Undergraduates

The study of politics gives you the opportunity to explore some of the most important topics facing humanity. 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 careers in law, business, journalism, and education.

Why study politics at Cambridge?

• Tailored to your interests: Cambridge offers two ways to study politics. HSPS offers the flexibility to explore politics, sociology, and social anthropology. The alternative path is history and politics, which balances history, politics and international relations.
• Academic rigour: The Supervision system provides weekly, small-group sessions with world-leading experts.
• Top rankings: The University ranks number 2 in the UK for Politics, Sociology and Social Policy (The Guardian University Guide 2026) and the University of Cambridge consistently ranks among the top 5 universities in the world.
• 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.
• Uniquely interdisciplinary: The HSPS 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.
• 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.