Queen's University Belfast - Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

BA in Social Policy and Sociology

Social Policy students learn how to tackle major policy problems. They do this by applying core concepts from social science to intractable social problems such as gender inequality, eldercare, children's rights, and climate change. As an applied and critical social science, you will gain knowledge and understanding of contemporary government policies and consider how we can achieve improvements.

Sociology is a scientific discipline concerned with the explanation of social life and human behavior of all kinds. It equips students with the skills to understand the breadth of social practice, ranging from the global (including power and politics, conflict and peace processes, security, the digital world, climate change, racism, and social justice) to the personal (such as the body, intimacy, norms, emotions, identity, beliefs and mental health). Through theoretical tools and methodological techniques, Sociology at Queen’s provides students with a unique way of interacting with the world as critical and engaged citizens.

Drawing on multidisciplinary ideas from politics, sociology, economics, and law, this course helps create highly relevant and versatile graduates with the ability to enter employment at local, national, and international levels.

Social Policy and Sociology highlights

Global Opportunities

Students can spend time studying in one of our linked Universities in Europe. There is also the opportunity to study or work abroad, supported by schemes, such as Erasmus and Study USA.

Our students can also undertake periods of study in Canada, the US, Australia, and the Asia-Pacific region more broadly. Visiting international students often also take Sociology and Social Policy modules at Queens, particularly those connected to research expertise for which the teaching team is renowned (e.g. Conflict, Ethno-nationality, Family, Inequality, Religion, Social Movements, Social Change, Gender, and Social Policy).

Internationally Renowned Experts

Social Policy and Sociology is taught by a group of internationally recognized researchers who specialize in areas such as criminal justice policy, prisons, community sanctions, drug use, youth justice, conflict, social justice, gender inequality, population change, and human rights.

Students in the School are educated in a dynamic academic environment by award-winning teaching staff, and in a recent government-sponsored review of research, staff in the School achieved 'world-leading' and 'international excellence' status for the high quality of their research work.

Student Experience

We offer a high-quality, supportive, student-centered learning experience at a top Russell Group University. Students can expect personal attention as classes are smaller when you take joint honors Social Policy with Criminology or Sociology.

Further Study Opportunities

Students can choose from a wide range of Master’s programs, such as the MRes in Social Science Research and the MSc in Youth Justice, as well as a comprehensive list of research topics, as shown on the SSESW website