Undergraduate study
Politics and International Studies gives you the opportunity to study some of the most important topics facing humanity—climate change, international security, gender politics, public health, the global economy and public policy. As an undergraduate student at Cambridge, you will be taught by members of a dynamic community of researchers working on the world's most complex and pressing issues.
Our graduates go on to change the world—working in governments, the Civil Service, NGOs, diplomacy, and non-profits along with opportunities in law, business, journalism, and education.
How to study Politics and International studies at Cambridge
There are two ways to study Politics and International Relations as an undergraduate at Cambridge. You can either apply through the Human, Social and Political Sciences course which combines politics, international relations, social anthropology and sociology in your first year and then allows you to specialise in one or more subjects in subsequent years or the History and Politics course.
More information about each of the ways to study politics at Cambridge can be found on our Course Details page.
Why Study Politics at Cambridge?
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Tailored to your interests: Cambridge offers the flexibility to explore Politics, Sociology, and Social Anthropology in Year 1 before choosing to focus on one or a combination in Years 2 and 3.
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Academic rigour: The Supervision system provides weekly, small-group sessions with world-leading experts.
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Top rankings: The Department ranks 1st for Politics (Complete University Guide by subject, 2025) and the University of Cambridge consistently ranks among the top 5 universities in the world.
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World-class resources: Access to one of the world's best library systems and a faculty at the forefront of global research in social sciences.
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Uniquely interdisciplinary: The course allows you to "borrow" papers from other departments (like Archaeology or Psychology), making it one of the most intellectually diverse degrees in the UK.
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The collegiate experience: You belong to a smaller, multidisciplinary college community, providing a supportive home base and academic guidance from a dedicated Director of Studies.
See what we are all about
- Visit us on one of our open days
- Sign up to receive POLIS's newsletter
- Book an applicant webinar
- Sign up to our student newsletter to be notified when bookings open and for other opportunities, advice and resources
- Take our virtual tour now
Watch our Masterclass
Professor Jeremy Green's lecture on 'Political Economy in the Age of Political Crisis'
Attending one of our Subject Masterclasses will help you understand more about our course.
Subject Masterclasses offer students a first taste of undergraduate study at the University of Cambridge.
Our masterclasses are for all Year 12 students from any school/college who are interested in studying with us
Each masterclass includes:
- two taster lectures delivered by leading academic members of staff from the University
- the opportunity to discuss and ask questions
- an introduction to the Cambridge admissions process
- the opportunity to hear about life as a Cambridge student, from current undergraduates
Find out more about future Masterclasses
Participate in our Essay Competition
Every year, POLIS runs an essay competition - the R.A. Butler Prize - for Year 12 students, jointly with Trinity College Cambridge. The essay titles are published in March each year, with a deadline for submitting the essay in the summer. First prize wins £600, to be shared between the winner and their school.
The Application Process
The application process for the University of Cambridge is conducted through UCAS just like any other University. More information on the UCAS process for the University of Cambridge can be found here.
The entrance requirements for the Human, Social and Political Sciences Tripos and the History and Politics Tripos are A*AA at A-level. No specific subjects are required at A-level for the HSPS Tripos; for History and Politics some Colleges may require a History A-Level.
More information on the Undergraduate application process and how to prepare can be found on the Undergraduate Study webpage.
One-year Part II
If you want to apply for a one-year Part II, you should contact the department on ugradadmin@polis.cam.ac.uk. Please be aware that your college's endorsement of your request to transfer is insufficient - you also need official permission from the Department as well.