For as long as the internet has been a tool for sharing information, it has been one of the great go-to sources for simplifying how to learn politics or more about politics.
The political landscape of the UK and the wider world evolves faster than ever thanks to the way information spreads on the internet, and by extension, the internet as a tool to explore it has only improved.
Knowing where to look and how to use it to learn politics online can be invaluable, a tool that can be as valuable as a bona fide politics degree or political science degree if you know how to wield it.
How can I learn about politics online?
There are many great ways to learn about politics and current events online, so many in fact, that choosing which tools are worth your time and what online politics courses UK, based or otherwise, are worthy of interest can be much more dependent on what you want from them rather than any accurate arbitrary declaration of quality.
For instance, an excellent place to start on modern UK politics and current events can easily be the politics section of any major newspaper, assuming you understand the relevant biases of each one.
In the UK, papers such as the Times are a good starting place for more central views, with papers such as the Telegraph and Guardian leaning a little to the right and left ends of the spectrum, respectively. Papers such as the Financial Times and Economist can provide a more business and finance-oriented approach to current events and the political climate.
How can I learn politics online, free of charge?
Of course, many may turn to online political learning tools because they don't have the time or money for a paid course at university. To this end, there are many ways you can approach trying to learn politics in an age where more and more sources for both learning about current politics and the study of politics are available than ever.
Thanks to the many wonders of the modern internet, a politics course online can quickly teach you similar skills to those you might find on a politics degree at a real university anywhere in the country. Indeed, many universities, such as Oxford, are now beginning to offer online courses to learn political science.
Where do I find politics courses online that UK universities offer?
Many UK universities offer online politics courses that can be a great way to get into more severe learning of politics than might be offered by political news websites or newspapers on current affairs. Universities such as Oxford and several universities in London, such as the London School of Economics offer online courses that you can complete similarly to a regular course, except entirely conducted online.
They offer a good, slightly less thorough, look into the university's courses, with the two most significant trade-offs you get in exchange for the shorter duration of only six months in some cases and a massively reduced price. Where most universities will charge you £9250 for a year of the course, the six-month program offered by universities online can start from as little as £200!
Which universities have the best online politics courses?
There are a lot of courses you can choose from for your online degree, and each of them will offer you something different. Of course, that is not to say that some are not held in higher standing than others.
For instance, one of the premier online politics courses UK universities offer is undoubtedly the one from Oxford University. As a university that already carries a lot of prestige amongst academics, an online degree from Oxford is undoubtedly one of the best you can have in your repertoire.
Another top-rated and well-looked course is the Open University course, and with good reason. Where many universities will offer you a course of a shorter and less detailed composition as their online politics course, the Open University online political science courses are full degrees, able to be studied over between three and six years, depending on if you choose to do it part-time or full time.
This does naturally come with a higher price. Still, for your money, you get a full-on accredited politics degree or political science degree, all without uprooting your life and moving to a new city.
What if I want a politics online course free of charge?
Even for those who don't want to spend the money on a full or part-time university degree, there are many options to learn politics online. Some free online political courses UK universities offer are held in suitable regard, with the Open University being the most notable.
They offer various courses in all aspects of politics and political science of varying lengths. Some courses can be completed in around ten hours, while others take over twenty-five to complete.
They are a great way to introduce and develop elements of your knowledge and learning entirely for free, which is naturally very convenient for those looking for a more cost-effective way to learn about politics in the UK.
What do you learn in a politics degree?
To a degree, politics has many varied aspects, with the three main parts being systems of government, international relations, and political theory.
All three are generally connected, but each has distinct and unique aspects that make studying them exciting and worthwhile.
Of course, depending on what course you choose to go with, they will be studied in varying degrees of depth and taught in various ways.
Luckily, the beauty of choosing to study politics online is that you can choose precisely the depth and teaching style that works for you rather than also having to consider external factors such as location and the cost of attending.
You can also choose a specific course or degree that focuses on just one of these aspects more closely, with free online politics courses such as those from the Open University allowing you to choose just one specific aspect of political theory, international relations, or government systems to study.
Another advantage of studying politics online is that you can choose precisely what elements of politics and political science you wish to study.
You may also opt for politics courses in Manchester if you're based in Northern England.
How long does it take to learn politics online?
As we have already gone over, there is a vast range of lengths of courses that one can choose to study politics or political science online. Which of these suits you depends on how much time and money you dedicate to your choice.
This can be anything from a simple free course that only takes ten hours to a full-length 36-hour-a-week course that lasts three years. You can find a course that easily fits into your means to your lifestyle.
How long does it take to get a politics degree online?
If you want a fully accredited degree, your options are pretty simple. You can usually take a three-year course full-time or split the same course over six years part-time.
At the end of this, you will get a fully accredited and universally respected degree in your chosen politics or political science field of choice, which can be your crucial gateway into many things in life and can be necessary for many high-level jobs.
However, if you don't have the time to commit to a full degree, other options get you part of the way there.
For instance, you might choose to get a politics certificate, a generally well-recognised course that lasts only one year or can be split part-time over two years.
Amounting to the first third of a full bachelor's degree, this qualification can be a great way to show your ability to study successfully at a university level to your potential employer and let you see if a full politics degree would be right for you.
As an intermediary between these two, however, you might choose a third option: a two-year diploma course.
As with the other two, this can often be spread over four years should you wish to study it part-time, which can be a great way to get a relatively well-respected qualification with a slightly lower financial and time commitment.
In this case, you can also pretty easily upgrade it to a full bachelor's degree since it essentially amounts to the first two-thirds of such a degree.
Overall, many tools for learning politics online in this modern information age make it more accessible and enticing than ever. With the growing importance of the political climate to the commoner, there has never been a better time.
Whether you're studying a short 10-hour online politics course or a full three-year online bachelor's degree in politics, the time is now to take your political education into your own hands.
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