Undergraduate 

Politics MA(SocSci)/LLB/MA

Scottish Politics POLITIC4022

  • Academic Session: 2025-26
  • School: School of Social and Political Sciences
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This course will expose students to the political dynamics of Scotland in a comparative perspective.

Timetable

This course may not be running this year. For further information please check the Politics Moodle page or contact the subject directly.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

1. Group project: podcast documentary on an aspect of Scottish politics (30%)

2. Essay (2,500 words) (50%)

3. Policy briefing (1,500 words) (20%)

 

Adjustments and/or alternative modes of assessment will be available for students with disabilities that are hindered.

from participating in the group project.

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? Not applicable

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below.

Course Aims

This course will explore politics in Scotland, especially in the period since devolution, and with a particular focus on how Scottish politics compares to that of other countries and substate entities. The course will look at the Scottish party system, the Scottish Parliament, local government, nationalism and unionism and the politics of class. It will critically examine the extent to which Scottish politics has been transformed in recent decades, and look forward to Scotland's political future, appraising the constitutional debate through an academic lens.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

•Analyse and explain the key dynamics of Scottish politics

•Evaluate the works of scholars who have written about the role of political institutions and actors in Scotland

•Apply the knowledge gained in the process of evaluating and discussing the literature

•Advance reasoned and factually supported arguments, orally and in writing

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.