View Specification DocumentGovernment and Public Policy in the UK POLITIC4005
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Social and Political Sciences
- Credits: 20
- Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
- Typically Offered: Semester 1
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
The course provides a broad overview of all key aspects of contemporary UK and Scottish politics and public policy, including the role of governmental and non-governmental institutions, as well as the importance of both electoral and party behaviour. The course is set within a comparative context in order to analyse the similarities and differences between the British, American and other relevant political systems. The course is designed for international students at Glasgow on exchange programmes.
Timetable
Weekly 2-hour seminar.
Requirements of Entry
As per agreement with Duke University and/or External Relations and course convenor. Generally 3rd or 4th year status.
Or by acceptance by convenor and/or Student Exchange office.
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
Essay, 2000 words (40%)
Policy Comparison Essay, 2500 words (50%)
Reflective Diary (3 entries of 200 words) 10% Diary assignments are designed to engage students in thinking about initial experiences and contrasts, policy comparisons, UK/Westminster structures and processes and comparison of the UK and Scottish parliamentary systems.
Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? Not applicable
It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.
[No exceptions]
Course Aims
The course provides a broad overview of key aspects of contemporary British government, politics and public policy at national, sub-national and supranational levels. It includes a comparative element in order to analyse the similarities and differences between the UK political and policy systems and those of other countries. The course has three key aims: to become familiar with the main features of the UK and Scottish systems of government; to learn more about the methodology that lies behind the academic study of multi-level governance currently and in the recent past (e.g. the EU), and to be equipped to analyse the related issues in a critical way. By the end of the course, students will have learned about the role and powers of parliament and government in the UK, the main political parties and political actors, the nature of devolution in the UK, especially in Scotland, the policy-making process in London, Edinburgh, and UK public policy and foreign policy.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
■ Comparatively analyse political and policy-making systems;
■ Critically analyse UK executives, legislatures and policy-making processes in Westminster and Edinburgh;
■ Contextualise key developments in UK public policy from 1945 to the present;
■ Evaluate scholarly literature on the UK system of government and policy-making.