Bachelor in Political Science

• Program modified in 2025. In 2025/26 will be offered 1st year

• Field of knowledge: Social sciences, labour relations and human resources, sociology, political science and international relations.

• Language requirement: a B2 level of English language must be accredited before finishing the studies. More information.

Study plan for students who started in the academic year 2024/25 or earlier. More information in Aula global.

• In 2025/26 only 2nd, 3rd and 4th year.

• Language requirement: a B2 level of English language must be accredited before finishing the studies. More information.

Any of elective courses could not be offered in a specific year. You can check it in schedules page.

Exchange programs

The Erasmus programme permits UC3M first degree and post graduate students to spend one or several terms at one of the European universities with which UC3M has special agreements or take up an Erasmus Placement, that is a work placement or internship at an EU company. These exchanges are funded with Erasmus Grants which are provided by the EU and the Spanish Ministry of Education.

The non-european mobility program enables UC3M degree students to study one or several terms in one of the international universities with which the university has special agreements. It also has funding from the Banco Santander and the UC3M.

These places are offered in a public competition and are awarded to students with the best academic record and who have passed the language threshold  (English, French, German etc..) requested by the university of destination.

European mobility

Non european mobility

Entry profile

No specialised knowledge or skills are required to do the degree, apart from those which any student entering a university should possess and which have been acquired during pre-university education.
However, students applying for a degree in Political Science should have some of the following attitudes and general qualities:

• An interest in and sensitivity towards the political and social problems of our world.
• An intellectual curiosity to learn about and understand in depth the political and social reality which surrounds us with critical thought.
• An appreciation of reading, communication and debate, discussion of ideas orally and in writing.
• An interest in following current affairs through the media.

Application for a place in the degree

Graduate profile

Our aim is to train students so that by the end of their degree studies they have acquired a set of knowledge, skills and abilities appropriate to a graduate in Political Science from the Universidad Carlos III of Madrid and which will enable them to become good professionals capable of adapting effectively to different work situations, activities and professions. The graduate will have acquired:

•     Analytical instruments for participating in the search for practical and theoretical solutions to the world’s political and governmental problems
•     Instruments for the analysis and management of different public policies which can be applied in carrying out management and technical roles in public Administration
•     Practical and theoretical knowledge of the functioning of public Administration and management
•     Basic ability to perform tasks in the international arena and in international organisations (UN, EU, World Bank, etc.)
•     Capacity to reflect on and critically analyse important current events
•     Handling of different procedures to analyse political reality (comparative, analytical, historical…)
•     Knowledge of the principal political ideologies and theories and the ability to recognise these in the discourse or actions of political, economic and social players
•     Capacity to carry out qualitative and quantitative research into socio-political phenomena
•     The means and abilities to guide the private sector in its relationship with public administrations and the forging of links between both
•     Communication and negotiation skills and conflict resolution
•     Tools for the interpretation of electoral processes and results, legislative processes, political conflicts
•     The capacity to explain historical events in political terms
•     The knowledge and skills for forming basic opinions about the development of government activity

A degree in Political Science from Universidad Carlos III of Madrid lays the foundation for the training of students in areas or professional fields with important value in the labour market. Among graduate professional profiles, published in the White Book of Degrees by ANECA, we should highlight the following four:

• Political Analyst: they analyse and interpret data concerning citizens’ values and attitudes and regarding the different political players. They analyse election results, define political scenarios, design political strategies and election campaigns for political, social and institutional organisations. They supervise and test the quality and reliability of socio-political indicators for decision-making purposes.
• Manager and expert in public administration: performs management, coordination, inspection, control and study and the design and planning of improvement measures for public administration, constitutional bodies and, in general, public organisations operating in the European, state, regional and local arenas.
• Public Policy Analyst: they analyse public policies in the respective stages of identification and definition of problems and the formulation and execution of programmes and actions. They assess public policies and pose alternatives to improve subsequent public policies and performance.
• Advisor and Consultant (national and international): they provide advisory services and technical assistance to public administration and political institutions; to political organisations (parties, trade unions...) and NGOs; to private enterprises in their relations with the public sector; to public and political leaders of national and international institutions and internationally focussed businesses. They plan, execute and evaluate cooperation and development projects in other countries. They act as international observers in peace and democratisation processes. They mediate in crisis management and conflict resolution.

1. Knowledge of Titles

K1 - Acquire and apply the knowledge, skills and techniques specific to the discipline of political science, using the appropriate terminology and scientific method.

K2 - Understand the principles and values of democracy and sustainable development, in particular respect for human rights and fundamental rights, gender equality and non-discrimination, the principles of universal accessibility and climate change.

K3 - Understand basic humanistic content, oral and written expression, following ethical principles and completing a multidisciplinary educational profile.

K4 - Analyse the behaviour of political actors, political participation processes, electoral systems and the role of citizens in contemporary democracies.

K5 - Understand the structure and functioning of political institutions and their interaction with the rest of the components of the political system from a comparative perspective.

K6 - Understand the main currents of political philosophy, the main contemporary political theories and ideologies, and those linked to current political movements.

K7 - Describe the structure of public administrations at different levels, the relationships between them, the regulatory framework, planning and management in the public sphere.

K8 - Recognise the historical dimension of political and social processes and explain them in terms of this. TYPE: Knowledge or content.

K9 - Understand the economic dimension of the public sector at the national and international level, as well as the fundamentals and phases of the budget cycle in the public sphere.

2. Skills of Titles

S1 - Be able to discuss and formulate critical reasoning, using precise terminology and specialised resources, on political phenomena.

S2 - Plan and organise teamwork, making the right decisions based on available information and gathering data in digital environments.

S3 - Use information by interpreting relevant data, avoiding plagiarism, and in accordance with academic and professional conventions in the field of study, being able to evaluate the reliability and quality of such information.

S4 - Be able to apply the scientific method to social, political, and economic questions both domestically and in a globalised society.

S5 - Apply basic consulting techniques and tools for various political actors as well as political communication.

S6 - Apply fundamental theoretical references in politics and international organisations, as well as the relationship between international politics and domestic political processes.

S7 - Apply computational tools and specific software for the analysis of political, social and economic problems in the international context.

S8 - Ability to gather and interpret data and knowledge relevant to the development and defence of arguments on topics in their area of study.

S9 - Ability to discern which quantitative or qualitative research techniques are appropriate to apply depending on the phenomenon being analysed.

S10 - Understand and use the concepts of social structure and social change, their interdependence and their relationship with the political and economic system.

S11 - Know how to analyse public policies and design, plan, implement and evaluate public programmes and projects.

S12 - Understand the economic dimension of the public sector in the national and international environment, as well as the phases of the budget cycle in the public sphere.

3. Competences of Titles

C1 - Know and be able to manage interpersonal skills related to initiative, responsibility, conflict resolution, negotiation, etc., which are required in the professional sphere.

C2 - Identify, understand and know how to use the main theoretical and conceptual approaches and frameworks of the different areas of specialisation and sub-disciplines of political science.

C3 - Know how to choose and use the different methodologies specific to political science and its sub-disciplines to understand past and future political phenomena.

C4 - Be able to engage in lifelong independent learning, enabling adaptation to new situations in the professional environment.

External internships

This is a selection where students of this degree can do their internships:

• 3M España S.L.
• Abengoa S.A.
• AC Hoteles S.A.
• Adidas España
• Air Europa Lineas Aereas S.A.
• Airbus Group
• Apple Inc
• Banca March
• Banco de España
• Banco Popular Español S.A.
• Banco Santander S.A.
• Bankia S.A.
• Caixabank Asset Management SGIIC S.A.
• Danone S.A.
• Deloitte
• Dupont
• Ey
• Ford Motor Company
• HP Hewlett Packard
• Microsoft Ibérica S.R.L.
• Nestle España S.A.
• Toshiba
• Toyota
• Warner bros Entertaiment
• Yesos Ibéricos S.A.

Career opportunities

Graduates of the degree can carry out their professional activities in the following areas:

• Equal opportunity agent
• Civil administrator of the state
• Citizen participation agent
• Political advisor
• Diplomat
• teacher
• Political scientist
• International projects and programs manager
• Demographer
• Public opinion expert
• Cooperation and development projects manager
• Political analyst
• Political advisor
• Corporate social responsibility technician
• Media and communication 

Schedules and calendars

Schedule in bachelor's degree

Academic calendar

Exams calendar (first semester)

Exams calendar (second semester)

Exams calendar (recovery tests)

Schedules and calendars

Schedule in bachelor's degree

Academic calendar

Exams calendar (first semester)

Exams calendar (second semester)

Exams calendar (recovery tests)