Social and Political Sciences

Social and political sciences together examine the structures, processes, and ideas that shape how people organise their collective lives. Social science brings the methods and perspectives of sociology, social psychology, and cultural analysis to bear on questions of inequality, identity, community, and social change. Political science is concerned with power: how it is organised in states and other institutions, how decisions are made and contested, how political ideas develop and change, and how different systems of government perform in practice.

The combination develops an exceptionally flexible analytical toolkit, capable of addressing questions at every scale from interpersonal relations to global governance.

At the University of York, this four-year full-time programme with a year in industry draws on the expertise of three highly regarded academic departments, giving you access to a genuinely wide range of modules and perspectives. You will be able to shape your degree around your developing interests, studying topics in sociology, social policy, politics, and related areas while developing a coherent programme that reflects both your intellectual curiosity and your career direction. Research methods are taught seriously throughout: you will develop competence in both quantitative and qualitative approaches to social inquiry, which are among the most transferable skills the social sciences can provide.

The year in industry is a major practical element of the programme, giving you the opportunity to spend an extended period in a professional setting. Placements with government bodies, think tanks, NGOs, businesses, media organisations, or research institutions allow you to apply your academic knowledge in real contexts and develop professional capabilities that significantly enhance your readiness for graduate employment.

Social and political sciences graduates are valued across a very wide range of careers because the analytical, research, and communication skills the degree develops are broadly applicable. The civil service and government departments, policy research organisations, journalism, international organisations, charities and the third sector, law, management consultancy, and education all recruit regularly from this field. Postgraduate study in sociology, politics, public policy, or related disciplines supports those who wish to pursue research or specialist professional paths.