Creating effective social policies is key to tackling the big issues we face in society today such as poverty, health inequality, and unemployment.

This course enables students to explore how social problems arise, how governments react, and the impact this has on citizens and communities.

The BA (Hons) Social Policy degree draws on a range of social science disciplines in addition to its core focus. These include sociology, politics, philosophy, economics, and law. Students can use these approaches to examine welfare, poverty, and inequality, tackling difficult and often controversial topics, including current issues in the news.

Placements

This course offers opportunities to undertake voluntary, competitive work placements with a local council, providing experience of a professional policy environment, and a chance to observe how policy is set by central government and executed by local authorities. Students are responsible for covering their own travel, accommodation, and general living costs during these placements.

A diverse range of careers are open to Social Policy graduates. They may include roles in local government and the public sector, in policy development within parliament, lobbying or research with think tanks, or in the charity and not- for-profit sectors. Some graduates continue on to postgraduate study or professional training.