Use expertise from three world class departments to understand the pressing social and political issues of our time
Year of entry: 2019
LL32
Y50
3 years full-time (plus optional placement year)
£9,250 per year (2018/19)
£17,120 per year (2019/20)
Get to know us better and find out what studying and living in York is really like.
Book nowA BA in Social and Political Sciences will allow you to study a flexible choice of modules from a huge range offered by three highly respected academic departments.
You'll be taught by world-leading academics and study the most up-to-date theories in social and political sciences. As your studies progress you'll have the flexibility to tailor your degree to allow you to focus on your own interests, whether that's globalisation, human rights, the future of the welfare state, migration, equality or social justice.
Contribute to our high-profile seminar series and become involved in the dynamic student-run SPS Society. You'll be encouraged to take up an internship or work placement in which you'll get first-hand experience of the work you're interested in.
I was president of the student SPS society last year. Working with the committee and the school on guest speaker events and organising trips has supplemented my academic experience. It's also cultivated skills such as: project management, team work and leadership.Kyle, current SPS student
You'll start by studying the core Political and Social Science disciplines. You then go on to choose from a wide range of modules offered across Politics, Sociology and Social Policy. You can study a varied range of modules across the three years. Or you can focus on specific topics, and take modules from different departments which relate to those topics. These topics might include:
You'll take 120 credits in Year 1, which will provide a strong foundation in politics, sociology and social policy. You'll take a year-long introductory module in each of the three departments and a fourth module chosen from one of the departments.
You'll study three core modules:
You'll choose one option module. Current options include:
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
You'll take 120 credits in Year 2. You study one interdisciplinary compulsory module and you'll have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of option modules. You'll need to study at least one module from each of the three departments during your final two years.
You'll be able to choose three modules from across a range offered by the three departments. All option modules are 30 credits each.
Department of Sociology:
Department of Politics:
Department of Social Policy:
Please note that the modules above are indicative of those running for our current students.
You'll take 120 credits in Year 3. You'll complete a dissertation and choose more option modules from a large range across the three departments.
Your dissertation will engage you in independent research in social and political science and allow you to develop valuable transferable skills for future research and careers.
You'll choose four option modules. All modules are 20 credits.
Department of Sociology:
Department of Politics:
Department of Social Policy:
Please note that the modules above are indicative of those running for our current students.
Please note, modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
At school I really enjoyed all of my Humanity based A level subjects and struggled with the thought of having to restrict myself to just one for university. SPS has allowed me to further develop my analysis of the world through political, economical, sociological and philosophical dimensions.Bel
Current SPS Student
The fees and funding figures below are based on data from 2018 entry. If you take a year abroad or year in industry you'll pay a reduced rate of fees for that year.
| UK/EU | International |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £17,120 |
UK/EU or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK, EU or international student.
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
We offer a number of scholarships to help cover tuition fees and living costs.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
“Students from all backgrounds achieve consistently outstanding outcomes”
The TEF Panel, Office for Students, June 2018
Our Gold Teaching Excellence Framework award demonstrates our commitment to the delivery of consistently outstanding teaching and learning for our students.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
You'll attend a mix of lectures, small group seminars and workshops, with an increasing emphasis on independent work in later stages. You'll actively define what you want to learn, and be supported by your personal tutor in exploring these issues in greater depth.
The student-run SPS Seminar Series will allow you to engage with leading academics from across the country.
As a guide, students on this course typically spend their time as follows:
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures and seminars | 216 hours | 180 hours | 144 hours |
The figures above are based on data from 2016/17.
The rest of your time on the course will be spent on independent study. This may include preparation for lectures and seminars, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours will vary from person to person. In UK higher education the expectation is that full-time students will spend 1200 hours a year learning.
You will be based at the School of Social and Political Sciences on Campus West. Most of your teaching will take place nearby.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
Assessment will be by a mixture of essays, projects and examinations. In your third year you'll do a 10,000-word dissertation on a subject you want to investigate and you'll construct the questions you want to answer under the supervision of a tutor.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exams | 28% | 30% | 0% |
| Coursework | 59% | 70% | 100% |
| Practical exams | 13% | 0% | 0% |
The figures above are based on data from 2016/17.
Many of our students organise work placements out of term time in an area that interests them. We encourage you to do this so you can gain workplace experience and a deeper insight into issues that interest you. Placements have ranged from an internship at the US House of Representatives to work experience in a London hedge fund and an internship in a global investment bank.
Graduates go on to a wide variety of careers across the public and private sectors including:
Many of our graduates secure jobs as a result of their first-hand experience from their internships and work placements.
The flexible nature of this degree also makes it a good springboard to postgraduate study across specialist areas in Social and Political Sciences. Other graduates take conversion courses for law and teaching and many go on to work for international organisations.
I studied at the University of Lund in Sweden via the SPS Erasmus programme. It gave me the opportunity to learn a new culture and language, make friends from around the globe and study at a world class university. I've also been an intern on Wall Street, shadowed a Secretary of State and worked at a FTSE 100 company. It's great work experience that shows how valuable the course is for employers.Tom, SPS graduate (2015)
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAB |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | 36 credits at Distinction and 9 credits at Merit or higher |
| BTEC | BTEC National Extended Diploma (QCF): DDD |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, D3, M2 |
| European Baccalaureate | 80% overall |
| International Baccalaureate | 35 points |
| Irish leaving Certificate | H2,H2,H2,H2,H3,H3 |
| Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers | AAAAB at Higher level and AB at Advanced Higher level |
IELTS: score of 6.5 overall, with 5.5 or better in each section
Pearson (Academic PTE): 61 overall with no less than 51 in all components
CAE and CPE (taken from January 2015): 176, with 162 or better in each component
TOEFL: 87 overall, with at least 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking, 17 in Writing
Trinity ISE III: Merit in all components
To apply to York, you will need to complete an online application via UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).
Mature students are welcomed and applications considered individually.
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