Explore social justice and welfare issues to understand the key questions and challenges society faces around rights, equality and distribution of resources.

On this course, you’ll learn about the social and political foundations of policies that affect people’s lives. You’ll study the impact social policy has on identity, political organisations, social justice and human rights.

You'll explore the origins and evolution of state-run institutions, and their relationship with the economy and third sector in the UK and beyond. This will increase your understanding of contemporary social welfare issues at local, national and international levels.

Year 1 is your introduction to becoming a social scientist. You’ll explore social change and how social issues become constructed as policy problems. You’ll also learn about the major social, political and economic factors shaping equality and welfare in modern Britain.

In Year 2, you will focus on key policy areas such as the family, poverty, social inequality, and analysis of the policy process. You’ll learn how to evaluate data and information to develop your own arguments for different audiences. You'll also choose from a range of social science optional units.

In your final year, you will do your dissertation, and study the relationship between social research, policy making and governance. You'll also choose from a range of optional units from across the social sciences. These will allow you to build upon the theoretical understanding you’ll gain during Years 1 and 2 and apply it to contemporary sociological issues.

The flexibility of this course will allow you to create a degree that’s tailored to your interests and potential future career.

Informed teaching to advance your learning

You’ll learn from teaching staff with diverse backgrounds and expertise in social policy. Their passion, knowledge and research shape their teaching to give you the foundation to become a critical-minded social scientist.

Develop your professional skills

We work to provide you with the skills and support to prepare you for employment and further study. These include:

• data analysis
• using a range of methods to produce data
• communication and presentation skills.

Category B

If you do not meet our English GCSE requirements, you will need a suitable English language qualification. Examples include:

• IELTS: 7.0 overall with no less than 6.5 in all components
• IELTS Indicator: 7.0 with 6.5 in each component
• TOEFL IBT: 100 overall with a minimum 24 in all 4 components
• TOEFL iBT and iBT Special Home Edition: 100 overall with 24 in each component
• The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): 69 with no less than 62 in any element
• The Pearson Test of English Academic Online (PTE Academic Online): we do not accept this qualification
• Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE): 185 with no less than 176 in all elements
• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): 185 with no less than 176 in all elements
• Duolingo (taken up to 1 July 2024): 130 overall with sub scores of Literacy 130, Comprehension 140, Conversation 125, Production 110
• Duolingo (taken after 1 July 2024): 130 overall with sub scores of Literacy 130, Comprehension 130, Conversation 130, Production 130
• LanguageCert SELT: C1 Expert Pass in both the Speaking test and the Listening, Reading, and Writing test

See the full list of accepted English qualifications.

Prepare for your future career

Many of our social sciences graduates have progressed to work as social and policy researchers, civil servants, international consultants, journalists, and accountants.

They've gone on to work in:

• government departments
• social enterprises and charities
• European and international agencies and organisations
• Social care and family services
• international development
• public policy consultancy

Examples of where our recent Department of Social & Policy Sciences graduates have gone on to work include:

• Barclays
• Bath and North East Somerset Council
• DeHavilland
• Mostly Media
• Sightsavers
• Vodafone