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Social Policy looks at the ways in which we as a society promote the welfare of individuals and families.
Overview
Taking single honours in Social Policy, you study central issues such as poverty, health, crime, education, homelessness and child protection. This 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 degree involves 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.
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
In the National Student Survey 2015, 90% of Social Policy students were satisfied with the overall quality of their course. Social Policy at Kent was ranked 4th in the UK in The Guardian University Guide 2016, and received the 3rd highest score for graduate prospects in The Complete University Guide 2016.
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Year abroad
The Year Abroad option available with this degree programme is an excellent opportunity to experience learning in a different cultural context and educational setting; providing the opportunity to develop your skills, confidence and networks internationally.
The Year Abroad is subject to availability and you must also meet the academic and attendance requirements, usually achieving an average mark of 60% at Stage 2, plus satisfactory attendance and coursework submission records.
See our A-Z course list for more details or contact our Go Abroad team. Subject to availability, work placements can be undertaken anywhere in the world.
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 students to link theoretical knowledge with empirical enquiry and to identify and understand different ideological positions on welfare provision
- give students the skills and abilities to enable them to become informed citizens, 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 will further increase your portfolio of skills by gaining experience of living and studying in a different culture. You will 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, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | BBB |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required 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 receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
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 through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2016/17 annual 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.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
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.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
UK/EU/International students on an approved Year Abroad for the full 2016/17 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Those on an approved Year in Industry pay an annual fee of £865 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.
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. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.