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Social Policy looks at the ways in which we as a society promote the welfare of individuals and families.
Overview
You study central issues such as poverty, health, crime, education, homelessness and child protection, which includes looking at the nature of social problems and also at the policies directed towards them by government, and at the role of voluntary and private welfare.
Your study the application of theory and research to the analysis of social issues, including: child abuse, crime, disability, unemployment, caring for older people, and mental health problems; issues relating to social disadvantage, including class, race, gender, age, sexuality and poverty; social responses to these issues; and policy and practice in welfare services, including health services, social security, education, social care and services for children and adults, employment services, community care, and housing management.
This programme has a Year Abroad option which takes place between Stages 2 and 3 of your degree. You can apply to add a year abroad to your degree programme from your arrival at Kent until the autumn term of your second year.
Kent's School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research (SSPSSR) has consistently achieved the highest ratings for the quality of its teaching and research. Within the School, students are encouraged to explore diverse areas such as social theory, terrorism, globalisation, the sociology of work, drugs, street culture and popular culture.
Studying social policy, you develop the knowledge and skills to succeed in your future career.
Think Kent video series
A number of influential social thinkers have sought to explain the significance of a strong voluntary sector to a strong society. In this talk, Dr Eddy Hogg from the University of Kent’s Centre for Philanthropy, explores four of these thinkers: Alexis de Tocqueville, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber and Karl Marx. Each has a different take on the role of the voluntary sector – not all of them complimentary – and each of these perspectives can help us to ask key critical questions about the role of the voluntary sector in contemporary social life.
Independent rankings
Social Policy and Administration at Kent was ranked 3rd in The Complete University Guide 2017 and 4th in The Guardian University Guide 2017.
Social Policy at Kent was ranked 2nd for graduate prospects in The Guardian University Guide 2017.
Course structure
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.
Year abroad
Going abroad as part of your degree is an amazing experience and a chance to develop personally, academically and professionally. You experience a different culture, gain a new academic perspective, establish international contacts and enhance your employability.
The year abroad takes place between Stages 2 and 3 at one of our partner universities. Places and destination are subject to availability, language and degree programme. For a full list, please see Go Abroad.
To be eligible for the year abroad all students must obtain an average of 60% in the first and second years of their degree. In addition, those students studying on a Tier 4 visa must ensure they comply with the prevailing UKVI visa regulations governing course changes that are applicable to their individual circumstances.
You are expected to adhere to any academic progression requirements in Stages 1 and 2 to proceed to the year abroad. The year abroad is assessed on a pass/fail basis and will not count towards your final degree classification.
Teaching and assessment
We use a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, case study analysis, group projects and presentations, and individual and group tutorials. Many module convenors also offer additional ‘clinic’ hours to help with the preparation of coursework and for exams.
Assessment is by a mixture of coursework and examinations; to view details for individual modules click the 'read more' link within each module listed in the course structure.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- produce thoughtful, flexible and well-trained social scientists with an up-to-date knowledge of social welfare provision in industrial societies
- enable you to link theoretical knowledge with empirical enquiry and to identify and understand different ideological positions on welfare provision
- give you the skills and abilities to enable you to become an informed citizen, capable of participating in the policy process and equipped for a dynamic labour market.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the origins and development of UK welfare institutions
- the current sources of welfare in the UK, including health and social services, social security, housing and education
- the operation and financing of the policy process and the political economy of welfare
- welfare provided by the private and voluntary sectors and the mixed economy of care
- key concepts used in social policy, such as need, equity, inequality, poverty, exclusion, identity, difference and diversity
- local, regional, national and supra-national dimensions of social policy
- the main sources of data relating to social welfare and the methods used to collect and analyse data
- inter-disciplinary approaches to issues in social policy
- the key concepts and theories of welfare and the ability to apply these in a comparative approach.
Intellectual skills
You develop intellectual abilities in:
- problem-solving, the skills to seek solutions to social problems and individual needs
- research, including the skills to identify a research question and collect and manipulate data to answer that question
- evaluation and analysis, including the skills to assess the outcomes of policy intervention
- recognising and showing sensitivity to the values and interests of others and to the dimensions of difference.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in:
- identifying and using concepts and theories in social policy to analyse social issues
- seeking out and using statistical data relevant to social issues
- the investigation of an empirical issue
- how to distinguish between technical, normative, moral and political questions.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills that enable you to:
- study and learn independently, using library and internet sources
- learn and be reflective, adaptive and collaborative in your approach
- make short presentations to fellow students and staff
- communicate ideas and arguments to others, both in written and spoken form
- prepare essays and reference the material quoted according to conventions
- use IT to conduct on-line searches, communicate by email and in written documents and access data sources
- develop skills in time management and work to deadlines
- work collaboratively, negotiate, listen and deliver results.
Careers
School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research graduates are adaptable and flexible in their thinking and approach tasks in a rigorous, ethical, yet creative and reflective fashion. They develop key transferable skills including: communication, organisational and research skills; the ability to analyse complex information and make it accessible to non-specialist readers, write reports and use data analysis computer programs, and can take on positions of leadership in addition to working effectively and considerately in teams. These skills and attributes are valued in a wide range of professions.
The School has excellent links with local outside agencies, such as the probation and youth justice services, the police and social services.
Our graduates fare extremely well in terms of finding employment, whether in directly related areas such as social work and health care; policy analysis in the public and voluntary sectors; human resource management and advice services; education and research; and management in the Civil Service, local authorities and other public agencies, and the voluntary sector, among others.
If you choose to take the Year Abroad option, you further increase your portfolio of skills by gaining experience of living and studying in a different culture. You learn to appreciate and assess different approaches to social policy analysis and intervention giving you a uniquely global perspective.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
New GCSE grades
If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | BBB |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If we make you an offer, you will need to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | Distinction, Distinction, Merit |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 15 at HL |
International students
The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country.
If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.
Meet our staff in your country
For more advise about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2017/18 tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | ||
| Part-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
UK/EU fee paying students
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
In accordance with changes announced by the UK Government, we are increasing our 2017/18 regulated full-time tuition fees for new and returning UK/EU fee paying undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses will also rise from £4,500 to £4,625. This was subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. This fee will ensure the continued provision of high-quality education.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Fees for Year Abroad/Industry
As a guide only, UK/EU/International students on an approved year abroad for the full 2017/18 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Please note that for 2017/18 entrants the University will increase the standard year in industry fee for home/EU/international students to £1,350.
General additional costs
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Funding
University funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
Government funding
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support for the duration of their course.
Scholarships
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either Mathematics or a Modern Foreign Language. Please review the eligibility criteria.