Social Policy

Entry requirements

An upper second-class honours degree and a merit at MSc/MA level (or equivalent experience/qualification).

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

The School for Policy Studies is a world-renowned centre for the theory, practice and implementation of social and public policy research. Our focus is on the determinants of social problems and the responses to them by governments, policy makers and practitioners.

We combine innovative conceptual thinking with diverse methodologies to address social problems from the local to the global in relation to poverty, health, care, harm, governance, inequalities, and wellbeing. We embrace a distinctive multidisciplinary approach drawing on expertise in social and public policy, social work, childhood studies, disability studies, criminology, social gerontology, and epidemiology & public health.

The school is an exciting environment for graduate studies and we welcome graduate students from the UK and around the world to join our diverse and highly-rated research team. We particularly welcome applications on topics with direct relevance to national and international policy concerns.

Information for international students

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Fees and funding

Applicants may apply for an SWDTP studentship and/or a University of Bristol scholarship. Eligible applicants can also apply for a China Scholarship Council scholarship. The programme application deadline for scholarship applicants will be 1 December 2025. This deadline applies to applicants seeking a scholarship from the South-West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP), University of Bristol or China Scholarship Council (CSC).

Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.