Venues

Central Campus

Content

This programme will equip you with the knowledge to understand how policies affect society and the economy. It will also enable you to critically assess how policies are made, and what actors and processes influence the policy-making process.

Year 1:
You will take Social Policy and Society, which debates needs, rights and responsibilities, with a focus on the needs and rights of children and the responsibilities of parents. You will study Politics of the Welfare State, which examines social policy as a political issue, especially health, employment and criminal justice.

You can also choose optional courses from other academic areas. You will also take a non-credit course Fundamentals of Social Policy which provides key learning skills.

Year 2:
You will take Comparative Social Policy: Global Perspectives. This course compares different approaches to social policy in European and non-European countries. You will also take Social and Policy Enquiry, a course to equip you with analytical skills for later years, as well as further Fundamentals classes.

You will also study other core courses appropriate to your degree programme and will select an optional subject.

Year 3:
You can study optional courses that cover areas such as children’s rights, employment policies, family policy, criminal justice and health policy. You will also take at least one course on research methods.

Year 4:
You will continue to take social policy courses and will complete an individual research project. This will involve collecting data and information from sources such as the Scottish Government, local authorities and voluntary organisations.

Entry Requirements

2026 entry requirements

Standard entry:
4 Highers at AAAB (first sitting) or 4 Highers at AAAA (two sittings) plus English at National 5.

Widening access entry:
4 Highers at ABBB (two sittings) plus English at National 5. Highers at BBB must be achieved in one sitting.