GV251 One Unit
Government, Politics and Public Policy in the European Union
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Availability
This course is available on the BA in Social Anthropology, BSc in History and Politics, BSc in International Relations, BSc in International Social and Public Policy with Politics, BSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, BSc in Politics, BSc in Politics and Economics, BSc in Politics and International Relations, BSc in Politics and Philosophy, BSc in Social Anthropology, Erasmus Reciprocal Programme of Study and Exchange Programme for Students from University of California, Berkeley. This course is freely available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. It does not require permission. This course is freely available to General Course students. It does not require permission.
This course is capped. Places will be assigned on a first come first served basis.
Requisites
Pre-requisites:
Students must have completed GV101 before taking this course.
Course content
This course introduces students to the politics and policies of the European Union, focusing on institutions, political actors and processes, popular challenges to the EU as well as key policies areas ranging from monetary and trade policies to migration and foreign policies. The course is divided into two parts; (i) Government and Politics: the EU as a political system, the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament, the Court of Justice and judicial politics, public opinion and Euroscepticism, European Parliament elections, populist challenges to European integration, and direct democracy; (ii) Public Policy. Policy sessions usually include: the policy-making process, the Single Market, budgetary policies, EMU, asylum, migration and refugee policies, social and employment policies, EU foreign and security policies and others.
Teaching
10 hours of lectures and 9 hours of classes in the Autumn Term.
10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the Winter Term.
1 hours of lectures and 1 hours of classes in the Spring Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn and Winter Term.
Formative assessment
Essay
Essay
Two formative essays during the course.
Indicative reading
S Hix and B Hoyland, The Political System of the European Union, 4th edn. (2022); C De Vries, SB Hobolt, S-O Proksch and J Slapin, Foundations of European Politics: A Comparative Approach , 2nd edn. (2025); H Wallace, M Pollack & A Young (Eds), Policy-Making in the European Union, 8th edn. (2020).
Assessment
Exam (100%), duration: 180 Minutes in the Spring exam period
GENERAL COURSE STUDENTS ONLY:
The Class Summary Grade for General Course students will be calculated as follows: 15% class participation, 80% formative coursework (each formative essay counts for 40%) and 5% attendance.
The Exam Grade for General Course students will be 100% exam.
Key facts
Department: Government
Course Study Period: Autumn, Winter and Spring Term
Unit value: One unit
FHEQ Level: Level 5
CEFR Level: Null
Keywords: European Union, Politics, Public Policy, European Politics
Total students 2024/25: 57
Average class size 2024/25: 14
Capped 2024/25: Yes(68)Course selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Problem solving
- Communication