Shaping a successful career in politics
At the University of Nottingham, you have the flexibility to carve your own learning and experience with our dedicated support and guidance.
We live in a world where politics is changing at a rapid pace, from traditional party politics to new direct actions at the global level. International history, comparative British politics, and social and global justice are some areas of expertise at the University of Nottingham, helping you expand your understanding from multiple perspectives to prepare for the job market.
Our students become involved in politics from the point they start studying with us. Some of our graduates go into party politics as parliamentary assistants, councillors, and even MPs; others work for the civil service in research and data analysis.
Graduate employability*
- Our Politics graduates show a median salary of £39,200 five years after graduation
- UoN is ranked 6th for median salaries five years after graduation in the Russell Group
- We're also 6th in the Russell Group for the percentage of graduates in sustained employment or further study (87%) five years after graduation
- Graduate destinations include AON, BBC, CBI and Citibank
*Longitudinal Educational Outcomes data for the tax year 2021/22, published in 2024
Placements
Our work placement and employability programme offers valuable hands-on experience, builds self-confidence, and applies academic learning in a real-world environment. This will help you gain insight into a new field of politics and international relations, expanding your knowledge of the subject. It will also be an invaluable experience helping you connect with experts in the field, make memories and stand out in the job market..
Hear from our students about their placement experience
Careers and Employability Service
Throughout your time with us and beyond, we’re committed to helping you develop the skills and expertise needed to set you apart.
In addition to career guidance, information and resources, the Careers and Employability Service holds workshops on CV writing, completing application forms, and interview techniques. This service is available to all University of Nottingham graduates, no matter how many years it has been since graduation.
The Nottingham Advantage Award
We’re here for you every step of the way, with a network of support services built around your needs, each designed to help you excel and increase your employability.
The Nottingham Advantage Award recognises, and rewards extracurricular activities specifically focused on politics and is offered to students as part of their extracurricular activities. By participating, you can choose from more than 200 modules that will develop the essential skills many companies are searching for. The Award provides a tangible experience that will make you stand out from the crowd.
Alumni success stories
Our alumni share what it's like to study with us and how the course helped them shape their successful future.
Jess talks about the benefits of studying a joint honours degree and how her course is helping her in her role as a Public Affairs Officer in the charity sector.
Megan shares why she chose to study politics at the University of Nottingham. From her student experience outside of the classroom to academic extracurriculars like placements, Megan’s time at UoN was busy. She now works at PwC as a Senior Associate Management Consultant.
Andrew shares why he chose to study at Nottingham and covers his current role as a Strategic Investment Account Manager in the Department for Business and Trade.
Lydia studied politics at the University of Nottingham, graduating in 2012. She's now the Deputy Head of the Prime Minister's Business Team. In this video, she talks about what she enjoyed about her course, her current job, and how her degree has helped her career. She finishes off with advice for new students.
Lauren studied politics and American studies, graduating in 2022. In this video, she talks about her motivations to work in news, how she got into the industry, and how her degree has helped her in her role as Assistant News Editor at ITV News.
