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The BSc (Hons) in Statistical Social Research is a new social analytics degree programme provided by the University's Q-Step Centre to increase the number of quantitatively skilled social sciences undergraduates.
Overview
Through innovative teaching, you develop a range of quantitative and research skills to an advanced level, which enable you to look beyond the numbers and use your expertise to analyse and understand social problems in the study of politics, crime, society, law or business.
This programme is designed to open your mind to new ways of thinking, where you will learn how to undertake rigorous statistical analysis, draw conclusions, and communicate and present data, using your skills to solve real-life social problems. You also have the opportunity to conduct your own original research.
In addition, the programme offers a series of diverse work placements to maximise future employability, where you will have the opportunity to apply your quantitative and transferable skills to real-life workplaces across many sectors, including government, think-tanks, charities, cultural organisations and the private sector.
Conversion to a Master's programme
You also have the option to take a fourth year of study known as an integrated Master's (MSci). During this year you will continue to build your expertise in quantitative methods and your subject of choice. The year will include placements and a dissertation based on your own research.
Q-Step initiative
This degree is offered by Kent’s Q-Step Centre, one of only 15 such prestigious centres in the UK and funded by, among others, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). In addition to the BSc in Statistical Social Research, the University also offers joint degrees within a range of social science disciplines (Criminology; Social Policy; Sociology; Politics and Internal Relations; Law and Business) where you can also specialise in quantitative research.
Please see www.kent.ac.uk/qstep for more information.
Think Kent video series
Our everyday lives are awash with stereotypes. Even if, consciously, we passionately disagree with these stereotypes, they may still affect our unconscious thoughts and reactions. In this lecture, Dr Robert de Vries from the University of Kent explores these unconscious attitudes, with particular reference to how we might feel about a particularly maligned social group – welfare benefit claimants.
Independent rankings
In the National Student Survey 2015, Kent gained the 5th highest score in the UK for student satisfaction. Kent is ranked in the top 20 of UK universities in The Guardian University Guide 2016.
Course structure
At each stage of your studies, aside from your quantitative teaching, you choose modules you are interested in from those offered in the School of Politics & International Relations; the School of Social Policy, Sociology & Social Research; Kent Law School; and Kent Business School.
In addition, you will undertake several placements and will carry out at least one quantitative research project for an external organisation during your degree. See www.kent.ac.uk/qstep for details.
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.
Stage 1
You build a strong foundation in and improve your quantitative skills and advance your statistical knowledge, while developing a strong background in criminology. You develop your skills in using quantitative data to support your critical thinking.
Stage 2
You continue to study your chosen subject area as well as take an advanced module in causal thinking in quantitative research, and improve your skills in communicating quantitative analyses to a range of audiences. You choose from a list of advanced quantitative options including Big Data analysis, spatial analysis, longitudinal analysis, and multilevel analysis, and are trained in non-quantitative research. You undertake a quantitative project as part of one of your modules.
Stage 3
As in Stage 2, you continue studying your chosen subject area and complete a dissertation based on your own quantitative research, and a placements module (see below). You are also encouraged to take further advanced quantitative options (as outlined in Stage 2).
Optional MSci
You can chose to do our MSci in Statistical Social Research where you continue into a fourth year of study. During this year you will build your expertise in quantitative methods and your subject of choice. The year will include placements and a dissertation based on your own research.
Year in industry
Placements are an important part of your degree and allow you to apply your quantitative and transferable skills in the workplace.
Subject to achieving an average of 60% in Stage 1 and 2, you can apply to take the placements module, The Practice of Social Research. This module runs for one full academic year and includes a 200-hour placement within an academic learning experience. We encourage you to undertake additional placements in the summer after Stage 2 or Stage 3, and to do a placement linked to your dissertation. It is also possible to undertake a full-time paid sandwich year placement.
Placements provide you with invaluable career experience and insight into the professional world, while the practical use of your skills in the workplace builds your confidence. With these experiences we hope that you will be well equipped to move seamlessly into quantitative methods careers, in academia or beyond upon graduation.
Please see ‘Careers’ for more information.
Teaching and assessment
In addition to learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, project supervision, and statistics classes, this degree prides itself in its aim to let students carry out hands-on research in the ‘field’ through placements and field trips. Most modules are assessed by examination and coursework in equal measure.
Programme aims
This programme aims to:
- provide you with the statistical and analytical tools to independently and successfully conduct advanced quantitative research.
- help you make persuasive arguments using quantitative research, and to critically assess the arguments made by others in the course of social life.
- develop problem-solving skills and an understanding of the nature and appropriate use of research methods used in social science research, and the appropriate use of both qualitative and quantitative research.
- help you link theoretical knowledge with empirical enquiry, so that you understand how to conduct and critique social research in the real world.
- produce graduates with analytical and knowledge-based skills relevant to employment in the professions, academia, public sector and private sector.
- provide a broad knowledge and understanding of key concepts, debates, and theoretical approaches of the disciplines under study.
- promote an understanding of the relations between disciplines and an appreciation of the ways in which cross-disciplinary thinking leads to alternative and approaches to contemporary global challenges.
- teach key writing, research, team-working and communication skills.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the strengths and weaknesses of statistical techniques applied to the study of social issues.
- qualitative and particularly advanced quantitative reasoning and application of these methods to the analysis of complex societal problems.
- how to abstract findings from the application of quantitative research methods to examine essential features of complex societal problems and provide a framework for assessment of contemporary institutional arrangements.
- principal sources of social sciences’ information and data relevant to the disciplines involved in the programme.
- the value of comparative analysis across disciplines.
- ethical implications of social sciences’ inquiry.
- principles and application of underlying modes of inquiry within different academic disciplines and contexts.
- the forces and events shaping contemporary thought and behaviour across a range of practices and disciplines.
- principles and application of underlying modes of inquiry within: criminology; sociology; social policy; social policy; politics & international relations (depending on your specific pathway/module selection).
Intellectual skills
You develop the following intellectual skills:
- Quantitative: the appropriate use of analytical methods – including advanced methods – in handling, analysing and presenting statistical data across relevant disciplines.
- Data collection and research skills: ability to apply research and inquiry techniques with critical awareness. Ability to formulate research questions and hypotheses across a range of different disciplines. Gather, organise and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety of secondary and primary sources.
- Evaluative and analytical skills: ability to evaluate and critically assess evidence – particularly quantitative evidence - both in its own right, and to assess how this evidence is used in the arguments of others. Ability to synthesise relevant information across multiple forms of evidence and to integrate these within a single account.
- Problem solving: ability to apply imagination and flexibility in seeking solutions to social problems by identifying, investigating, analysing, formulating and advocating solutions to problems.
- Sensitivity to the values and interests of others by developing capacity of self-reflection.
Subject-specific skills
You gain the following subject-specific skills:
- Quantitative: how to handle and interpret quantitative evidence in differing intellectual contexts.
- Communicate: how to communicate empirical findings – and particularly quantitative evidence – effectively across disciplines and audiences.
- Reasoning: how to construct arguments across different disciplines using empirical evidence, particularly quantitative evidence.
- Presentation of research: how to write essays, reports and other outputs in line with the conventions of different subject areas.
Transferable skills
You gain the following transferable skills:
- Quantitative skills: the appropriate use of analytical methods – including advanced methods – in handling, analysing and presenting statistical data in diverse real-world settings.
- IT skills: ability to use IT technology and software to word process, store, retrieve and analyse data and conduct various forms of computer based analysis.
- Communication: Ability to organise information clearly, present information in oral and written form and adapt presentation for different audiences.
- Self-management of learning: ability to work autonomously with guidance and reflect on their personal and professional development.
- Team work: ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Careers
In an increasingly competitive job market, graduates with quantitative skills are in high demand by all employers from across the public, private and third sectors.
The University of Kent as a whole is committed to enhancing the employability of all our students, in order to enable them to compete and flourish in a competitive, fast-moving and knowledge-based economy. Kent’s Q-Step Centre's new BSc Statistical Social Research takes this concern further than other degrees through its inclusion of work experience during your degree as well as through modules where you apply your newly gained skills to real-life issues.
With the BSc Statistical Social Research you will gain and develop advanced quantitative research skills through modules that offer specialist training in cutting-edge techniques as well as training in how to understand, explain and critique data in diverse real-world settings.
These quantitative skills are combined with all the attributes associated with a Kent Social Sciences degree; verbal and written communication, social awareness, organisation and teamwork skills – giving graduates a clear advantage in the job market.
The ability to understand and apply various methods of analysing, concluding and presenting data is essential to any social scientist and the skills are just as crucial in business and journalism as they are in education or the police.
Placements
You will be provided with multiple opportunities to apply your new found skills in professional settings through placements and applied research modules which will equip you to work in a wide range of careers such as business analysis, charity fundraising, journalism, marketing and advising government on policy implications and will help place you in an excellent position for graduate employment.
We have links to placements across many sectors, including government (national and local), think tanks and charities, cultural organisations and the private sector and you are encouraged to gain experience in more than one sector.
Some important reasons to consider taking a placement year include:
- gaining valuable experience - research shows that over 70% of employers prefer students with work experience
- exploring career possibilities and making potentially valuable contacts
- improving your CV
- greatly increasing the possibility of being offered a graduate job with your placement company
- putting the Quantitative and employability skills you have into practice and having the chance to develop them further.
Job prospects
Across the four main Q-Step schools, there is a high percentage of students in work or further study within 6 months of graduation - with students earning typical salaries of up to £25,000 within six months of graduating:
- Sociology - 95%
- Social Policy - 90%
- Criminology Joint Honours - 94%
- Business – 87%
- Politics and International Relations – 83%
- Law – 80%
As well as the vast range of support you will receive from the Q-Step centre to enhance your employability, the University of Kent has an award-winning Careers and Employability Service (CES) which offers a range of information, advice and guidance services free-of-charge to all students. These services encompass many aspects of career development and planning and provide the opportunity for students to realise their vocational potential.
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 at A level with either a GCSE Mathematics grade A or a GCSE Mathematics grade C and at least one AS level in a subject including a substantial mathematical component (Mathematics, Physics, etc) - please contact us to check eligibility. Offer levels and entry requirements are subject to change. For the latest information, see www.kent.ac.uk/ug |
| GCSE | See above |
| 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) | The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 15 points 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 |
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.