Social Policy (with Foundation Year)
UCAS Code: Combined Honours only – see combinations tab|Duration: 4 years|Full Time|Hope Park|UCAS Campus Code: L46Work placement opportunities|International students can apply|Study Abroad opportunities
About the course
Social Policy explores the ways in which welfare provision is delivered in society, exploring who is eligible for support and who provides it. Our Social Policy degree is multidisciplinary in its approach and draws on ideas from sociology, economics, politics and geography. It explores issues such as inequality, ill health and wellbeing, child welfare, employment and unemployment, educational opportunities, disability, homelessness, family policies, mental health, globalisation, crime and immigration.
Studying Social Policy at Liverpool Hope University allows you to explore the answers to questions such as; should the state be the main provider of welfare and what roles should the private profit making or voluntary sectors have? How should scarce resources be allocated in society? How can we understand different approaches to welfare delivery across different historical periods in British society? Why do women and minority ethnic groups experience greater levels of disadvantage? How have welfare systems developed in different countries?
The degree draws on an experienced team of lecturers who are published in the social sciences and are experts in social policy. The School is also a member of the national network of Social Policy course providers and benefits from engagement with national subject debates. There are fieldtrips to enhance your learning, and we also have annual research days where leading academics, civil servants and politicians come to talk about various social problems and social issues.
Course structure
Teaching on this degree is structured into lectures, where all students are taught together, seminars of smaller groups of around 15-20 students, and tutorials which typically have no more than 10 students. There are a number of compulsory and optional fieldtrips, as well as guest lectures throughout your studies. You also have the opportunity to have a one-to-one meeting with your tutor each week.
For the Social Policy part of your Combined Honours degree, in your first year of study there are approximately 6 teaching hours each week, which reduces to approximately 5 teaching hours in your second and third years. On top of teaching hours, you are also expected to spend a number of hours studying independently each week, as well as studying in groups to prepare for any group assessments that you may have.
Assessment and feedback
Throughout your three years of study, you will have a number of assessments, including essays, tutorial portfolios, presentations and written exams.
You will be given written feedback on your assessments, and you will have the opportunity to discuss this with your tutor in more detail.
Foundation Year
The Foundation Year is a great opportunity if you have the ability and enthusiasm to study for a degree, but do not yet have the qualifications required to enter directly onto our degree programmes. A significant part of the Foundation Year focuses upon core skills such as academic writing at HE level, becoming an independent learner, structuring academic work, critical thinking, time management and note taking.
Successful completion of the Foundation Year will enable you to progress into the first year (Level C) of your chosen honours degree. Further details can be found here.
Year One
Introduction to Social Policy
This theme examines the history and development of the welfare state since the Industrial Revolution. It explores how different groups and behaviours in society have been constructed as problematic and explores how social problems and their proposed solutions have been framed across time. Key to the theme is to get you to begin to think differently about what are often taken-for-granted social issues.
In relation to welfare policy, you examine policy shifts through four main phases of development: the liberal era (1800-1880); the interventionist period (1880-1940); the era of the classic welfare state (1940-1976) and the current neoliberal regime (1976-present). Consideration is given to what are social problems and how they are defined and conceptualised; how ‘problem communities’ are identified and regulated and the historical development of state ‘anti-poverty’ strategies.
Year Two
Explorations in Social Policy
Your second year explores the core social divisions in late capitalist society. We look at four main divisions in the context of UK society: gender, race, disability and age. We focus on how social, economic and political processes play a role in the creation of these divisions. For each of the divisions we explore how it is related to wealth and poverty, looking at how disablement or gender are associated with lower wages, unemployment or insufficient benefit payments. We then examine some of the theories which can help to understand why certain groups are marginalised.
Finally, we link welfare state policies to the marginalisation and exclusion of certain groups. When looking at age, for example, how insufficient pensions, exclusion from the formal labour market and lacking care services actually create the marginalisation of elderly populations. You are also introduced to theory and research methods in the social sciences.
Year Three
Advanced Studies in Social Policy
At the advanced level we start to look at the impact of globalisation and a range of global social problems such as global poverty and health, climate change, work in a global economy, or migration. We also undertake comparative study and look at how other countries meet their health care, child-care or social service needs. You will also be able to choose an advanced research seminar each term, allowing you to develop your knowledge of issues that you've grown interested in throughout the course. You also have an opportunity to undertake an individual project dissertation reflecting your particular social policy interest.
Entry requirements
There may be some flexibility for mature students offering non-tariff qualifications and students meeting particular widening participation criteria.
Careers
Social policy equips you with combinations of personal and general skills that are often highly transferable and valued by potential employers. Career paths for Social Policy graduates are wide-ranging in both the private and the public sector. Graduates often gain employment in the housing, health or educational sector as researchers, administrators or managers, as well as attaining posts in local government. They are also recruited to positions within the criminal justice and legal system. Some go on to study for higher degrees that give them a specific expertise in a field of social policy. Social policy graduates will also be particularly well qualified to apply for MA programmes in Social Work and Social Policy.
The School of Social Sciences has a partnership with Person Shaped Support (PSS), one of the largest voluntary sector organisations in Merseyside. This creates opportunities for you to hear directly from frontline practitioners and, if you wish, to undertake voluntary placements in relevant work areas.
Enhancement opportunities
SALA
The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.
Study Abroad
As part of your degree, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full year of study at one of our partner universities as part of our Study Abroad programme. Find out more on our Study Abroad page.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2022/23 academic year are £9,250 for full-time undergraduate courses.
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,250.
The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
Additional costs
On top of tuition fees, you need approximately £100 to purchase core textbooks.
You will also need to consider the cost of your accommodation each year whilst you study at university. Visit our accommodation pages for further details about our Halls of Residence.
Scholarships
We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.
International tuition fees
The International Tuition fees for 2022/23 are £12,500.
Visit our International fees page for more information.
Course combinations
This course is also available with Foundation Year as a Combined Honours degree with the following subjects: