POLS10003 Introduction to Political Ideas
University of Melbourne · Level 1 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- Final exam 40%: mostly coursework
- About 3 class hours a week
Is POLS10003 hard?
POLS10003: Harder. Makes it easier: First-year subject. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time.
What you learn
Big ideas in Western political thought, like power, liberty, equality and democracy, read through famous texts from Machiavelli onwards.
After it you can
- Explain key ideas like power, sovereignty and liberty
- Read and analyse classic political texts
- Connect old ideas to today's political debates
What you need first
None
What it leads to
- POLS20034 The Craft of Political Research
- POLS30001 Parliamentary Internship
- POLS30003 Public Affairs Internship
How it’s assessed
Assignments 10%, Reports and essays 50%, Final exam 40%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 10 students on StudentVIP (2018–2024)
- An intro to political theory with dense lectures and dense, sometimes archaic readings that you must understand for the essays. Many found it hard to do well in.
- Opinions split sharply: some call it boring and not for breadth students, others call it high effort but eye-opening. Tutorials were usually the best part, and keeping up with readings from week one is key.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate POLS10003
Quick answers
- When is POLS10003 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking POLS10003?
- No prerequisites.
- Does POLS10003 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 40% of the mark. Assessment: Assignments 10%, Reports and essays 50%, Final exam 40%.
- Is POLS10003 hard?
- From 10 student reviews on StudentVIP: An intro to political theory with dense lectures and dense, sometimes archaic readings that you must understand for the essays. Many found it hard to do well in.
- What do students say about POLS10003?
- An intro to political theory with dense lectures and dense, sometimes archaic readings that you must understand for the essays. Many found it hard to do well in. Opinions split sharply: some call it boring and not for breadth students, others call it high effort but eye-opening. Tutorials were usually the best part, and keeping up with readings from week one is key.
- How many class hours a week does POLS10003 have?
- 3 h a week in class
- Can I take POLS10003 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science.
- What can I take after POLS10003?
- 3 subjects need it first, for example POLS20034, POLS30001, POLS30003.
- Can I rate POLS10003?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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