Preparing for Politics at University: Reading, Oxbridge Interview Questions 2024
There are a wide variety of exciting degree courses available for Politics - some top Russell Group universities offer straight Politics at undergraduate level, whilst Oxford and Cambridge offer Politics only on Joint Honours courses - Oxford History & Politics, Oxford Politics, Philosophy & Economics (PPE), Cambridge Human, Social & Political Sciences (HSPS)…Many students do not choose to study Politics at school, and therefore, do not know where to start when it comes to preparing for Politics at university. In this blog, 1st Class History & Politics Oxford graduate, Blanca, leads you through her key recommendations for those thinking of applying for a Politics degree, as well as prospective applicants approaching personal statement writing, Oxbridge admissions test and interviews.
So what should I read for my Politics application?
Before you choose what to read when brainstorming what to include in your personal statement or preparing for your interview, it is important to first understand what Politics at university is. It goes beyond discussing current affairs. Politics is the academic study of how states work, why they exist, how they interact with each other, etc. Broadly, it could be divided into a few subcategories. If you read around some of these, it will show admissions tutors and interviewers that on top of being interested in day-to-day Politics, you will make a good student. The following is a brief overview of what some subcategories are and what to read:
(a) Political Theory
First years are usually requested to take a theoretical paper. In fact, a lot of your degree might end up involving interpreting political texts, so why not get ahead. Moreover, chances are that you will be given an extract from a political text to examine during your Politics interview should Oxbridge be on the cards. Practicing with this sort of reading, therefore, can improve your performance during an interview.
These are some ‘classics’ of political theory, first year undergraduates are sometimes asked to read a few of them so showing interest in these kinds of texts will show you’re going in the right direction:
(1) Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (1651)
(2) Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract (1762)
(3) Karl Marx, The Communist Manifesto (1848)
(4) John Stuart Mill, On Liberty (1859)
(5) Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince (1532)
Interpreting these texts can be quite difficult at first, so it is a good idea to look at the way scholar’s navigate them:
o J. Swift, Introduction to Political Philosophy – useful to grasp the basics of political theory
o Quentin Skinner, Liberty before liberalism – Skinner is an authority on liberty. Likewise, all political theory ‘topics’ have influential scholars, reading them can provide a crucial insight into the ways to approach and interpret political texts.
(b) The Practice of Politics
This area of political study focusses on understanding the way advanced democracies work and comparing them to other regimes. It involves big analytical skills, thus the area of ‘practice of politics’ pivots around social science methodology, where comparative analysis is key. This is probably the trickiest to approach in terms of reading because it can get quite technical. However, awareness of factors that are to be considered when it comes to questions such as what makes a country democratic can impress your interviewer.
(1) Clark, Golder, and Golder, Principles of Comparative Government (2009) – this is a good overview of the analytical skills involved in politics. It is more of a ‘textbook’, so it is not necessary to read all of it. You can just pick and choose the topics that appeal to you.
(c) The place of History in Politics
Historical explanation is key when analysing modern-day political phenomena. The ability to use comparative political history to develop explanations of the events happening around you is essential. This background awareness can help you understand why the world works the way it does. These are some recommendations:
(1) Henry Kissinger, World Order (2014) – overview of different international orders since the 17th century, can be used to notice trends and patterns in international relations
(2) Francis Fukuyama, The Origins of Political Order (2011) – Fukuyama has written a lot of books on comparative political history, you can choose whichever attracts you
(3) Tim Marshall, Prisoners of Geography (2015) – bestseller and very interesting approach to politics, it uses maps to explain the geopolitical strategies of world powers
(d) Choose your reading wisely!!
You need to be aware that as years go by, political theories are vastly affected – major world events play a key role in either disproving or advancing them. Therefore, up-to-date and recently published books might be most useful for you to understand the political relevance of what is happening around you. Keep this in mind when considering whether to buy a book you see on the bookshelves!
Looking for ideas for personal statement content/ impressive talking points at interview?
We have built out an entire co-curricular platform, Minds Underground, for university applicants to use as evidence for their wider subject exploration. A few ideas:
Our Politics Summer School: With MU’s Politics experts, all educated at either Oxford or Cambridge, you will engage in the academic study of how states work, why they exist and how they interact with each other. You will interpret political texts, engage with influential scholars and key political debates. 12 sessions, June-August.
Research Projects: E.g. “Research Key Policy Areas With a Policy Advisor in the Cabinet Office”: How does the world actually work? How are public services delivered? How and why do politicians make decisions? (Typically 1 month project duration, with project tutorial sessions)
Key current Politics topics/ debates to be aware of (try debating these!):
No-platforming – discuss whether it can be considered a violation of free speech
Two-party systems vs multi-party systems – think about the benefits and disadvantages of each
Terrorism – consider the gradual evolution of terrorism in our society since 9/11
climate change – think about personalities like Greta Thunberg
Populism – think about personalities like Donald Trump or Marine Le Pen
Human rights (HR) – consider countries where these are largely ignored (i.e.: Russia) and what this tells us about the global importance of HR
Electoral processes – compare Britain’s FPTP with France’s Second Round
Emerging world powers – consider the growth of India and China
Surveillance – consider tracking devices
Debate training is great practice for a degree in politics, especially if you will be interviewed for your place (Oxbridge). Check out our debate offerings on our co-curricular site, Minds Underground or contact us for more information.
Events to look up and consider how they have impacted the current political landscape
Brexit – place in the context of rising nationalism in Europe
Iraq War – how it impacted the global influence of the US
Israeli-Palestine conflict – how it is shaping the politics of the Middle East
The WTO – how it can be seen as enabling a new form of economic imperialism
9/11 – think in relation to security and nuclear weapons
the refugee crisis – link it to human rights
The end of the Cold War – think in relation to the economy
Terms that might be worth looking up
No platforming
Autocracy
Hegemon (has mostly applied to the US)
Welfare state
Top tip: If you have had enough of reading, why not listen to a political podcast? Try The Guardian UK: Politics Weekly for example! Check out our podcast page for more examples.
What is an Oxbridge Politics interview like?
Find out exactly the kinds of Politics questions asked by successful applicants for Oxford PPE and History & Politics to demystify the process:
Applicant for (BA) Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (1 politics interview):
o Interview – “I was asked a series of questions on the OPEC countries for the first half of my interview. The second half was a discussion on the decline in youth voting. I was asked to speculate on what I thought the reasoning behind this was.”
Applicant for (BA) History and Politics (1 politics interview)
o Interview – “I was given an extract on liberty and the role of the state. I was mainly asked about the role of the state and the impact this could have on individual freedom. In the second half of my interview, we spoke about the reading I had done and why I wanted to study Politics”
Past Oxbridge interview questions to get you started
What is politics?
What is the biggest political problem of our time?
What do you think explains the low numbers of young people voting?
Do you think the age for suffrage should be lowered to 16?
Should people have a certain level of education to be allowed to vote?
Should private schools be abolished?
Should grammar schools be abolished?
Where can power over the state be found outside of government?
What does democracy mean?
What should be the role of religion in the state?
Looking for a Personal Statement Writing Tutor or Support For Your Wider Politics Application?
U2’s Oxbridge-educated mentors have a close insight into what admissions tutors like to see in a Politics (or Joint Honours) personal statement, and can help students to convey their skills, motivations, and long term goals, in order to stand out from other applicants. The statement should be the candidates own work, but our mentors will provide direction and guide you through the process of content building and writing. We offer offline drafting as well as tuition sessions.
Oxbridge Politics Mentoring
U2 offers TSA (and HSPS if applicable) admissions test preparation, as well as wider Oxbridge Mentoring programmes (book a free consultation to discuss options). We have a large team of Oxbridge-educated Politics mentors including 1st Class, Master’s and PhD level graduates, and Joint Honours graduates for PPE, HSPS, & History and Politics.
The Process:
1) We suggest an Oxbridge Politics graduate as a mentor and send their full CV for review. Our mentors are deeply familiar with the admissions process to study Politics as part of Joint Honours courses at the University of Oxford and Cambridge, and are well-placed to guide you through personal statement curation, the entrance exam and interview process. We may suggest a range of application tutors to choose from with slightly differing rates depending on qualifications and level of experience.
2) We typically suggest beginning with a 1.5 hour informal assessment/ taster session, where the mentor will informally assess the student’s current performance level for application, including test and interview. Following this, we issue a report with feedback, and structure a plan to best prepare.
3) U2’s approach for regular Politics application sessions: The main focus of tutorial sessions will be to explore material that can be discussed in the personal statement and at interview - this may sometimes stretch from A-Level standard to First Year Undergraduate. Mentors ensure each student refines their interests within Politics, and is exposed to a range of approaches and new concepts, guiding students in their reading and wider subject exploration. Together, we build a case for the student, solidifying the stance and direction they will take during interview and honing skills for the admissions test if applicable.
Frequency of sessions can be decided between student and mentor. Students can take either ad hoc sessions, or we structure a full programme for preparation, which may include further co-curricular opportunities such as our research projects, Politics summer school and Oxbridge mock interview days. Honing the skills necessary to succeed for Oxbridge ideally requires long-term preparation and mentoring presents a wonderful opportunity to learn from some of the very best Oxbridge has produced. We also provide GCSE, A-Level or IB Politics support if needed and host debate classes via our extracurricular division, Minds Underground. Debating is perfect for honing analytical and argument building skills, especially beneficial for Politics interviews. Our debate hosts are UK National Team Debate Coaches and World Championship level debaters.
Sessions from £70/h.