- UCAS course code
- LR25
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course description
The BA Politics and Portuguese course will enable you to explore world politics and gain an intercultural perspective that is at a premium in today's context of globalised studies and career paths.
Delivered jointly by the School of Social Sciences and the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, this course offers flexibility through a combination of core and optional politics course units and units in your chosen language and culture.
Language study offers more than just language fluency. You'll explore the culture, society, history, politics and literature of the countries in which Portuguese is spoken, helping you develop intercultural awareness and communication skills, both highly valued by employers.
You'll benefit from excellent teaching, student support and cutting-edge study facilities, as well as the vibrancy and cultural diversity of Manchester itself, Western Europe's most multilingual city.
Studying abroad at partner universities and in professional environments in Portuguese-speaking countries gives you an unforgettable and invaluable experience.
The course unit details listed below are those you may choose to study as part of this programme and are referred to as optional units. These are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this programme. Although language units may show here as optional, they are a mandatory part of your modern languages degree and you will take the units relevant to your level of language in each year of study. It is compulsory to study language at all levels of your modern languages degree.
Aims
- Develop strong analytical skills and understanding of key areas of global politics, including European/international politics, international relations, global security and international development.
- Develop the linguistic skills and cultural knowledge to access and engage fully with political, historical and cultural issues in Portuguese and the cultures of the Lusophone world.
- Offer an intercultural perspective on your studies and future career, facilitated by the possibility of studying a second language - either as a beginner or at a more advanced level.
Special features
You can study and/or work for up to a year in a country or countries relevant to your chosen language(s) to improve your language skills in a native-speaker environment.
Palaver Festival
Palaver Festival is a collaboration with the neighbouring Contact Theatre.
You can explore links between language and performance across a range of genres including literature, theatre and dance.
Collaborations and partnerships
The University has links with language and cultural institutions across the city, including:
- HOME - international and contemporary art, theatre and film;
- Portuguese Consulate General in Manchester - the official representation of Portugal in Manchester organises a number of cultural activities every year.
Societies
There are over 30 international and language-related student societies offering cultural activities and experiences.
You can also join the Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies Student Society and enjoy a wide range of cultural events and activities.
Teaching and learning
You'll learn through a mixture of formal lectures, seminars and tutorials, spending approximately 12 hours a week in formal study sessions.
For every hour of university study, you will be expected to complete a further 2-3 hours of independent study.
You will also need to study during the holiday periods.
The individual study component could be spent reading, producing written work, revising for examinations or working in the University's Language Centre .
Coursework and assessment
You will be assessed in various ways, including:
- written and oral examinations;
- presentations;
- coursework (which may include library research, linguistic fieldwork and data collection, or web-based research);
- in your final year, a dissertation based on a research topic of your choice.
Assessment methods vary from course unit to course unit - see individual course unit listings for more information.
Course content for year 1
- Introduction to Comparative Politics;
- Introduction to International Politics;
- Introduction to Political Theory.
Sample optional units include (20 credits):
- Introduction to Political Theory;
- Politics of the Global Economy;
- Power and the State;
- Making Sense of Politics.
You will also study an additional 60-80 credits of language and culture course units in your modern language subject.
Students take a compulsory Portuguese language component - either for beginners, or for those with an A-level (or equivalent).
Students also explore the Portuguese-speaking cultures and colonial history of Portugal, Brazil, Mozambique, Angola and Goa.
You will take only the language units relevant to your level of language in each year of study.
Course units for year 1
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Introduction to Comparative Politics | POLI10201 | 20 | Optional |
Introduction to Comparative Politics | POLI10202 | 20 | Optional |
Making Sense of Politics | POLI10302 | 20 | Optional |
British Politics: Power and the State | POLI10401 | 20 | Optional |
Politics of the Global Economy | POLI10502 | 20 | Optional |
Introduction to International Politics | POLI10601 | 20 | Optional |
Introduction to Political Theory | POLI10702 | 20 | Optional |
Introduction to the Cultures of the Lusophone World | SPLA10130 | 20 | Optional |
Study Project (Portuguese) | SPLA10600 | 20 | Optional |
Portuguese Language 1 | SPLA52010 | 20 | Optional |
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Course content for year 2
- Questions about International Politics;
- The Politics of Globalisation;
- The Politics of Development;
- Ideals of Social Justice;
- The Politics of (In)Security;
- Challenges for Democratic Politics;
- What is Europe?;
- Environment Politics;
- Chinese Politics Today;
- The Politics of Policy Making.
You will also study an additional 60-80 credits of language and culture course units in your modern language subject.
You follow a compulsory Portuguese language course unit, building on your skills in the written and spoken language.
You take options in the cultures and literatures of Portugal and Brazil including Brazilian literature and the impact of empire and decolonisation in Portuguese and Luso-African cultures.
Course units for year 2
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Politics by Numbers | POLI20311 | 20 | Optional |
Security Studies | POLI20332 | 20 | Optional |
Questions About International Politics | POLI20521 | 20 | Optional |
Politics & Society in Britain Since 1940: From Blitz to Brexit | POLI20531 | 20 | Optional |
Arguing About Politics: Political Theory in the World | POLI20602 | 20 | Optional |
The Politics of Globalisation | POLI20711 | 20 | Optional |
The Politics of Development | POLI20722 | 20 | Optional |
Gender and Politics in Comparative Perspective | POLI20742 | 20 | Optional |
The Politics of Policy Making | POLI20802 | 20 | Optional |
Ideals of Social Justice | POLI20881 | 20 | Optional |
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Course content for year 3
Year 3 is spent abroad under approved conditions.
Course content for year 4
- Politics of the European Union;
- Africa and Global Politics;
- Terrorism and Political Violence;
- Comparative Protest Politics;
- War Memories and Reconciliation in East Asia;
- Borders, Identities and Citizenship;
- News Media and International Crisis;
- Peace Building;
- Gender, Sex and Politics;
- Children, Family and Social Justice.
You will also study an additional 60-80 credits of language and culture course units in your modern language subject.
You take a compulsory language component reflecting the Portuguese you were exposed to in Year 3.
You take options on the Amazon (travel writing, literature, film, current affairs) and Portuguese cinema and/or a free choice option in another subject.
Or you can choose to research and write a 12,000-word dissertation with one-to-one supervision from an academic member of staff.
Course units for year 4
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Dissertation in Modern Languages and Cultures | LALC30000 | 40 | Optional |
The Politics of the European Union | POLI30032 | 20 | Optional |
Morality and Markets | POLI30112 | 20 | Optional |
The Politics and Philosophy of Nationalism | POLI30191 | 20 | Optional |
Gender, Sex and Politics | POLI30231 | 20 | Optional |
Elections and Voters in Britain | POLI30241 | 20 | Optional |
Dimensions of Peace and Conflict: Disciplinary and Regional Approaches | POLI30262 | 20 | Optional |
Political Morality and Dirty Hands | POLI30272 | 20 | Optional |
Chinese Politics | POLI30282 | 20 | Optional |
Public Policy Problems | POLI30292 | 20 | Optional |
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Facilities
The University Language Centre is home to language resources, including a new interpreting suite, purpose-built recording rooms, and resources for more than 70 languages.
The Centre also offers multilingual word processing, language learning software, off-air recording and AV duplication, multilingual terrestrial and satellite TV, and extensive support and advice for learners.
Learn more at facilities