Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL3277: Developments in British Politics: Institutions and Behaviour

This module descriptor refers to the 2022/3 academic year.

Module Aims

This module provides students with high level knowledge about UK (Britain and Northern Ireland) politics and develops skills for analysing its political institutions, political behaviour and contemporary themes. This facilitates understanding of challenges and opportunities in the contemporary context, especially the importance of Brexit, contemporary UK political movements and challenges including those presented by Covid 19.

The module examines developments in politics through a set of key themes. These include political leadership and movements, political institutions, representation, citizenship and equality, devolution, and policy-making,

The module draws on a mix of qualitative and quantitative evidence giving participants flexibility in their focus. Likely future scenarios for British politics are considered –including consequences of Brexit, Covid 19, moves towards digital politics and associated digital and social media, technological change in government including the use of artificial intelligence, constitutional and electoral reform, and the changing party system.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of key features of British (UK) political institutions, political behaviour and political themes and theory and evidence about them.
2. Identify and critique the most important challenges and opportunities in British politics today along with theory and evidence about them.
3. Situate specific institutions, behaviours, challenges and opportunities in British politics within their political and contemporary historical context.
Discipline-Specific Skills4. Apply abstract theories and concepts to empirical cases.
5. Use logic and reasoning to evaluate arguments.
6. Deploy a range of social research methods commonly used in the discipline of politics.
Personal and Key Skills7. Demonstrate ICT skills in accessing and using learning resources for the module.
8. Work effectively in an organised manner individually as part of a team in seminars.
9. Conduct research using a wide variety of sources.
10. Communicate research findings clearly and concisely in the form of written reports.