University of Birmingham - College of Social Sciences
MA in Social Policy
Birmingham, United Kingdom
MA
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
GBP 27,200 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* deadline for International students I 29 August 2025 deadline for Home students
** for full-time International students | part-time UK students: £13,600 per year | for full-time UK students: £10,900 | part-time UK students: £5,450 per year
Key Summary
Better understand a world of dynamic identities and race and gender inequalities within our societies. We offer a suite of optional modules that examine a broad range of social issues and divisions.
Why study this programme at the University of Birmingham?
The 21st Century has seen rapid social changes in social policy and welfare. Our Social Policy MA equips students with the tools to understand these changes and challenges they bring to society.
- Tailor the curriculum to match your own interests and career plans
- Engage critically with cutting-edge, research-led modules on social policy and welfare #8 in the UK for Social Policy (The Complete University Guide 2025) #9 in the UK for 4* research in Social Policy (REF 2021)
Course delivery
Our MA Social Policy course focuses on the transformation of our societies to increase human well-being, promote sustainable forms of living and encourages you to evaluate alternative forms of social organisation.
- Taught modules – these include lectures, seminars, journal clubs and workshops. Research-based modules – working on your own and in groups, you’ll enjoy regular supervision and directed research work
- Assessments - these will include a range of coursework, such as traditional essay, policy reports and dissertation
Scholarships and loans may be available to you, please our course page below for more information.
The course comprises of a series of 2 taught core modules and a Dissertation project (100 credits) complemented by optional modules (80 credits).
Visit our course page below for more information on the modules available for this programme.
Social policy is an applied social science that equips you with social research skills, substantive knowledge of social issues, and policy analysis techniques.
The MA Social Policy programme is ideal for professionals in health, housing, and social services, or those pursuing careers in these fields. It also suits students with relevant undergraduate degrees in social science or humanities, now looking to study social policy at the postgraduate level.