Our Sociology and Social Policy degree explores how societies work and how their futures can be shaped. From the local to the global, the personal to the structural, it examines key current challenges, critical debates, and real-life solutions.

You will explore the key factors that shape our everyday experience of social life, as well as how society identifies needs, promotes wellbeing and allocates resources. You will examine major issues such as social justice, inequality, health, education and social movements, always connecting them to today’s trends and tomorrow’s possibilities.

Foundation Year

A Foundation Year sets you up with the skills, confidence and knowledge that you'll need to be successful in your undergraduate degree. It's ideal if you need a little more support before starting university.

Year Abroad

This programme includes the opportunity to undertake a Year Abroad, giving you the chance to gain invaluable life experience by immersing yourself in a new culture.

Year in Industry

This course offers the chance to spend a Year in Industry, in the UK or overseas, enabling you to gain valuable workplace experience. The University advocates for pain-only placements, which on average have a salary of over £20,000. Unpaid placements are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Awards and Rankings

in the UK

Sociology

Unifresher Awards 2027

for Student Satisfaction

Complete University Guide 2027

In the UK

Social Policy

Daily Mail University Guide 2026

for Student Experience

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027

* Social Policy

** Social Policy

Why Sociology and Social Policy at Swansea?

Our Sociology and Social Policy degree programme has an acclaimed reputation, and the School of Social Sciences offers a vibrant and diverse academic community. Our core teaching staff have a strong, international profile in research, and regularly consult on policy in Wales, the UK and beyond.

Your Sociology and Social Policy Experience

Our flexible degree structure with a wide range of specialist modules gives you the scope to tailor your course to your particular interests, career ambitions, or plans for further study.

To enrich your learning, we offer a wide range of activities such as field trips to places of social and political interest, including the Senedd, Big Pit, the Swansea Copperjack Boat, South Wales Police HQ and Swansea Prison. We also regularly welcome guest speakers to share their specialist knowledge in workshops and seminars, giving you the chance to hear directly from professionals across the sector.

You will have the opportunity to undertake either a Year Abroad or a Year in Industry, allowing you to choose the pathway that best suits your interests and future ambitions. The Year in Industry can be spent in the UK or overseas, enabling you to gain valuable workplace experience. The University advocates for paid-only placements, which on average have a salary of over £20,000. Unpaid placements are considered on a case-by-case basis.

The optional Foundation Year for this programme can give you an exciting introduction to higher education, setting you up with the skills, confidence, and knowledge that you will need to be successful in your undergraduate degree. It’s ideal if you need a little more support after further education, or are returning to education after a gap. Following successful completion of the Foundation Year, you will progress onto Year 1 of your BSc.

We've enhanced our modules to deliver an engaging learning experience, designed to help you develop the skills employers are looking for. Discover what's on offer and feel inspired by the modules you can study.

Explore Modules

Course type

Year 1 (Level 4)

FHEQ 4 Undergraduate / HECert

Compulsory Modules

Module Name

Module Duration

Module Code

Introducing Social Policy: Key Concepts and History

September-January (TB1)

Being a Social Scientist

Sociology: The Classics

Principles and Challenges for Social Policy

January-June (TB2)

Understanding Inequality: Capitalism, Money and Power

Sociology: Contemporary Controversies

Year 2 (Level 5)

FHEQ 5 Undergraduate / HEDip

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Social Problems I

Using Evidence for Research, Policy and Practice

Optional Modules

Choose Exactly 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Any two of the following

Guidance

Health Policy

Investigating Gender

Devolution, Policy Making and Social Change

Poverty and Social Justice

Education, Policy and Society

Year 3 (Level 6)

FHEQ 6 Undergraduate / Honours

Dissertation

September-June (TB1+2)

Choose Exactly 80 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Plus 80 credits from the following optional modules:

Students may choose module options which amount either to 60 credits in TB1 and TB2, or a 50-70/70-50 balance. (With ASP300 counting as 20 credits in either semester.) Total credits attempted must add up to 120.

(Either 50, 60 or 70 credits from optional modules in semester 1 and either 50, 60 or 70 credits from optional modules in semester 2)

Optional modules

Principles of Social Policy

The Family and Children: Ethics and Policy

Black Mirror Sociology: Technology and Society

Risk in Modern Society

Understanding the sex industry: Theory, policy and practice

Social Movements, Social Policy and Social Change

Illegal Economies

Probation and Community Justice: Policy, Practice and Partnerships

Race and Nation

Year 0 (Level 3)

Entry Level 3 / Foundation Year

Critical Thinking

Interactive Learning Skills and Communication

Living in the Social World

The College - Autumn Term (Sep - Dec)

Understanding Society

Research Project

The College - Spring Term (Jan - April)

Welfare Across the Globe

NOTE : Select exactly 80 credits from the following optional modules. Please sure an equal balance of credits in each semester:

Year 3 (Level 5)

FHEQ 5 Undergraduate Sandwich Year

Study Abroad Placement

Year 4 (Level 6)

Placement Preparation: Year in Industry / Year in Practice

Year in Industry - School of Social Sciences

Academic Year

Entry Requirements

We consider all applicants on their own merits and welcome applications from students with a wide range of qualifications.

Explore Entry Requirements

International applicants can refer to our undergraduate international entry requirements for country-specific qualifications.

A level (or equivalent) typical offer

UK Access

45 Merits from Level 3 subjects

T Levels

Mixed Qualifications

96 - 120 UCAS tariff points from 3 highest qualifications

Use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth.

International Baccalaureate

30 points

English Language (International Applicants only)

IELTS 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each component)

minimum of 45 Merits from Level 3 subjects

96 UCAS tariff points from 3 highest qualifications

26 points

Careers and Employability

A Sociology and Social Policy degree opens up a wide range of further study or career opportunities. Graduates have gone on to pursue careers in many different fields, including:

Education

Research

Journalism

Policy Development

Marketing and Advertising

Youth Work

Legal, Police and Probation Services

Ecology and Environmental Planning

Human Resources

Depending on the sector, Sociology and Social Policy graduates can expect to earn an average annual salary of £22,000, rising to £50,000 for more senior posts.

The Sociology and Social Policy degree can also be a gateway to further professional and vocational training in fields such as teaching and social work.

More Careers and Employability Information

The Careers and Employability Team will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs

Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers

Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities

Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics

Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding

Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

As a Swansea University graduate, you can access lifelong careers and employability support.

How You're Taught

At Swansea, you will benefit from a high-quality, research-informed

education that combines a range of effective and inclusive teaching methods,

carefully tailored to suit the needs of your course. Most courses are taught

in person, on campus, giving you the opportunity to

actively engage with other students, academic staff, and the wider

university community.

You can expect a mix of

lectures, seminars, workshops, and practical sessions -

including laboratory work, skills training, or studio-based teaching where

relevant to your discipline. These sessions are designed to encourage active

participation, collaboration, and the development of both subject-specific

and transferable skills.

Digital learning tools are also used to enhance your

learning experience. These may include:

Recorded lectures to support flexible study and

revision.

Virtual labs or simulated environments, particularly in

science, healthcare, and technical disciplines.

Online resources on the university’s virtual learning

environment (Canvas), including videos, reading materials, quizzes, and

discussion forums.

This approach enables you to engage with and review content at your own pace

while benefiting from the structure and support of in-person teaching.

This course may offer some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or

bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh

speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh

Provision expander below.

N.B If you are an international student studying with a Student Route

Visa, please note that your timetabled activity, along with any

additional supervisory activity (with Swansea University staff present)

will take place on campus. In line with UKVI protocol, these sessions

will be monitored and data made available on request.

Welsh Provision

No Provision

Unfortunately, there is currently no formal Welsh-medium provision on this course. If you would like to let us know

that you are interested in pursuing an element of your course through the medium of Welsh, please email us to indicate your interest along with your year of entry and

we will do our best to see what is possible.

Whilst this course does not offer academic content delivered in Welsh, the University can provide you with the

following, and Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support you:

An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.

The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.

The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to

study in English), and your work will be marked in Welsh.

A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.

One-to-one support through the medium of Welsh to improve your academic skills.

An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence

of your Welsh language ability for future employers, namely the WJEC and Coleg Cymraeg's Welsh Language

Certificate.

Opportunity to be a member of the Swansea University Branch

of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

To learn more about the above and all the opportunities available to you through the medium of Welsh, visit Academi Hywel Teifi's undergraduate pages.

Meet Your Lecturers

Our degrees are taught by experts, who have a wealth of knowledge to pass on to you.

You can find out more on our Sociology and Social Policy Staff page.

Tuition Fees

3 Year Full Time

September 2026

4 Year Full Time With a Classroom based Foundation Year

4 Year Full Time With a Year Abroad

4 Year Full Time With a Year in Industry

Fees for full-time undergraduate UK students on classroom based foundation programmes will increase from Year 1, and in subsequent years, to the maximum regulated fee level set by the Welsh Government.

Fees for full time Undergraduate International students will increase by 3% for each subsequent year of study.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

Funding and Scholarships

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's

scholarships and bursaries

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually.

For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Additional Costs

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

Travel to and from campus

Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)

Purchase of books or texts

Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Academic Support

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your

personal tutor, the Centre for Academic

Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas

such as:

Academic writing

Maths and statistics

Critical thinking

Time management

Digital skills

Presentation skills

Note taking

Revision, memory and exam techniques

English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability,

mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have

Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and

requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

Study Abroad and Global Opportunities

To learn more about study abroad, visit our

Go Global webpages. Enrolment on a

programme with a semester/year abroad does not guarantee you a semester/year

abroad placement. Spaces are limited and subject to a competitive selection

process. In the event you do not secure a semester/year abroad placement,

you will be transferred to the standard variant of your degree scheme

without a semester or year abroad.

International summer programmes are open to students from all schools.

Programmes typically range from 2 to 6 weeks, across destinations such as

Sri Lanka, South Korea, Fiji, Bali, the USA and across Europe. For more

information about programmes and eligibility visit our

Summer Abroad webpages.

How to Apply

Apply now – UK, EU and international students.

For further guidance please visit our how to apply pages.

EU students - visa and immigration information is available and will be regularly updated on our information for EU students page.

Application Deadlines

We recommend that you submit your application to our courses as early as you can in advance of our application

deadlines. Courses will close earlier than the application deadlines listed if all available places are filled. You can

find further information on our Application Deadlines webpage.

Additional Information

Make an undergraduate enquiry

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Programme Disclaimer

The University will seek to deliver each course in accordance with the

descriptions set out in the relevant course web pages at the time of

application. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable

or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision,

either before or after enrolment.

The information below is for students starting their courses in 2016 or

The University will not normally make very substantial changes to courses

(for example, a change to the course title, significant restructuring,

substantial change in course content, or the introduction of a progression

hurdle) which would impact on students who have already begun their course.

In exceptional circumstances, it may be necessary for the University to make

such a change after acceptance of a place by an offer-holder. This will not

happen less than 5 months before enrolment. The offer-holder will be

notified of the change and will have the opportunity to withdraw their

application and apply elsewhere.

Other changes could be made to course content, study location, delivery and

teaching provision because of developments in the relevant subject,

enhancements in teaching or assessment practice, requirements of external

accreditation processes, changes in staffing, resource constraints or

changes in the availability of facilities. Such changes will take account of

the reasonable expectations of prospective and current students.

Summary of Changes

Date of Change

Course Title(s)

Sociology and Social Policy,

Sociology and Social Policy

With a Classroom based Foundation Year,

With a Year Abroad,

With a Year in Industry,

Material Change

There are minor changes to this programme's structure that impact whether modules are compulsory and optional.

Reason for Change

These updates are designed to make your learning experience more streamlined, relevant and manageable.

If you have questions about this change, please contact curriculumreview@swansea.ac.uk.

Sociology and Social Policy with a Foundation Year, BSc (Hons)

Sociology and Social Policy with a Year Abroad, BSc (Hons)

Sociology and Social Policy with a Year in Industry, BSc (Hons)

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