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The University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is one of 24 universities announced by the UK Parliament to offer the innovative and unique Parliamentary Studies module from academic year 2019/20.
The aim of the rigorous course is to provide students with detailed knowledge of how Parliament works in both theory and practice. It is approved by and taught in collaboration with the UK Parliament, delivered in partnership with a number of higher education institutions.
This is the second time that the UK Parliament has sought collaborators to teach the Parliamentary Studies module.
The Parliamentary Studies Module has been delivered at a number of universities since 2013/14, and the contracts with existing universities will expire this summer.
The applications were judged by a panel of staff from the Houses of Parliament and representatives from the higher education sector. The full list of successful applicants can be seen below.
Dr Stephen Bates, Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Birmingham, who will convene the module at Birmingham, said "We are very pleased to be able to run one of these prestigious modules at Birmingham. We have assembled a great team from across the Department of Political Science and International Studies and the Institute of Local Government to teach the module and, at this crucial time in our parliamentary democracy, we are really looking forward to giving our students the opportunity to hear directly from politicians and civil servants about our Parliament, how it operates and how it might be reformed".
Commenting on today’s announcement, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP said: “There can be no better time to learn about politics - how Parliament operates and to hear from the people who work there - than right now when the topic is on everyone’s mind.
“Our Parliamentary Studies module brings the procedures of the House of Commons and House of Lords to life, providing a wonderful complement to on-campus teaching with a range of resources and services aimed at engaging students and university staff.
“I am so pleased that we now have 24 universities involved in the scheme – four more than previously”
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