IF0GP: Government and Politics

Module code: IF0GP

Module provider: Global Academy

Credits: 20

Level: F

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Dawn Clarke, email: d.clarke@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s): IN THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE IF0IS (Compulsory)

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 29 July 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module aims to provide students with an understanding of the nature of political concepts, institutions and ideologies and to assist them to develop the ability to interpret and analyse political information and evaluate political arguments. 

The module will take an in-depth look at government institutions in Britain, Europe and the USA. It will also explore key concepts such as democracy and the state and give students the ability to apply these concepts to real world cases globally. This will ensure that students develop a critical awareness of the changing nature of politics and the relationship between political ideas, institutions and processes. 

The study of political ideologies will enhance the students’ knowledge and understanding of politics, political debate and political issues in both the UK and in other countries around the world. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Have knowledge of a range of political institutions and political processes within the UK, Europe, the USA and across a range of other countries globally. 
2. Develop knowledge and understanding of political concepts such as democracy, the state, nation, authority and legitimacy, freedom, equality and justice 
3. Demonstrate sound knowledge and understanding of a range of political ideologies and show how these have developed over time and how they can be applied to political situations today. 
4. Apply the skills of analysis and evaluation to debate, written and oral assignments showing relevance, clarity and coherence 

Module content

Content is indicative and may be subject to minor changes 

Political concepts are explored through the ideas of democracy, power, authority and legitimacy. 

Political institutions and political processes will be examined. Through an in-depth comparison of the political institutions of the United Kingdom, Europe and the USA, students are introduced to political systems by examination of such central themes as constitutional government, legislative-executive relations and the judicial process. 

Political ideologies are studied by taking an in-depth-analysis of concepts such as freedom, equality, and justice. 

The module is comparative, and it allows students to apply their knowledge of political institutions, concepts and ideologies to a range of different countries, including their own. Students are encouraged throughout the module to include global examples in both classroom discussions, and coursework. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will involve two-hour weekly lecture classes which will form interactive classrooms where the content material is taught. There will also be 2 x 2-hour weekly practical classrooms where students will develop their knowledge of the taught material in practical workshops, group work, set tasks, Kahoot, etc. Films and other media material will be used as teaching methods and students will be encouraged to search for material through books, articles and online so that they will be able to contribute to classroom discussions. 

There will also be an organised debate during the Semester on a debating question taken from one of the topics on the module. 

The classes will look in detail at the topics on the module, exploring the ideas in the module textbook, and sources elsewhere including the use of AI. Students will learn to understand political concepts, institutions and ideologies through analysis of core materials and through group discussion. 

Teaching is interactive and will be delivered in the classroom and there will be face-to-face and online surgery sessions which will allow students to get extra support and feedback from their module tutor. Lectures are recorded and will be available on Blackboard for students to consolidate their knowledge of the content material. 

Study hours

At least 66 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Whole-class and individual feedback will be given during drafting stages.

Reassessment

Additional costs