campus is in Coventry, a modern city with high street shops, restaurants, nightclubs and bars sitting alongside medieval monuments. The Warwickshire towns of Leamington Spa and Kenilworth are also nearby.
The University is close to major road, rail and air links. London is just an hour by direct train from Coventry, with Birmingham a 20-minute trip. Birmingham International Airport is nearby (a 20-minute drive).
Wellbeing support and faith provision
Our continuous support network is here to help you adjust to student life and to ensure you can easily access advice on many different issues. These may include managing your finances and workload, and settling into shared accommodation. We also have specialist disability and mental health support teams.
Our Chaplaincy is home to Chaplains from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. We provide regular services for all Christian denominations and a Shabbat meal every Friday for our Jewish students. There is also an Islamic prayer hall, halal kitchen and ablution facilities.
How to apply
Learn more about our application process.
Key dates
Key dates for your application to Warwick.
Writing your personal statement
Make an impression and demonstrate your passion for your course.
After you've applied
Find out how we process your application.
Our Admission Statement
Read Warwick's Admission Statement
3 ways to connect
Talk to us
Join us at a live event. You can ask about courses, applying to Warwick, life at Warwick, visas and immigration, and more.
Warwick Experience
Take a virtual, student-led campus tour. Then join an interactive panel session, where you can hear from and chat to our current students and staff.
Student blogs
Explore our student blogs in OurWarwick. You can read about campus life from students themselves, and register to post questions directly to students.
Explore campus with our virtual tour
Our 360 tour lets you:
- Watch student videos
- View 360 photography and drone footage
- Learn about facilities and landmarks
Explore our campus virtually through our 360 campus tour now
Come to an Open Day
Don’t just take it from us, come and see for yourself what Warwick is all about. Whether it's a virtual visit or in-person, our University Open Days give you the chance to meet staff and students, visit academic departments, tour the campus and get a real feel for life at Warwick.
Sign up for updates
Discover more about our courses and campus life with our helpful information and timely reminders.