Politics - A Level (Edexcel)

A Level Politics examines the workings of the British political system, core political ideas, and events and trends in global politics. You will explore the features of the UK’s uncodified constitution, what ‘freedom’ means, and how it is best promoted and protected.

This course will include discussing whether we should be governed at all, what democracy is, and how close the UK political system comes to meeting this ideal. You will also discuss the political ideas associated with liberalism, conservatism, and socialism and the extent to which these can be found within the parties competing for our votes.

In year two you will focus on global politics and questions around how effective the UN is at preventing and resolving conflict, whether there exist underlying power structures that mean the wealthy countries of the ‘Global North’ exploit those in the ‘Global South’, and whether global governance can solve environmental and human rights issues.

Topics covered can include:

UK Politics

• Democracy and participation
• Political parties
• Electoral systems
• Voting behaviour and the media
• Conservatism, liberalism, socialism

UK Government 

• The constitution
• Parliament
• Prime Minister and executive
• Relationships between the branches
• Anarchism, ecologism, feminism, multiculturalism, nationalism

Comparative Politics

• Sovereignty and globalisation
• Global governance: political and economic
• Global governance: human rights and environmental
• Power and developments
• Regionalism and the European Union

You will need to meet the minimum entry criteria, plus: 

• Grade 6 in one of these: History, Geography, Humanities, English Literature, Business, Media Studies, Religious Studies, Drama, or Film Studies. If you have a grade 6 in English Language, you only need a grade 5 in one of these subjects.

Please click here to see the minimum entry requirements.

Assessment is through three exams at the end of the second year.

AGED 16 - 18

If you will be aged 16, 17 or 18 on 31st August 2025 before the start date of the course, and you have the legal right to remain in the UK for the duration of your course then your study with us will be free.

Please see here for the documents you need to show us.

Some courses have additional costs, such as specialist materials and trips.

Many of our students are eligible for financial support. See here for details.

A Levels are widely regarded as the standard entry qualification for top universities in the UK, and the rest of the world. Many of our students go on to study for a degree at the university of their choice, with some choosing to progress into apprenticeships or other employment.