Enter OTP
If you’re fascinated by how governments and institutions respond to social challenges — from poverty and inequality to healthcare and education — this degree will give you the tools to understand and influence change. The program is ideal for students who care about social justice and want to combine big-picture thinking with practical skills that employers value.
Curriculum Structure
Year 1
Your journey begins with a solid foundation in the social sciences. You’ll take units like Becoming a Social Scientist, The Making of Modern Society, and Social Problems, Social Change and the State, which help you understand how today’s major issues are shaped and debated. You’ll also start developing the analytical and research skills that you’ll build on throughout your degree, with the chance to pick an optional unit that sparks your own interests.
Year 2
In second year, you’ll start applying theory to the real world. Modules such as Policy Making: Politics and Practices show you how policies are created and contested, while research-focused courses like Qualitative Analysis and Quantitative Data Analysis train you in methods used by professional policy researchers. Alongside this, you’ll have optional choices to explore topics such as family, inequality, or international development, giving you the flexibility to shape your degree around your passions.
Year 3 – Professional Placement
Instead of just learning in the classroom, your third year is spent in the workplace on a professional placement. This is your chance to put theory into practice, gaining hands-on experience in a role that matches your career goals. Whether it’s with a government department, NGO, or policy think tank, you’ll come away with valuable skills, contacts, and a stronger CV.
Year 4
Your final year is all about depth and independence. You’ll carry out your own Social Policy Dissertation on a topic you care about, supported by academic experts. Alongside this, units like Policy Analysis for Professional Practice sharpen your skills for the workplace, and optional modules let you dive deeper into areas such as human rights, lobbying, or welfare systems.
Focus areas: Social welfare, policymaking, equality, research methods, professional experience
Learning outcomes: You’ll graduate with strong critical thinking skills, confidence in both qualitative and quantitative research, and the ability to communicate ideas clearly to influence policy and decision-making. Most importantly, you’ll be ready to apply your knowledge in real-world settings.
Professional alignment: While this program isn’t tied to a single accreditation, the built-in professional placement ensures you graduate with direct work experience — something employers actively look for.
Reputation: Bath is ranked Top 5 in the UK for Sociology and Top 10 for Social Policy (Complete University Guide 2026), and has one of the best graduate employability records in the country.
At Bath, this degree is all about combining what you learn in class with real-world experience. From the very first year, you’ll practise research skills, analyse real data, and work on projects that mirror the kind of work social policy professionals do. By the time you head into your placement year, you’ll already feel confident about applying your knowledge in a professional setting.
Here’s how the course helps you build those skills step by step:
Placement year you’ll never forget – spend a full year working with an organisation such as a charity, government department, NGO or think tank. You’ll see first-hand how policy is shaped and implemented while making real contributions to your placement team.
Full support to secure your placement – Bath’s dedicated placements team will guide you through applications, help polish your CV, and prepare you for interviews so you’re ready to step into the workplace.
Learn by doing with data – from your first year, you’ll use both numbers and stories to make sense of society. Modules like Quantitative Data Analysis: the power of statistics and Qualitative Analysis: the power of immersion give you practical tools that employers value.
Your own independent research – in your final year dissertation, you’ll choose a topic you care about and carry out a full research project, building confidence in project management, analysis and writing.
Teamwork and communication practice – assessments go beyond essays. You’ll present, write reports and take part in group work, preparing you for the collaborative nature of professional policy roles.
Learning from professionals – guest speakers and policy practitioners are regularly invited to share their real-world insights, giving you an insider’s view of the challenges and opportunities in the field.
Spaces to grow – you’ll have access to the University’s modern library, collaborative study zones and dedicated IT suites, making it easy to work on projects with classmates or dive into independent research.
A Social Policy degree from Bath sets you up for a career that really makes an impact. Many graduates go on to shape policies, support communities, or manage key projects in government, NGOs, and the private sector. Typical job roles include Policy Adviser, Research Officer, Civil Service Executive, or Project and Programme Manager—with others moving into roles in healthcare, education, or international organisations.
And here’s why Bath stands out for employability:
Dedicated placement support – Bath has one of the UK’s best reputations for placements. You’ll receive tailored guidance from the Placements Team to help you secure meaningful professional experience in your third year.
Career support throughout – The University’s Careers Service offers CV workshops, mock interviews, employer networking events and personalised advice—helping you transition smoothly into the job market.
Excellent outcomes – Around 80% of Bath’s sociology and social policy graduates are in work or further study within 15 months, with average salaries around £28,000 (many progressing quickly to higher earnings).
High-profile partners – Past students have secured placements and jobs with organisations such as AXA Investment Managers, Coca-Cola, the Home Office, and the Office for National Statistics.
Strong employer reputation – Bath is consistently recognised for producing highly skilled graduates, and employers know the value of a Bath degree, especially when combined with a year of professional placement.
Further Academic Progression
If you’d like to continue your studies after graduation, you’ll have a strong foundation to move into a Master’s in Public Policy, International Development, Social Research Methods, or Social Work. Some students take their passion further with a PhD, contributing to cutting-edge research in social issues. Others branch out into professional development courses in data analytics, public administration, or human rights, opening doors to more specialised roles in the UK and abroad.
AAB in three A levels.35 points overall and 6, 6, 5 in three Higher Level subjects.80% across four subjects (excluding PE or less academic subjects); applies to CBSE and CISCE boards.AP: 5, 5, 4 in three subjects (max one Calculus; Seminar/Research not accepted).IELTS: 7.0 overall with no less than 6.5 in all componentTOEFL IBT: 100 overall with a minimum 24 in all 4 componentsSocial and policy researchers Civil servants International consultants Journalists Accountants Government departments Social enterprises and charities European and international agencies and organisations
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University of Bath
