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UCAS code: LM41

Duration: 4 years

Delivery: Full-time

School: Social and Political Science

College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Study abroad

Introducing MA Social Policy and Law

This popular joint degree programme provides a grounding in both Social Policy and Law, two subjects which complement and enrich each other.

The joint MA in Social Policy and Law aims to promote advanced knowledge and understanding of the theory, concepts and rules of Law.

Social Policy at the University of Edinburgh will enable you to engage with confidence in many of the political debates of our time.

We deal with a wide array of policy areas, for example:

health
welfare
labour markets
education
family and childhood

We discuss how policies affect our civic culture through studying political engagement and citizen participation.

Our programme will equip you with the knowledge to understand how policies affect society and the economy, but it will also enable you to critically assess how policies are made and what actors and processes influence the policy making process.

Why Edinburgh?

You will be taught by staff members who are passionate about conducting research that has strong applications to the world outside academia.

We work closely with:

governments
NGOs
third sector and interest representation groups
international organisations
other external actors

International comparative analyses are one of our main strengths. We place a strong emphasis on providing you with empirical research skills, so that you can become a critical researcher yourself.

Take a Social Policy degree at the University of Edinburgh and you will be challenged to re-evaluate how you look at politics, society and the economy with the ability to improve others’ understanding as well.

What you will study

The joint MA in Social Policy and Law allows you to gain a disciplinary understanding in core social policy analyses as well as law.

Social Policy

You will take core courses to understand how social policy affects different parts of society. You will learn how different systems of social policy can result in very different relationships between the state and other actors.

Law

You will also develop knowledge and understanding of the theory, concepts and rules of Law.

The study within the Edinburgh Law School is grounded in Scots law and the Scots legal system. You will also be made familiar with the law and legal systems of the other parts of the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the wider world.

You will gain insights into particular methods of understanding society through the lens of legal studies. You will apply those to real-world problems that stretch beyond the reach of those disciplines. This will help you understand the impact particular decisions have on different parts of society.

This allows you in years 3 and 4 to take specialisation courses in both disciplines.

On the Social Policy side of the degree you will be able to choose from a range of specific Social Policy courses (between 2-4) that cover particular policy areas or processes and also specific options from Law (between 2-4), in addition to the central methods and approaches courses in both disciplines.

You can usually choose which subject area you want to write your dissertation project in.

Year 1

Social Policy

You will take Social Policy & Society. In this course, we will introduce you to core concepts in the analysis of key government policy areas. We do this by contrasting various lenses through which we can understand social policy. You will explore the consequences of different policy decisions by governments on different parts of society.

You will study Politics of the Welfare State, which examines social policy as a political issue in the UK. It introduces you to the politics of the area that constitutes one of the largest sets of government expenditure. You will be confronted with debates about the different ways of delivering welfare and the interplay between the state and the private sector.

Additionally, you will take the compulsory law courses Scottish Legal System and Public Law of the UK and Scotland.

Year 2

Social Policy

You will take Comparative Social Policy: Global Perspectives. You will compare different approaches to social policy in European and non-European countries

You will also take Evidence, Politics and Policy. You will learn to critically assess how evidence is used or misused by different actors and in the media to influence public opinion.

In addition you will take Research Skills and Design. You will learn how to create the foundations for high quality social research yourself.

Law

You will take 40 credits of law courses including the compulsory course Public Law and Individual Rights.

Year 3

You will select options that cover a wide array of policy fields such as:

family policy
labour market policies
social inequalities
criminal justice
health policy
education policy

You will also take courses in qualitative and quantitative research methods and a course that will enable you to analyse policies from multiple lenses (economic, political and sociological).

Additionally, you will take a further 80 credits of law option courses.

Year 4

You will continue to take social policy courses and will complete an individual research project.

This may involve collecting and analysing data and information from sources such as:

the European Commission
UK Government
Scottish Government
local authorities
voluntary organisations

Where you will study

Our facilities

Most of the teaching takes place in the University's Central Area. You will also have access to the University's computer facilities and libraries.

Take a virtual tour

You can take a closer look at the School of Social and Political Science and explore our facilities and campus on the University's Virtual Visit site.

Take a virtual tour of the School of Social and Political Science

Study abroad

You may apply to spend Year 3 abroad in one of several universities, where the University has special links, in locations such as:

North America
Central and South America
Australia
Asia

In addition, we have European exchange schemes with Leuphana University Lüneburg and Jacobs University Bremen (Germany).

You can also apply to university-wide exchanges in Amsterdam (Netherlands), Dublin (Ireland) and Lund (Sweden).

What are my options for going abroad?

Learning and assessment

How will I learn?

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials/seminars and individual supervision.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed through a wide range of methods that will enable you to develop different academic and practical skills.

Our assessments methods include:

traditional academic essays and exams
policy analyses and briefs
policy blogging
analyses of political actors
project work
seminar engagement

Career opportunities

Most of our graduates move into careers in policy or research within areas such as:

government
voluntary organisations
pressure groups
commercial organisations

These programmes also equip you with skills and knowledge that could be applied to careers in teaching or to the management and delivery of services, whether public or commercial.

Some graduates have gone on to study for professional qualifications in:

housing management
social work
human resource management

Entry requirements

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

SQA Highers: AAAA-AABB by end of S5 or AAAA-AAAB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
A Levels: AAB - ABB.
IB: 36 points with 665 at HL - 34 points with 655 at HL.

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
A Levels: ABB.
IB: 34 points with 655 at HL.

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

SQA: Highers: English at B.
A Levels: English Literature, English Language or combined English at B. English Language and English Literature GCSE, both at A or 7, are accepted in place of A Level English.
IB: HL: English at 5.

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international student and your school qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to the University you may be eligible for admission to this degree programme through our International Foundation Programme.

International Foundation Programme

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.

Mature applicant qualifications

English language requirements

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

SQA National 5 at C
SQA Standard Grade at 3
GCSE at C or 4
Level 2 Certificate at C
IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component.
TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 162 in each component.
Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 54 in each component.

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

English language qualifications must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the degree you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

English language requirements