Entry requirements

A 2:1 degree or equivalent in any discipline; social science background and/or work experience in the social policy field advantageous but not essential.

MSc Social Policy (Social Policy and Planning); MSc Social Policy (European and Comparative Social Policy)

Months of entry

September

Course content

The MSc Social Policy is divided into two streams. The Social Policy and Planning stream is a broad, flexible programme in many aspects of social policy that can be tailored to the interests of students from a wide range of backgrounds.

This is the oldest master's-level programme in social policy in the world but it has evolved to reflect new interests and challenges.

Social policy is no longer seen as a subject only concerned with governmental social services but increasingly with all aspects of societies – the family, the third sector, the market economy, and various forms of social protection among other social issues. The MSc will examine the causes of social problems, the goals of social policy, types of intervention and developments in social policy; options include social policy research, health, education, social security, housing, the third sector, rights, ethnicity, gender, globalisation and social disadvantage. Your studies will incorporate political analysis, economics and international relations to deepen understanding of social issues and the contemporary governance of welfare as delivered by states, markets and society at local, national and international level.

The dissertation will allow you to pursue an area of interest to you in depth, and will be prepared in conjunction with an academic advisor.

Find out more about the European and Comparative Social Policy stream.