Life as an undergraduate
You will have lots of opportunities to explore your subject in exciting ways and develop your ideas during your degree.
You will balance your time in lectures and seminars with independent study. We encourage and help you to become an independent learner by giving you the knowledge to pursue your own background research.
You will also have the opportunity to join active subject specific societies which organises talks by notable guest speakers and fun social events.
Learn from academics who are engaged in current affairs
Our staff regularly share their expertise in the media. We have academics who have informed and influenced policymakers, advising NATO and the UK government. Their involvement in modern-day politics means our teaching and research is always up to date and relevant. You'll get to engage in discussion on today's big issues.
Professor Vicki Harman
With over 20 years’ experience as a sociologist, Vicki’s current research projects include looking at food in women’s prisons and influencing policy on this issue, and the changing nature and social expectation of women’s lives which feed into her first year module ‘Gender, Race and Class’.
Dr Maxime Lepoutre
Maxime’s recent research focuses on the norms that should govern political discourse in divided societies. He explores how negative emotions, such as anger, influence democratic public discourse and considers ways to address hate speech and misinformation.
Dr Joseph O'Mahoney
Dr Joseph O'Mahoney specialises in international norm dynamics, including norms surrounding war and the proliferation of nuclear weapons, in his research and teaching.
Take part in exciting events
As part of our thriving department, you'll have chance to get involved in events that bring you in direct contact with the world of politics.
We hosted an edition of BBC Radio 4's flagship politics discussion programme Any Questions? with our Department arranging the broadcast. The panel featured host Chris Mason, Green Party co-leader Sian Berry, the Daily Telegraph's Madeline Grant, and Tottenham Labour MP David Lammy.
Our students played an active role in running the event and had the exciting opportunity to engage with the panellists, asking questions and gaining valuable insights.
"I attended and helped out at the largest BBC Radio 4 Any Questions? event in its history. I even got to meet David Lammy MP and the other panellists afterwards. It's amazing experiencing first-hand politics from within the core of our political system and getting to talk to those who really make a difference."
Cait Pilkington, BA History and Politics student
Political Voices Lecture - A thorn in the government's side
Reading University Politics and International Relations Society (RUPIRS) and the Department of Politics & International Relations recently welcomed Emily Thornberry for the latest in our series of 'Political Voices' events. Emily Thornberry is the Member of Parliament for Islington South and Finsbury.
How we support you
We do everything we can to support our students during their studies, so that they can achieve their full potential and go on to pursue rewarding careers.
You will have the opportunity to meet with your academic tutor regularly, to ensure you’re getting the best out of your time at Reading.
The University also has a range of services available to you to support your personal and professional development during your studies.
Learning environment
Thanks to our mostly small-group seminar teaching, we've created a friendly, inclusive learning environment where you can grow in confidence and build relevant transferable skills such as communication and analytical skills.
As well as learning in seminar rooms and lecture halls, you will have access to the University's recently refurbished Library, which is full of resources and study space that's ideal for independent study.
Athena Swan Bronze Award
The School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics is thrilled to announce that it has received an Athena SWAN Bronze Award! The award recognises the School’s work to advance gender equality and commits us to continuing our efforts through a 5 year action plan.
Please visit our Wellbeing, Inclusion, Diversity and Equality pages for more details on our current efforts and plans, including the implementation of our five-year Athena SWAN Action Plan and a School Race Equality Review.
Izabel Coleman-Wood
BA Politics and International Relations
Student and staff stories
Life on campus
Life in Reading
Reading's bustling town centre has strong transport links to London and the south east. London and Oxford are both just 25 minutes away by train, where you have access to great research resources and a wide variety of speaker meetings and other events.