Social Policy

Social Policy provides an exciting opportunity to analyse contemporary issues, such as inequality, unemployment and crime, and considers solutions to these problems. Social Policy's core concerns are people’s needs, their quality of life, and how they are affected by institutions. Think about the things you need: being healthy, having an income, feeling safe and part of a community. Now think how these can be made better or worse by government policy, business, charities, or your neighbours and family. Understanding this is what Social Policy is about.

Social Policy courses

Single honours

BSc Social Policy (L400)

Joint honours

Why study Social Policy at Bristol?

Our highly rated school has been praised by various good university guides and receives excellent feedback from students. You will be taught by academics who are leaders in their respective fields. Their research informs their teaching, ensuring that you acquire relevant and up-to-date knowledge of the subject. In line with the interdisciplinary nature of the subject, we have internationally recognised expertise in subject areas such as sociology, political science, economics, human geography, development studies, and migration.

We take a global and comparative perspective in many of our units to ensure that you receive a broad appreciation of the international dimensions to Social Policy. In a degree that can be studied as Single Honours or Joint Honours with Politics or Sociology, you will acquire the skills needed to critically analyse contemporary social problems and understand what's really going on behind the headlines.

What kind of student would this course suit?

This course would suit students who want to explore and develop frameworks for understanding and explaining at a deeper level the forces that shape contemporary societies and the institutions within them. Social Policy involves everything from crunching the numbers to show whether a Government scheme has worked or not to considering high level theories and their application to well-being. If you are interested in the social sciences, using evidence and logic, applying creativity in problem solving, and above all in making a difference, then Social Policy could be for you.

How is this course taught and assessed?

Most units are taught through lectures and seminars. Transferable skills are encouraged through working with others in small groups and undertaking presentations. In studying Social Policy you are expected to read widely - academic texts, government publications, reports from think tanks - in order to gain a full understanding of the links between theory and practice You are assessed in a variety of ways. In year one, you are assessed by examination. Year two assessments are a combination of extended essays and exams. In the final year, single Honours students write a research-based dissertation which counts for one third of their mark in this year, with the other two-thirds assessed by written examination. Joint Honours students may choose a dissertation as an option.

What are my career prospects?

One third of our graduates enter the public sector, as practitioners, researchers, policy-makers or managers in social work, criminal justice and health. Others use their transferable skills to forge careers in areas such as journalism, politics, advertising, accountancy, finance and public relations.