# What can you do with a Politics degree?

> Source: https://coursetojob.co.uk/courses/politics/ — updated 2026-09-25. Published by CourseToJob (independent; not affiliated with UCAS, HESA or GOV.UK).

**Quick answer:** A Politics degree commonly leads to roles such as parliamentary assistant, public affairs assistant and policy officer (entry). Five years after graduating, Politics graduates had median earnings of £37,000 (middle half: £28,900–£49,400), and 86% were in sustained work or further study (DfE LEO, 2023–24 tax year). The largest employer sector for Politics graduates is public administration and defence (18.1% of those in work).

Politics degrees cover institutions, ideas, and policy processes. Graduates often start in parliamentary, public-affairs, and research support roles. Official figures appear when an extract is loaded.

## What jobs can you get with a Politics degree?

- **Parliamentary assistant**: Supports an MP or peer with constituency casework, events, and research notes. Skills often asked for: casework logs, diary, briefings.
- **Public affairs assistant**. Skills often asked for: monitoring, stakeholder lists, event logistics.
- **Policy officer (entry)**. Skills often asked for: consultation drafts, evidence tables, minutes.
- **Local government officer (entry)**. Skills often asked for: committee papers, service stats, public queries.

## Where do Politics graduates work?

Politics graduates in UK employment five years after graduating, by industry (DfE LEO industry data, tax year 2023–24; shares calculated by CourseToJob from DfE's rounded counts).

| Industry | Share of graduates in work | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Public administration and defence | 18.1% | £38,100 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 18% | £43,900 |
| Education | 9.9% | £32,600 |
| Information and communication | 9.9% | £42,800 |
| Finance and insurance | 9.1% | £52,700 |
| Administrative and support services | 7.2% | £35,500 |
| Health and social work | 6.6% | £31,100 |
| Wholesale and retail | 5.8% | £31,800 |

## How much do Politics graduates earn?

UK-domiciled first-degree graduates in Politics (CAH15-03-01). Source: DfE LEO CAH level 3 subject data, tax year 2023–24 (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-catalogue/data-set/d8bc2906-419e-40ef-ad8e-9b2ccd3997dc). Each row is a different graduating cohort.

| Years after graduating | Graduated | Median earnings | Middle half | In work or further study | All-graduate median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021/2022 | £26,000 | £20,500–£31,800 | 87.2% | £26,400 |
| 3 | 2019/2020 | £31,800 | £25,600–£39,200 | 86.3% | £30,000 |
| 5 | 2017/2018 | £37,000 | £28,900–£49,400 | 86% | £33,700 |
| 10 | 2012/2013 | £47,200 | £32,900–£70,300 | 82.4% | — |

## Which universities have the highest-earning Politics graduates?

Median earnings five years after graduating, universities with at least 50 graduates measured (DfE LEO provider-level data, 2023–24). Not a quality ranking.

| University | Median earnings | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| [University of Oxford](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-oxford/) | £55,600 | 65 |
| [University of Bath](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-bath/) | £52,700 | 100 |
| [University of Warwick](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-warwick/) | £52,700 | 125 |
| [University of Bristol](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-bristol/) | £51,600 | 120 |
| [Durham University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/durham-university/) | £49,800 | 120 |
| [London School of Economics](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/lse/) | £48,700 | 85 |
| [University of Nottingham](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-nottingham/) | £45,800 | 215 |
| [University of Exeter](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-exeter/) | £45,400 | 260 |
| [University of St Andrews](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-st-andrews/) | £45,400 | 75 |
| [Loughborough University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/loughborough-university/) | £43,900 | 105 |

## Is Politics the right degree for you?

You may enjoy it if:
- You want to understand how decisions are actually made.
- You like comparing institutions rather than only campaigning.
- You can write a briefing that a busy person will finish.

It may not suit you if:
- You wanted a course that is only activism.
- You dislike reading legislation and committee reports.
- You expected an automatic Civil Service place.

## Interview questions for Politics graduate roles

Parliamentary, policy and public-affairs assistant interviews usually test discretion, briefing, and whether you understand process. These prompts are editorial illustrations.

- You have 90 minutes to brief someone before a meeting. What is on page one? (What it tests: The decision, the politics, and the unanswered question — not a literature review.)
- A journalist calls for a quote you do not have authority to give. What do you say? (What it tests: You take a message; you do not freelance a line.)
- Two briefings on your desk contradict each other. How do you proceed? (What it tests: Checking dates, authors, and flagging the clash rather than picking a team.)
- How would you log casework so a colleague could pick it up tomorrow? (What it tests: Notes that are factual, timely, and usable.)
- Why might a written parliamentary question need a different tone from a social post? (What it tests: Register and audience, which junior public-affairs work lives on.)

## Frequently asked questions

### What jobs can you do with a Politics degree?

Common starting roles include parliamentary assistant, public affairs assistant, policy officer (entry) and local government officer (entry). Five years after graduating, the most common sectors for Politics graduates in work were public administration and defence (18.1%), professional, scientific and technical services (18%) and education (9.9%). These are examples, not guaranteed jobs: your experience, location and further training matter.

### How much do Politics graduates earn in the UK?

DfE Longitudinal Education Outcomes data for the 2023–24 tax year shows median earnings for UK-domiciled Politics graduates of £26,000 one year after graduating, £31,800 three years after graduating, £37,000 five years after graduating and £47,200 ten years after graduating. Each figure describes a different graduating cohort, not one person's pay rise, and it is gross pay for those in sustained employment, not a starting salary offer.

### Is a Politics degree worth it?

It depends on what you want to do. On the official data, 86% of Politics graduates were in sustained employment or further study five years after graduating, with median earnings of £37,000. For comparison, the median across all first-degree graduates of GB higher education institutions was £33,700 at the same point. That places Politics 48 of 146 subject groups by five-year median earnings. Earnings are only one factor: enjoyment of the subject, accreditation and the route into your target job matter too.

### Which universities have the highest-earning Politics graduates?

Among universities in our index with at least 50 graduates measured, the highest five-year median earnings for Politics were at University of Oxford (£55,600), University of Bath (£52,700) and University of Warwick (£52,700). These figures reflect entry grades, subject mix and where graduates work, so they are not a measure of teaching quality.

### Can international students study Politics in the UK?

Yes, most UK universities accept international applicants, but entry requirements, recognised qualifications, English-language evidence and overseas tuition fees depend on the university and programme. Check the university course page and international admissions team, then check visa requirements on GOV.UK.


Apply for undergraduate courses on UCAS: https://www.ucas.com/explore/search/courses?query=Politics