Why do undergraduate Politics at NUIM?

This degree allows students to explore the different ways that politics shapes our lives, the various forms that politics takes, and how politics is organised differently around the world. The key distinguishing feature of Politics at Maynooth is its focus on active citizenship. This includes, but goes beyond, the traditional study of parties and elections to include a much broader variety of aspects of politics (including public opinion, community activism, the media, NGOs, new social movements, trade unions etc.) and exploring the tensions between formal democracy, political power and social inequality. We explore how to theorise and research politics and offer thematic strands which take students deeper into exploring the politics of global change, the relationship between politics and culture, and the formation and effects of state policy. The course is thus framed in terms of three interweaving strands: active citizenship, political sociology and political institutions.

Amy says: “I am finding the BA Politics degree to be an exceptionally interesting course, where one can learn about how the world of politics really works. The BA Politics is a new course so the lecturers are very keen to hear student's opinions on the course curriculum which makes for a very comfortable and welcoming class atmosphere. The class size is very small which means that students have the opportunity to voice opinions which can lead to interesting and quite often heated debates! We have also all had the opportunity to get to know one another on a one to one basis as the class was so small, which we would not have the luxury of in other subjects.