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Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

American Studies and Politics

Swansea University

(4)
298 reviews

Entry requirements

Here's what you will need to get a place on the American Studies and Politics course at Swansea University.

Select a qualification to see required grades

A level

B,B,B

Most popular A-levels studied

The American Studies and Politics course at Swansea University features content from more than one subject area. Choose an option below to find out about the students taking courses in each of those subject areas at this uni.

American studies
Politics
SubjectGrade
Government and PoliticsC
HistoryB
EconomicsC
SociologyC
PsychologyD
SubjectGrade
HistoryD
SociologyC
Government and PoliticsC
English LiteratureB
PsychologyD
Source: HESA

Course summary

What this course is about

UCAS code: LT27

Here's what Swansea University says about its American Studies and Politics course.

On this fascinating three-year BA (Hons) degree program, you will have the chance to explore the culture, history and politics of the United States of America, alongside British and European Politics.

Tailor this varied and flexible course to suit your interests, whether in American film, music, race, gender, civil rights and political protest to international relations, political economy, and conflict and peace. This degree program covers the period of American history from colonization through to the recent Trump presidency as well as spanning many areas of British and European political thought and study.

Teaching on this course is informed by our world-leading research and you can attend seminars organised through our guest speaker program. Visiting American professors also offer modules as part of the degree, and with more than 150 American students studying at Swansea each year, you will have access to a ready-made network of contacts with links stretching across the USA.

You will develop a wide range of transferable skills, which are highly valued by employers, including oral, writing and presentation skills, along with expertise across research and problem-solving. Our graduates enter careers in a wide range of sectors ranging from education, marketing and events management to government and research.

Study at Swansea and you’ll be based on our Singleton Campus in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsular, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Outside of your lectures, you’ll be able to join our student societies, including the Politics and International Relations Society and American Studies Society.

Please visit our course page for more information. https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/culture-communication/american-studies/ba-american-studies-politics/

Source: Swansea University

Course details

Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Department

Interdepartmental

Location

Singleton Park Campus | Swansea

Duration

3 Years

Study mode

Full-time

Subjects

• American studies

• Politics

Start date

21 September 2026

Application deadline

14 January 2026

The modules you will study

Your first year will include a mixture of compulsory and optional modules, with examples of compulsory modules from recent years including: • Political Philosophy • American Politics and Society • Introduction to American Literature and Culture

Your second and third years will comprise entirely optional modules from an expansive range of subject areas. Examples of optional modules in recent years have included: • Race and Ethnicity: American Perspectives • America in Crisis: Political Culture and Society from the Tet Offensive to Trump • The Story of the USA on Film and Television, 1865-2008 • Contemporary American Fiction • The American Civil War in History and Memory

Your final year will include an compulsory independent dissertation project.

How you will be assessed

We offer a variety of assessment methods within our programmes. In addition to traditional examinations and essays, examples of alternative assessment include: • Presentations • Group Work • Personal Reflection

Throughout your undergraduate American Studies and Politics degree, you will develop excellent research and analytical skills and learn to present your ideas effectively both verbally and in writing. For full breakdown of course structure and assessment please visit our course page https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/culture-communication/american-studies/ba-american-studies-politics/ or get in touch with us at [email protected]

Swansea University student reviews

(4)
Based on 298 reviews from Swansea University's students and alumni
5 star
38%
4 star
34%
3 star
21%
2 star
6%
1 star
1%
All reviews

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University life

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Course

National Student Survey (NSS) scores at Swansea University

The NSS is an annual survey where final-year students are asked to rate different aspects of their course and university experience.

The American Studies and Politics course at Swansea University features content from more than one subject area. Using the options below, you can see ratings from students who took courses in each of these subject areas at this uni

Politics
American and Australasian studies

Select an option to see a detailed breakdown

How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?

83%

med

How good are teaching staff at explaining things?

93%

med

How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?

91%

high

How often is the course intellectually stimulating?

94%

high

To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?

86%

med

How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?

89%

med

How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future?

87%

high

To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?

93%

high

To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?

77%

med

How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?

88%

med

How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?

89%

med

How often does feedback help you to improve your work?

82%

high

How often have you received assessment feedback on time?

91%

high

How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?

79%

med

How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?

94%

med

How well have teaching staff supported your learning?

95%

high

How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?

91%

high

How well organised is your course?

99%

high

How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?

84%

med

How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?

87%

low

How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?

84%

low

How clear is it that students' feedback on the course is acted on?

74%

high

To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?

94%

high

To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?

87%

high

How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?

68%

med

Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of the course.

87%

med

How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?

88%

high

Select an option to see a detailed breakdown

How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?

95%

high

How good are teaching staff at explaining things?

100%

high

How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?

100%

high

How often is the course intellectually stimulating?

91%

med

To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?

82%

low

How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?

82%

low

How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future?

75%

low

To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?

100%

high

To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?

77%

med

How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?

82%

med

How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?

100%

high

How often does feedback help you to improve your work?

91%

high

How often have you received assessment feedback on time?

100%

high

How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?

86%

high

How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?

100%

high

How well have teaching staff supported your learning?

100%

high

How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?

89%

high

How well organised is your course?

100%

high

How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?

95%

high

How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?

100%

high

How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?

95%

high

How clear is it that students' feedback on the course is acted on?

59%

med

To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?

95%

high

To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?

82%

med

How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?

82%

med

Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of the course.

100%

low

How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?

81%

high

Student information

The American Studies and Politics course at Swansea University features content from more than one subject area. Choose an option below to find out about the students taking courses in each of those subject areas at this uni.

American studies
Politics
Mode of study
Full-time100%
Gender ratio
Female35%Male64%Other1%
Where students come from
International8%UK92%
Student performance
2:1 or above79%
Number of students380
Mode of study
Full-time100%
Gender ratio
Female45%Male55%
Where students come from
International3%UK97%
Student performance
2:1 or above80%
Number of students70
Source: HESA

Graduate prospects

What graduates do next

The American Studies and Politics course includes content from more than one subject area. Choose an option below for information about Swansea University graduates across each of those subject areas.

Politics
American and Australasian studies

Graduate statistics

55%

In a job where degree was essential or beneficial

80%

In work, study or other activity

50%

Say it fits with future plans

35%

Are utilising studies

Top job areas

20%

Managers, directors and senior officials

15%

Administrative occupations

15%

Business and public service associate professionals

15%

Elementary occupations

Graduate statistics

65%

In a job where degree was essential or beneficial

85%

In work, study or other activity

60%

Say it fits with future plans

55%

Are utilising studies

Top job areas

20%

Business and public service associate professionals

10%

Teaching Professionals

5%

Elementary occupations

5%

Information Technology Professionals

Graduate statistics percentages are determined 15 months after a student graduates

Earnings after graduation

The American Studies and Politics course includes content from more than one subject area. Choose an option below for Swansea University graduate earnings across each of those subject areas.

Politics
Languages and area studies

Earnings

£21.5k

First year after graduation

£27.4k

Third year after graduation

£31.8k

Fifth year after graduation

Earnings

£21.5k

First year after graduation

£24.5k

Third year after graduation

£30.3k

Fifth year after graduation

Shown here are the median earnings of graduates at one, three and five years after they completed a course related to American Studies and Politics.

Source: LEO

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree

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Source: Swansea University

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