The National University of Ireland, Maynooth BSocSc Bachelor of Social Science
The National University of Ireland, Maynooth

The National University of Ireland, Maynooth

BSocSc Bachelor of Social Science

Maynooth, Ireland

Bachelor's degree

3 up to

4 years

English

Full time, Part time

Sep 2026

EUR 16,500 / per year

On-Campus

Key Summary

About: The Bachelor of Social Science (BSocSc) examines how societies are organized, institutions shaping wellbeing, and topics like class, gender and race. It pairs a core Social Policy major with a major from sociology, philosophy, history, anthropology, geography or economics. You’ll analyse poverty, exclusion, migration, housing, ageing, crime, policy responses, with pathways to social professions, postgraduate study at Maynooth University.

Career Outcomes: Graduates work in policy analysis, social research, social work, community work, youth work, civil service, NGOs, the charitable sector, public administration, management, journalism and media and can progress to postgraduate training for the National Qualification in Social Work.

  • The Bachelor of Social Science degree (BSocSc) studies how human societies are organised, the social forces, institutions and ideologies that shape society, and the factors that influence the wellbeing of individuals, families, communities, and countries. The scope of the course includes key topics like class, gender, religion and race.
  • Students develop the ability to analyse contemporary social issues and policy responses in areas such as poverty and social exclusion, drug use, criminal justice, housing, migration, ethnicity, disability, ageing, and gender. A key focus is on addressing inequality and promoting rights and entitlements to services for all.
  • The degree also introduces students to the social professions, including social work, community work, and youth work, and offers clear pathways to postgraduate study in these areas at Maynooth. Postgraduate opportunities in Social Policy are also available.
  • The degree is organised as a double major programme with the core subject of Social Policy and one of the following subjects: Sociology, Philosophy, History, Anthropology, Geography or Economics. The core subject of Social Policy (only available to study in this degree) focuses on government and institutional policies concerned with human needs and welfare in the broadest sense, and how these needs are addressed.