About us

The department is one of the leading centres for teaching and researching Politics in the UK. Our staff are committed both to teaching and research of the highest standards and to applying their knowledge to real world problems.  The department provides an intellectually diverse, international and friendly environment for studying politics. Our teaching and research cover all the major sub-disciplines of Politics, including conflict and development, international and comparative politics, political philosophy, and public policy. Our wide regional expertise includes British and European Politics, Latin America, South Africa, the Middle East, Central and South Asia. In addition we have internationally renowned specialist centres in Post-War Reconstruction and Development, Toleration, the environment, and Applied Human Rights.

Students at York can join an active Politics Society; students in the School of Politics, Economics and Philosophy can also join the Club of PEP. In fact YUSU have over 150 clubs and societies that you can join.

Research quality

The University is ranked in the top 10 research institutions in the UK, and the top 100 in the world. Social sciences at York, in which the Politics Department is located, have been ranked in the world top 35. The department ranks in the top ten in the UK for teaching quality and top fifth for research quality.

Teaching quality

The teaching quality in Politics at York was recognised with a perfect 24/24 score in the last Quality Assurance Agency audits. In a long list of commendations, the QAA report praised:

• "The commendable level of student achievement at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels"
• "The high-quality support offered to students by academic, administrative and secretarial staff"
• "Students are fortunate to study in a well-resourced, vibrant, friendly collegiate community"
• "The impressive academic support provided for graduate teaching assistants and the mentoring system for all staff"

External examiners agree, calling the performance of students at York "outstanding" compared with other institutions.

York also took a big leap up the latest National Student Survey league tables