Politics

• Studying: 23%
• Employed in graduate job: 34%
• Employed in non-graduate job: 25%
• Unemployed: 10%

• Average graduate salary: £21,582
• Average non-graduate salary: £15,127

While studying a degree in politics you will gain a clear understanding of domestic and international politics and will study organisations such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU). This will help equip you with a solid understanding of the issues involved in international relations and the significance of politics as a global activity. Consider the skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile. 

View the best universities for politics degrees.

Prospects

A 2010 HESA survey of 2009 graduates revealed half of politics and international relations graduates entered employment either in the UK or overseas within six months of graduation. Of those employed, 14% found clerical/secretarial work, 11% took up business and finance roles and a similar 10% secured positions in marketing, sales or advertising. A further 16% gained employment in the commercial, industrial and public sector managerial positions and 19% were working in the retail, catering, waiting and bar work sector.

Where are the jobs?

Typical employers of politics and international relations graduates include local and national government, councils, charities, accountancy and banking organisations, law firms, retail and media companies. Further recruiters include the United Nations (UN), the European Commission, the Civil Service, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), lobbying, campaigning, and voluntary organisations and the public sector.

Consider the following sectors for potential job opportunities:

• Government and public administration 
• Charity and development work 

Jobs directly related to your degree

With a degree in politics you are well qualified to work as a:

• Public affairs consultant
• Politician’s assistant
• Government social research officer
• Social researcher
• Civil Service fast streamer

Jobs where your degree would be useful

The skills you gain from a politics degree will also prepare you for other jobs, including:

• Diplomatic Services operational officer
• Local government officer
• Charity officer
• Market researcher
• Newspaper journalist

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it's not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Included with the permission of AGCAS and Graduate Prospects. For the latest version of this publication, see www.prospects.ac.uk. For permission to reproduce, contact copyright@agcas.org.uk. We would welcome your comments on this section of The Complete University Guide. Please email us at admin@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk.