Politics, Philosophy and Law BA
AAA at A level; graduates earn a median £31,500 three years on.
Typical A level offer
AAA
89% of entrants came with A levels · 100% stay on after year 1 · Warwick course page, Discover Uni
Year 13 · applying
What do you need to get in?
AAAtypical A level offer; aaa a level additional information you will also need at least grade 4/c in gcse mathematics and grade 6/b in gcse english language.
Typical offer — the grades most applicants are asked for. Contextual offer: AAB, for applicants from under-represented backgrounds.
Warwick course page, read 19 September 2026 · Discover Uni entry profile
Who actually got in: 89% with A levels, 11% with the IB. 12% arrived with 208 or more UCAS tariff points — roughly A*A*A or better. Based on 55 entrants.
UCAS tariff points — a points scale for grades: A* = 56, A = 48, so A*A*A = 160. Entrants’ totals include extra subjects.
Other qualifications4
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| IB | 36 points36 IB additional information You will also need grade 6/B in GCSE English Language or International Baccalaureate grade 5 in English A (Higher or Standard Level), grade 5 in Higher Level English B or | — |
| BTEC | —BTECs will be considered for this course. | — |
| Advanced Highers | AAAA in two Advanced Highers, and AAB in Highers in 3 further subjects. | — |
| Access | 45 Credits at Level 3, including Distinction in 33 Level 3 credits and Merit in We will consider applicants returning to study who are presenting a QAA-recognised Access to Higher Education Diploma on a case-by-case basis. Typically, we require 45 Credits at Level 3, including Di | — |
Years 1–3
What do you study?
4compulsory modules in year 1
Compulsory modules this year: law & public administration 26% · arts & humanities 25% · social & cultural skills 15% · language & communication 14%.
Module — one course unit, usually a term or a year long; “core” means everyone takes it. One UK credit is about ten hours of study; a full year is 120 credits.
Warwick course page · optional modules vary by year
Year 1 · 4 core · 120 credits ≈ 1,200 hours
- Understanding Law in Context
What you learn (20)
- describe law in context as an analytical concept
- explain the benefits of a contextual approach to analysing law
- describe the institutions of the english legal system
- explain the procedures used within the english legal system
- identify the sources of english law
- describe concepts, values and principles underlying law and justice
- evaluate legal and ethical principles within different contexts
- explain the cultural, political and social contexts shaping law
- describe philosophical foundations underlying legal systems
- analyse the role of law within political and social systems
- present legal theory arguments in written form
- present legal theory arguments orally
- critique the structure and operation of the english legal system
- explain current developments in legal topics studied
- apply problem-solving skills to legal questions
- conduct research to support legal arguments
- construct a substantiated scholarly argument
- communicate legal ideas effectively in discussion
- collaborate with others on legal tasks
- explain how legal theory shapes legal argument
- Introduction to Philosophy
What you learn (10)
- describe key debates across philosophical subject areas
- formulate a personal position on philosophical debates
- critique alternative philosophical viewpoints
- analyse philosophical arguments from different subject areas
- evaluate the strength of philosophical arguments
- identify the significance of canonical philosophical texts
- critique arguments presented in canonical philosophical texts
- explain the concept of logical validity and related notions
- apply formal techniques to demonstrate argument validity
- translate statements between first-order logic and English
- Introduction to PPL
What you learn (10)
- explain key concepts and theories in moral, political and legal thinking
- describe how moral, political and legal thinking interact
- apply analytic reasoning to philosophical and legal texts
- defend a position through discussion in seminar debates
- interpret the reasoning and outcomes of legal cases
- identify legal, political and philosophical issues raised by legislation and case law
- relate relevant political, philosophical and legal theories to such issues
- explain how law, politics and philosophy complement each other as disciplines
- describe key theories at the intersection of law, politics and philosophy
- discuss issues arising from the study of law and politics together
- Introduction to Politics
What you learn (8)
- identify major theoretical perspectives in political science
- critically discuss key debates within political science
- describe foundational concepts of political theory, processes and institutions
- explain patterns of political change over time
- construct a well-structured academic essay
- analyse and critique arguments in written work
- apply independent study techniques to manage learning
- communicate ideas effectively in academic contexts
Year 2 · 0 core, 15 optional
15 optional modules
- Criminal Law
What you learn (18)
- describe the fundamental concepts underlying criminal law
- outline the overall structure of the english criminal justice system
- describe specific criminal offences in detail
- explain available defences to criminal liability
- outline the stages of criminal procedure
- explain how procedural rules influence the administration of criminal justice
- explain philosophical theories of criminalisation
- explain theoretical bases of criminal liability
- describe the historical context behind the development of criminal law
- describe the political context influencing criminal law reform
- analyse court judgments in criminal cases
- analyse statutory provisions relating to criminal law
- apply legal rules to resolve moderately complex hypothetical scenarios
- evaluate arguments concerning the development of criminal policy
- construct arguments for or against criminalising specific conduct
- evaluate competing arguments on decriminalisation of conduct
- collaborate with peers to complete a set classroom task
- present legal arguments orally to a class audience
- Tort Law
What you learn (17)
- describe the basic concepts and structure of tort law
- explain the key principles of negligence in tort law
- explain how different areas of common law relate to each other
- describe how policy considerations shape legal development
- explain the social and economic context of tort liability
- describe how insurance and loss spreading influence tort law
- describe how professional standards and consumer protection affect liability
- apply substantive tort law to hypothetical legal scenarios
- evaluate legal developments using critical reasoning
- analyse individual tort cases and statutes critically
- evaluate linked legal materials to form reasoned judgements
- research case law and policy issues independently
- use appropriate legal terminology to discuss tort obligations
- deliver oral presentations on legal and policy topics
- organise and lead group discussions productively
- collaborate with others to complete tasks within set deadlines
- locate primary legal sources using online resources
- Law, State and the Individual
What you learn (8)
- explain core principles of constitutional and administrative law
- evaluate the role of public law in shaping state-individual relations
- identify key institutions and procedures of public law
- distinguish public law from private and international law
- describe fundamental concepts and values underlying public law
- apply public law concepts to non-judicial real-world contexts
- explain how constitutional and administrative law evolves through debate
- apply module themes to analyse new legal problems or current events
- History of Modern Philosophy
What you learn (5)
- explain key ideas and arguments from modern philosophical texts
- evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of philosophical arguments
- formulate a personal position on philosophical debates
- compare differing interpretations of key philosophical texts
- present philosophical ideas verbally in group discussion
- Ethics
What you learn (11)
- differentiate major positions in normative ethics and metaethics
- justify a given ethical position with relevant supporting reasons
- critique ethical positions by identifying their weaknesses
- present philosophical arguments clearly in spoken discussion
- compose written arguments clearly on ethical questions
- extract the key claims made within a philosophical text
- analyse the logical structure of philosophical arguments
- evaluate philosophical views using illustrative examples and comparisons
- conduct philosophical research using diverse print and digital sources
- record research sources accurately and systematically
- engage independently in philosophical debate
- Applied Ethics
What you learn (9)
- differentiate competing positions on key applied ethics issues
- support or criticise ethical views using case studies and empirical evidence
- present ethical arguments clearly in spoken discussion
- present ethical arguments clearly in written form
- identify key claims within philosophical readings
- analyse the logical structure of philosophical arguments
- evaluate ethical theories using case studies and empirical evidence
- organise philosophical research drawing on diverse sources
- engage independently in ethical debate
- Theories of International Relations
What you learn (5)
- identify core assumptions underlying different international relations theories
- differentiate between competing international relations theories based on their premises
- examine the internal logic and aims of international relations theories
- identify contradictions within contemporary international relations theories
- apply international relations theories to analyse real-world political issues
- States and Markets: An Introduction to International Political Economy
What you learn (6)
- explain key concepts in international political economy
- evaluate competing theoretical perspectives explaining political economy developments
- describe relationships between states and markets using political economy theories
- apply political economy theories to analyse specific themes and cases
- produce clearly structured written arguments on political economy topics
- locate and assess relevant sources for political economy research
- International Security
What you learn (6)
- explain key issues and dynamics in the use of military force
- discuss theoretical debates on security within international relations
- relate security theories to real-world security practices
- identify major security threats facing states and societies
- explain the concepts of war, security and peace
- produce clear written analysis of security topics
- Core Issues in Comparative Politics
What you learn (18)
- explain core concepts and theories in comparative politics
- describe methodologies used in comparative political analysis
- describe the structure of national political systems
- evaluate differences between national political systems
- apply political theory to practical case studies
- collect and organise data from secondary and primary sources
- analyse political problems and propose solutions
- advocate for solutions to identified political issues
- critique research material for validity and relevance
- design an original research project in comparative politics
- present own research findings in comparative politics
- present analytical arguments in written form
- present analytical arguments orally
- communicate research findings through an academic conference format
- produce a short film exploring the concept of democracy
- compose a research essay on a comparative politics topic
- develop a final independent research project in comparative politics
- present the outcomes of a final research project
- Topics in Political Theory
What you learn (7)
- analyse complex arguments from contemporary political theory texts
- interpret diverse scholarly perspectives within political theory literature
- formulate a reasoned personal judgement on a political theory issue
- compare opposing arguments and perspectives on a political issue
- construct an original argument about core political values
- defend a political argument against sceptical objections
- apply insights from other disciplines to support a political argument
- Foundations of Political Theory
What you learn (5)
- explain how political theory addresses freedom, equality and human nature
- interpret key texts by major political thinkers
- critically evaluate arguments of major political thinkers
- analyse complex ideas in political theory
- construct and defend a written argument on political theory
- Globalisation and Education
What you learn (2)
- explain how education functions within a global context
- compare education systems across different countries
- Public Policy for 21st Century Challenges
What you learn (10)
- explain how interest groups shape public policy outcomes
- explain how institutional structures constrain policymaking
- explain how ideas shape the direction of public policy
- evaluate competing interpretations of the policymaking process
- identify key actors and institutions involved in policymaking
- compare policymaking approaches across different countries
- evaluate major political challenges facing policymakers
- outline key debates relating to selected contemporary policy challenges
- critique policy responses to contemporary challenges
- propose solutions to address contemporary policy challenges
Year 3 · 0 core, 9 optional
9 optional modules
- Comparative Human Rights
What you learn (7)
- identify the main sources of international human rights law
- identify the main sources of domestic human rights law
- analyse how law contributes to protecting human rights
- compare different systems for protecting human rights
- evaluate the effectiveness of different human rights protection systems
- describe controversies surrounding the concept of human rights
- explain practical difficulties in enforcing human rights protections
- Medicine and the Law
What you learn (12)
- apply legal doctrines governing healthcare professional-patient relationships
- interpret legislation, case law and administrative rules relevant to healthcare
- apply major bioethical theories to medical scenarios
- explain the social, political and economic factors shaping medical practice and regulation
- locate primary and secondary legal sources relevant to medical ethics
- discuss current debates in medical law while reporting legal positions accurately
- retrieve legal and non-legal sources using print and electronic library resources
- research independently to develop understanding of medical ethics and law topics
- use appropriate terminology of medical ethics and law in communication
- discuss sensitive ethical and political issues constructively and coherently
- conduct complex legal searches using electronic databases such as Lexis and Westlaw
- collaborate effectively within a group to achieve shared tasks
- History of the Philosophy of Law
What you learn (5)
- describe seventeenth-century intellectual influences on early modern philosophers of law
- interpret primary philosophical texts for meaning and significance
- evaluate the significance of key terminology used in philosophical texts
- identify connections between different elements within a philosopher's theory
- construct scholarly interpretations of early modern legal philosophical thought
- Philosophy of Religion
What you learn (4)
- explain key ideas and arguments in philosophy of religion
- evaluate philosophical ideas and arguments independently
- discuss philosophical ideas and arguments with peers
- refine personal understanding through group discussion
- The Philosophy of Terrorism and Counterterrorism
What you learn (3)
- explain key concepts and arguments in terrorism philosophy
- describe ethical and epistemological issues in counterterrorism debates
- relate terrorism debates to broader questions of morality and causation
- Philosophy of Evil
What you learn (11)
- identify key historical philosophers who addressed the problem of evil
- describe how philosophical thought on evil has evolved over time
- explain core theoretical concepts in the philosophy of evil
- apply technical philosophical terminology relevant to the study of evil
- communicate philosophical ideas clearly in written form
- communicate philosophical ideas clearly in spoken discussion
- research primary and secondary philosophical texts independently
- present findings from philosophical source analysis
- evaluate complex philosophical texts critically
- construct original philosophical arguments on positions regarding evil
- defend a philosophical position against counterarguments
- Issues in Political Theory
What you learn (7)
- interpret complex arguments from contemporary political philosophy texts
- critically evaluate arguments found in political theory literature
- formulate a reasoned personal position on political theory debates
- compare opposing perspectives on contested political issues
- construct an extended argument on fundamental political values
- defend a political position against sceptical objections
- integrate ideas from other disciplines to strengthen political arguments
“What you learn” restates each module’s published learning outcomes in our own words, as short skill statements in the same form as the GCSE and A level curriculum, with the help of an AI model; fields of knowledge follow the twelve fields of the knowledge sphere. The university’s module page, linked from each title, is the authoritative description.
After graduating
Where does it lead?
£31,500median pay three years after graduating
Lower quarter£26k
Median£32k
Upper quarter£41k
Median — the middle earner: half earned more, half less. Pay is for graduates of this subject at this university who finished in 2016-18, not adjusted for inflation; based on 175 graduates.
Discover Uni dataset (HESA and Office for Students, CC BY 4.0, contains HESA data); earnings from the Longitudinal Education Outcomes data (Department for Education) · aggregation level 14, 13, 23
Half of graduates earned between £25,500 and £40,500. Five years on, the median is £41,500. 95% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing; 80% of those in work were in professional or managerial jobs.
All outcome figures7
| Measure | Value | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Continue after year 10% left | 100% | 50 |
| In work or study, 15 months on10% studying | 95% | 20 |
| Professional or managerial job | 80% | 15 |
| Pay 15 months on, median | £33,000 | 75 |
| Pay 3 years on, median | £31,500 | 175 |
| Pay 5 years on, median | £41,500 | 180 |
Money
What does it cost?
£10,050a year for UK students, 2027/28 entry
Tuition fee loan — paid straight to the university; repayments start the April after you leave, at 9% of income above the threshold. UK fees are capped by government and rise with inflation; placement and study-abroad years are usually charged at a lower rate.
Warwick fees page · source
About £30,150 in fees over 3 years, covered by a tuition fee loan you repay only when earning above the threshold.
National Student Survey 2025-26
What do students say?
89%agreed the course was good overall (question 26)
NSS — a yearly survey of final-year students at every UK university; 69% of this course’s final year answered. Small groups can swing a lot year to year.
National Student Survey, via Discover Uni · 35 students answered
Highest: 100% agreed on question 1; lowest: 69% on question 8.
All questions26
| Question | Agree |
|---|---|
| Question 1 | 100% |
| Question 2 | 89% |
| Question 3 | 97% |
| Question 4 | 91% |
| Question 5 | 89% |
| Question 6 | 83% |
| Question 7 | 86% |
| Question 8 | 69% |
| Question 9 | 94% |
| Question 10 | 74% |
| Question 11 | 82% |
| Question 12 | 79% |
| Question 13 | 94% |
| Question 14 | 76% |
| Question 15 | 94% |
| Question 16 | 86% |
| Question 17 | 97% |
| Question 18 | 77% |
| Question 19 | 94% |
| Question 20 | 100% |
| Question 21 | 93% |
| Question 22 | 94% |
| Question 23 | 94% |
| Question 24 | 85% |
| Question 25 | 72% |
| Question 26 | 89% |
Question texts are published by the Office for Students; the dataset carries only the question numbers.
Modules, entry requirements and fees are facts read from University of Warwick’s course page on 2026-09-19 and may change; the university’s page is authoritative. Descriptions are not reproduced. Outcome figures are from the Discover Uni dataset. University of Warwick is a trade mark of the university; sch.today is independent of it.