This course combines social policy and its focus on wellbeing with politics and its consideration of power – who exercises it and for whom. Politics drives us to think about how society should be organised and how communities and states interact. This prompts consideration of how wellbeing is unevenly distributed in contemporary societies and the forms of social organisation necessary to enhance our lives.

Both departments encourage strong synergy between research and teaching, resulting in a vibrant learning environment as staff respond in their teaching to new research.

In the politics part of your course, you will study the politics of countries and governments and the relationships between countries, communities and individuals. Politics at Bristol is organised around three themes: political theory, comparative and national politics, and international relations.

In your social policy studies, the first year introduces key skills and concepts within social policy so that you can familiarise yourself with theoretical, comparative and historical analyses. Years two and three allow you to explore your interests in greater depth through a range of optional units.

You will also have the opportunity to spend half a year studying abroad at a partner university. Visit Global Opportunities to find out more about where you can study abroad.

Find out more about the course structure and units available for Social Policy and Politics

A-level Standard offer	AAB including an essay-based subject
A-level Contextual offer What is a contextual offer?	BBB including an essay-based subject
International Baccalaureate Diploma Standard offer	34 points overall with 17 at Higher Level, including 5 at Higher Level in an essay-based subject
International Baccalaureate Diploma Contextual offer What is a contextual offer?	31 points overall with 15 at Higher Level, including 5 at Higher Level in an essay-based subject
Cambridge Pre-U offer	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.
Access to HE Diploma offer	Access to HE Diploma in Humanities, Social Sciences, Law or History (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include: at least 21 credits at Distinction and 24 at Merit or above; and at least 12 credits at Distinction in essay-based subjects Mature students can contact mature-students@bristol.ac.uk to check the suitability of their Access course.
BTEC offer	DDD in any essay-based Applied General BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma
Scottish Qualifications Authority offer	Advanced Higher: AB including an essay-based subject, and Standard Higher: AAABB
Welsh Baccalaureate offer	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.
European Baccalaureate offer	80% overall, with 8.0 in an essay-based subject
UK qualifications	Further information about UK qualifications
International qualifications	Accepted international qualifications

Applicants must also meet these requirements

GCSE profile requirements	Profile: No specific subjects required. Further information about GCSE requirements and profile levels.
English language requirements	If English is not your first language, you need to meet this profile level: Profile C Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.