The University of Manchester Speciality : Politics
programme: Politics and Sociology

The Politics and Sociology programme at University of Manchester offers a strong and genuinely engaging combination of political analysis and the study of society, giving students a broad understanding of how power, inequality and social structures interact. The course does lean heavily into theory, especially early on, but this builds a solid foundation and makes later topics more meaningful. As part of the BASS (BA Social Sciences) structure, it’s very flexible and open, with the chance to explore different areas and mix with students from a wide range of disciplines, which creates a diverse and intellectually stimulating environment.

That said, the size of the course means classes can feel quite large, and the social side isn’t always perfect as some people can come across as a bit cliquey or even rude, and it can be difficult at first if you’re not from a more traditionally “upper-class” or well-off background. However, this isn’t the whole picture; the university is very diverse overall, and most people do eventually find their group and settle in. The professors are generally passionate and clearly care about their subjects, which makes a big difference academically. It’s also a demanding course, with lots of reading and essay writing, but that challenge adds to its value. Overall, it’s a flexible and worthwhile degree that I would recommend, as long as you’re prepared for the scale of the university and the effort needed to find your place within it.