Lancaster’s Politics and Sociology degree is taught by academic staff who are shaping the study of Politics and Sociology today. You’ll develop a wide-ranging understanding of how political ideas and institutions shape the way societies are organised and have the opportunity to relate your interest in social and cultural themes to real world political events and current affairs.In your first year, you’ll follow the core Politics and Governance in the Contemporary World and Introduction to Sociology modules. You’ll increasingly specialise, with second-year subjects including Politics of Development; Modern Political Thought; Understanding Social Thought, and Research Skills and Techniques. Your final year options cover topics such as Africa and Global Politics; Islamic Politics; Contemporary Issues in Human Rights, The Chinese Century?; Terror; and Doing Sociological Research.You will have the opportunity to spend Year 3 on placement with a public, private or voluntary organisation in the UK or overseas. This experience will boost your employment prospects and will help you to decide on your career direction and the kind of organisation in which you want to work once you graduate. You will be doing a real, responsible job – with all the satisfaction that brings. Our Placements Team will support you in finding and applying for a suitable placement that will support your professional development. Applying for a placement is a competitive process and the preparatory modules you will complete in years one and two are designed to give you the best chance of success in your placement applications. You will also be provided with dedicated workshops, 1:1 appointments with careers professionals as well as opportunities to speak with employers here on campus.During the placement year you will remain a Lancaster University student which means that you will still be eligible for a student loan, have access to facilities such as the library and receive discounts on transport and council tax. Your tuition fee will be reduced to 20% during the placement year. The placement will enhance your understanding of the connections between theory and practice and this will benefit your final year of study. This is an exciting opportunity to build up experience and transferable skills, as well as to make contacts with potential employers, which will place you a step ahead in the graduate recruitment market.