How busy are politics students at university?
Politics degrees can involve a steady workload of lectures, seminars, extensive reading, research, essay writing and exam preparation. How busy you are will depend on the course structure, assessment schedule, year of study and how much time you spend on independent study. Some students also take part in societies, student politics or placements.
Key points
- A significant part of the work may be independent reading, evaluating evidence and developing arguments.
- Workload can become more concentrated around essay deadlines, presentations and examinations.
- Seminars may require preparation and active discussion rather than only attending classes.
Things to check
- Contact hours, assessment methods and expected independent-study time vary between universities and individual programmes, so check the course information for precise details.