Social and Political Sciences

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Social and Political Sciences (BA) - Undergraduate, University of York

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HomeStudy at YorkUndergraduateCourses 2027/28Social and Political Sciences (BA)

BA (Hons) Social and Political Sciences

Use expertise from three world class departments to understand the pressing social and political issues of our time

Year of entry: 2027/28

Overview

Course content

Teaching and assessment

Entry requirements

UCAS code

Institution code

Start date

September 2027

View semester dates

3 years full-time

Typical offer

Full entry requirements

School/department

School for Business and Society

UK (home) fees

International and EU fees

Apply for this course

For international students

Get information for your region, from entry requirements to scholarship opportunities. Sign up for email updates to stay in touch.

Discover resources for international students

It has never been more important to understand the forces shaping our highly turbulent and fractured social and political climate, as well as what can be done about it at a local, national and international level.

BA Social and Political Sciences allows you to study a flexible choice of modules from a huge range offered by three highly respected academic departments.

You'll be taught by world-leading academics and study the most up-to-date theories in social and political sciences. As your studies progress you'll have the flexibility to tailor your degree to allow you to focus on your own interests, whether that's globalisation, human rights, the future of the welfare state, migration, equality or social justice.

You'll also be encouraged to take up an internship or work placement in which you'll get first-hand experience of the work you're interested in. As part of undertaking this degree, you can also apply to do a study abroad year at a partner university overseas, which would take your degree to four years of study. Current opportunities include at universities across the world including in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Leading research

The Departments of Sociology and Politics were ranked top 10 in the UK for their research. Sociology were ranked 1st in research impact according to the Times Higher Education’s ranking of the latest REF results (2021).

38th in the World

for Social Policy and Administration in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2026.

11th in the UK

for Politics, according to The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.

You'll start by studying core issues in social and political sciences. You then go on to choose from a wide range of modules offered across Politics, Sociology and Social Policy. You can study a varied range of modules across the three years, and take modules from different departments using a highly interdisciplinary lens. These topics might include:

Political discontent

Social inequalities

Global (in)justice

The welfare state

Human rights

Immigration

Cultural identities

Your first year will provide a strong foundation in politics, sociology and social policy. You'll take introductory modules across the three departments, which provides you with a strong interdisciplinary grounding.

Core modules

Power, Policy and Social Progress

Political Analysis

Social Science and the Chocolate City

Theorising the Social World

Contemporary Issues in Social and Public Policy

Option modules

You will also study one option module. In previous years, options have covered topics such as:

Social Harm and Injustice

The Psychological Mind in a Social World

Criminal Justice and Inequality

Introduction to Political Theory: States, Liberty and Revolution

Introduction to Global Politics

York Policy Lab

Introduction to Comparative Politics

Foundations in Social Psychology

Academic integrity module

In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.

This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.

This module will:

define academic integrity and academic misconduct

provide interactive exercises to help you to assess whether you've understood the concepts

provide answers to FAQs and links to useful resources.

You'll study our core interdisciplinary modules and have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of option modules. You'll study option modules from across the three departments in years 2 and 3.

Capitalism and the Public Good

Researching Policy and Society

You will also study four option modules. In previous years, options have covered topics such as:

Department of Sociology

Societies and the Climate Crisis

Gender, Sexuality and Inequalities

Body and Society

Urban Pasts and Futures

Working in the Criminal Justice System

Popular Culture, The Media and Society

Humans and Other Animals

Social Interaction and Conversational Analysis

Health and Illness

People and the State

Department of Politics

Politics of Development

War and Peace

Election and Voting Behaviour

The Politics of Gender

Human Rights and Wrongs

Politics in the UK

Capitalism: Beyond States and Markets

State, Economy and Society

The United States and Global Politics after the Cold War

Critical Global Security Studies

The Rising Powers

Crime and the Life Course

Communities, Participation and Creating Change

Policy Think Tank

Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice

Enabling Places and Spaces: Exploring Social Perspectives on Disability and Mental Health

Victimology and Victimisation

Future Worlds of Work

Social Inequalities

Core module

Independent Study Module

You'll engage in independent research in social and political science. You’ll work closely with a personal academic supervisor who will help to guide your research and keep your project on track, helping you to develop valuable transferable skills for future research and careers.

You'll also study four option modules. In previous years, options have covered topics such as:

Crime, Media and Culture

Global Transformation of Health

Crime, Gender and Sexuality

Morbidity, Culture and Corpses

Spiritual Realities

Talk at Work

The Racial State

AI in Society

Africa and International Politics

Constitution and Territorial Ideologies in Britain and Ireland

India and its Neighbourhood

Democracy and Emergency

Development Paradigms

Morality and Modern Warfare

Governmentality: Michel Foucault and the Analytics of Power

Green Politics

International Crisis Diplomacy

Political Psychology and Public Opinion

Politics of Peace after Civil War

The Global Food System

Global Politics of Nuclear Weapons

Global Sustainability and Energy Policy

Political Transition in the Middle East: A Century of Conflict

The Labour Party and Socialism

The Politics of (Post-) Colonialism

Politics of the Middle East: Regimes and societies in Transition

Karl Marx

Border Politics: Contemporary Perspectives on Sovereignty, Mobility and Citizenship

Drugs: Prevalence, Policy and Practice

Prisons and Penal Policy

Global Social Problems

Crime and Justice in the Online Space

Stigma, Power and Resistance

Policing and The Police

Vulnerability, Deviance and Social Control

Education Policy: Divisions and Inequalities

Gender, Violence and Justice

Left Behind Places

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.

Study abroad

There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:

Explore global opportunities

Placement year

The placement year provides you with an opportunity to gain experience in a wide range of fields while putting your academic learning into practice. You could apply to roles that are related to your degree, such as the House of Commons Placement Scheme or a placement with YouGov, or to a business-related placement in a wide variety of organisations and industries.

Explore placement years opportunities

Learning outcomes

Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Learning outcomes for this course

Draw on politics, social policy and sociology to develop critically-reasoned and analytically coherent contributions to our collective understanding of emerging local, national and global issues and the changing social and political world.

Engage with and demonstrate a high level understanding of a broad range of social scientific theories and research in order to understand and offer critical reflections on the major challenges confronting nations and our world.

Design and undertake research projects that draw upon appropriate research techniques to investigate global issues, nation states, societies and/or individuals.

Operate as resourceful, self-directed professionals and researchers equipped with the demonstrable ability to learn and develop a broad range of social scientific skills.

Synthesise and communicate complex information and arguments to diverse audiences in appropriate formats.

Communicate ideas effectively and sensitively in a way that promotes equality and celebrates diversity and is respectful of the views, values and cultural position of others.

Work collaboratively, constructively and creatively in teams in a manner which values difference and recognises diverse needs, views and values.

The interdisciplinary nature of Social and Political Sciences has equipped me with both a theoretical and an applied understanding of the social sciences. I've found the varied assessment methods, not just essays and exams, but also blogs, policy reports, and portfolios, to be refreshing and helpful to my employability. I thoroughly enjoy this fascinating degree and the vast range of module choices it offers, which means you can really tailor it to your interests!

Stella, BA Social and Political Sciences

The fees and funding information here is for students starting in the 2027/28 academic year.

If you take a year abroad or year in industry you'll pay a reduced rate of fees for that year.

Annual tuition fees

UK (home)

International and EU

The UK government has announced its intention to increase tuition fees from £9,790 to £10,050 for the 2027/8 academic year. We expect this to apply to new UK (home) undergraduate students starting their studies in September 2027.

UK (home) or international fees?

The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.

Fees for subsequent years

UK (home) fees may increase within the government fee cap in subsequent academic years. We will notify you of any increase as soon as we can.

International fees are subject to increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

More information

For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.

Additional costs

Although students may decide to purchase some textbooks or other resources, we have an extensive physical and electronic library, so there is no requirement to do so.

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2027/28 throughout the year.

UK government loans

UK scholarships and bursaries

International scholarships

Country-specific funding

US loans

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

York, Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial

Just four UK universities are rated Gold for teaching and top ten for research* in the latest national assessment exercises.

See why York is rated Gold for teaching

Explore our research performance

* Awarded joint 10th in the Times Higher Education ranking of the Research Excellence Framework 2021.

You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Teaching format

You'll attend a mix of lectures, small group seminars and workshops, with an increasing emphasis on independent work in later stages. You'll actively select what you want to learn, and be supported by your teaching staff in exploring these issues in greater depth.

You'll be taught by world-leading academics from each of the three departments.

Our research-led teaching ensures that you receive the most up-to-date knowledge on the issues discussed in the classroom.

Timetabled activities

In your first year, you can expect:

Lectures

6-7 hours per week

Seminars

5-6 hours per week

Workshops

0-4 hours per semester

These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.

Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.

In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.

Teaching location

You will be based at the School for Business and Society on Campus West. Most of your teaching will take place in nearby buildings.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.

Assessment and feedback

Assessments vary across each module and include essays, reports and examinations. In your third year you'll do a 8,000-word dissertation on a subject you want to investigate and you'll construct the questions you want to answer under the supervision of a tutor.

You'll receive a report with feedback on your work for every module.

You'll be assigned a supervisor who will give academic and pastoral support. This can include on your progress so far and further personalised feedback.

Careers and skills

According to the Complete University Guide 2027, for Graduate Prospects in the UK:

Social Policy is ranked 3rd.

Politics is ranked joint 8th.

Sociology is ranked joint 23rd.

As such, a degree in Social and Political Sciences at York is valued by employers both nationally and internationally. Employability is a key focus of Social and Political Sciences as you will build up important skills throughout your degree and have opportunities to undertake a placement and/or study abroad.

The flexible nature of this degree also makes it a good springboard to postgraduate study across specialist areas in Social and Political Sciences.

Career opportunities

Graduates go on to a wide variety of careers across the public and private sectors including:

Public administration and civil service

Policy organisations

Charities

Non-governmental organisations

Local government

Social research

Teaching

Business and finance

See our graduates' careers in roles around the world

Transferable skills

Problem solving

Organisation and time management

Communication

Teamwork

Debating and persuasion

Leadership

Creativity

Resilience

Turn ambition into achievement with our expert guidance and connections. From your first day here to life after graduation, we'll help you find your career advantage.

Social and Political Sciences offers students a chance to explore a breadth of disciplines and topics, which is perfect for those with an interest in the social sciences as a whole. As the years progress, we can narrow down our focus and make the degree our own through the wide range of choices we are given! I have loved studying this course and would recommend it highly. It is perfect if you're looking for variety, all while addressing pressing social and political issues of our time.

Bonnie, BA Social and Political Sciences.

Qualification

A levels

Access to Higher Education Diploma

36 credits at Distinction and 9 credits at Merit or higher

BTEC National Extended Diploma

We consider a range of BTEC qualifications equivalent to 3 A Levels, or in combination with A Levels or other qualifications. For example:

Distinction, Distinction in BTEC Level 3 National Diploma plus A at A Level

Distinction in BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate plus AA at A level

Distinction, Distinction in 2 BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificates plus A at A level

European Baccalaureate

80% overall

International Baccalaureate

35 points

T levels

Distinction overall including grade A in the Core

T Level subjects in Accounting; Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing; Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction; Digital Business Services; Digital Production, Design and Development; Digital Support and Services; Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control; Finance; Health; Healthcare Science; Legal Services; Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing; Management and Administration; Marketing; Science

Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers

Scottish Highers - AABBB

Advanced Highers - not required for entry

We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications.

International foundation programme

Foundation Certificate from our International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative.

Other international qualifications

Equivalent qualifications from your country

Alternative offers

Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.

Criteria

Adjustment

Widening participation

This is conditional upon successful completion of the WP programme including the YorJourney module (Black Access Programme, Next Step York) or successful completion of Realising Opportunities More about widening participation.

Contextual offer

If you achieve C or higher in the EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer.

Core Maths

If you achieve B or higher in Core Maths, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer.

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Minimum requirement

IELTS (Academic)

6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component

Other English language qualifications

To see what other language tests we can accept and the scores required, visit our IELTS equivalences webpage and click on the IELTS requirement for your chosen course.

We also accept various school-leaving certificates to meet our English Language requirements. Please visit our country-specific information for further details.

For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

To apply to York, you'll need to complete an online application via UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

How to apply

Next steps

Contact us

Get in touch if you have any questions

Dr Luke Telford

luke.telford@york.ac.uk

Student Engagement Team

sbs-admissions@york.ac.uk

Department

Related courses

Social and Public Policy (BA)

Sociology (BA)

Sociology with Social Psychology (BA)

Politics (BA)

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UCAS 及院校官網均未列指定科（核對日期 2026-10-29，https://www.york.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/ba-social-political-sciences/）

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