BSc Social Policy (L400)

2025 entry | view 2024 entry

Course summary

Social Policy provides an exciting opportunity to critically analyse contemporary social issues related to human wellbeing, inequality, disadvantage and crime. You will explore real-world challenges in a global context, drawing on social, political, public policy and economic theories.

Social Policy at Bristol addresses some of the key questions of our time. What should we do about inequality? Why does poverty persist? Who should pay for care for the elderly? What can be done about the climate crisis? How can citizens engage with policy?

Our BSc Social Policy course is one of the longest-running social policy degrees in the country and it consistently scores high in university subject rankings.

Graduates of the course have gone on to achieve success in a wide range of careers in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Alternatively, the course provides a strong foundation for furthering your studies in public policy.

Course structure

The first year introduces key concepts and ideologies and familiarises you with theoretical, comparative and historical analyses. It also develops your research and critical thinking skills as a social scientist.

Your second and third years allow you to explore your interests in greater depth through a wide range of optional units which focus on contemporary, real-world social and political issues. You also have the option to choose a work placement unit in your second year, providing the opportunity to gain employment-related skills and experience in an organisation connected to your studies.

The final-year dissertation is an opportunity to choose a topic for in-depth investigation and independent work.

Full details about the course structure and units for this course can be viewed in the programme catalogue.

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Entry requirements

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.

AAB
DDD in any Applied General BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma

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34 points overall with 17 at Higher Level
31 points overall with 15 at Higher Level

Find out if you are eligible for a contextual offer
80% overall
Advanced Higher: AB, and Standard Higher: AAABB
Access to HE Diploma in Humanities, Social Sciences, Law or History (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include 24 credits at Distinction and 21 at Merit or above.

More about Access to HE entry requirements
Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.
Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/M2 is B, and M3 is C.
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and we accept a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

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More about UK qualifications.