Social and Political Sciences

Social and political sciences is an interdisciplinary degree that draws on sociology, politics, social policy, and related disciplines to give you a comprehensive and flexible understanding of how contemporary societies are organised, governed, and experienced. Social science is the systematic study of human behaviour in social contexts, examining how institutions, culture, inequality, and power shape the lives of individuals and communities. Political science examines the structures through which societies make collective decisions and asks how power is distributed, contested, and legitimated.

Together, these perspectives provide a rich toolkit for understanding the world.

At the University of York, this three-year, full-time degree offers a highly flexible choice of modules drawn from three highly respected academic departments, allowing you to shape your programme around the questions and themes that matter most to you. A sandwich year provides the opportunity for a substantial professional placement, and work placements are embedded in the course to develop your professional skills alongside your academic learning. A year abroad is also incorporated into the programme, broadening your analytical perspective through engagement with different social and political contexts.

A typical entry tariff of 152 points reflects the strong academic standard of this programme.

Graduates of social and political sciences degrees go on to work in the civil service and public policy, local government, NGOs, social research, journalism, education, health and social care, community development, human resources, and the third sector. The analytical and research skills developed through this interdisciplinary programme are highly transferable, and the capacity to understand complex social and political systems is valued across a very wide range of professional contexts. Postgraduate study in sociology, politics, social policy, or a related area is a well-supported next step.