university of bristol phd social policy

• Help & Terms of Use
• School for Policy Studies
• Faculty of Social Sciences and Law
• Website http://www.bristol.ac.uk/sps/

United Kingdom

Organisation profile

Our research

• examines policy areas that affect us all in day-to-day life ranging from housing and neighbourhoods to health care, family policy to social justice, health inequalities to domestic violence, child welfare to social care for older people, poverty to social work, governance to criminology.
• influences and challenges policies implemented by governments and institutions by looking at issues such as how we organise services for children and families, provide housing and health care for older people, develop our cities and neighbourhoods, and how effectively we provide social care and services for the vulnerable.
• investigates the issues, factors and attitudes underlying the social concerns that make our headlines every day: the ever-widening gap between rich and poor, migration, domestic violence, forced marriage, out-of-hours GP services, mental health services, how we apply criminal justice, the rise in obesity and less active lifestyles.

Main areas of research:

• Adoption and foster care
• Cities, housing and neighbourhoods
• Child and family welfare
• Criminal justice and social harm
• Determinants of nutrition and physical activity
• Health and social care
• Inter-professional practice
• International social and public policy
• Mental health
• Poverty and social exclusion
• Social work practice and education
• Violence against women and gender-based violence

Fingerprint

• UK Social Sciences 100%
• Physical Activity Psychology 74%
• Adolescents Psychology 23%
• Qualitative Study Psychology 21%
• Systematic Review Psychology 21%

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Dive into details.

Select a country/territory to view shared publications and projects

Mrs Nura Aabe

• Bristol Doctoral College
• Migration Mobilities Bristol

Person: Member, Member, Doctor of Philosophy

Professor David W F Abbott

• Bristol Poverty Institute
• School for Policy Studies - Professor of Social Policy
• Cabot Institute for the Environment

Person: Academic , Member

Professor Isabella A G Aboderin

• School for Policy Studies - Perivoli Chair in Africa Research and Partnerships

Research output

• 4374 Article (Academic Journal)
• 1322 Chapter in a book
• 638 Conference Contribution (Conference Proceeding)
• 606 Commissioned report
• 437 Authored book
• 256 Other contribution
• 173 Edited book
• 75 Conference Paper
• 64 Web publication/site
• 62 Working paper
• 53 Other report
• 53 Review article (Academic Journal)
• 50 Performance
• 43 Book/Film/Article review (Academic Journal)
• 36 Editorial (Academic Journal)
• 35 Scholarly edition
• 34 Article (Specialist Publication)
• 27 Conference Abstract
• 24 Comment/debate (Academic Journal)
• 21 Letter (Academic Journal)
• 13 Conference Poster
• 10 Other Conference Contribution
• 10 Special issue (Academic Journal)
• 7 Digital or Visual Products
• 7 PhD thesis (not Bristol)
• 4 Chapter in a report
• 3 Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary
• 2 Confidential report for external body
• 2 Other chapter contribution
• 2 Featured article (Specialist Publication)
• 2 Discussion paper
• 1 Foreword/postscript to book
• 1 Literature review (Academic Journal)
• 1 Special issue (Specialist Publication)

Research output per year

A case for the inclusion of informal social protection in social policy theory and practice: Lessons from Nigeria and Pakistan

Research output : Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

Accelerometer-measured 24-hour movement behaviours over 7 days in Malaysian children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study

• Cross Sectional Study 100%
• Adolescent 100%
• Accelerometer 100%
• Cross-Sectional Study 100%
• Physical Activity 83%

Accessing Meals on Wheels: a qualitative study exploring the experiences of service users and people who refer them to the service

• Qualitative Study 100%
• Semistructured Interview 100%
• Thematic Analysis 100%
• Lived Experience 100%
• Patient Referral 100%
• 10 Not started
• 611 Finished

Projects per year

Developing a hyper-local understanding of violence alongside the Bristol Violence Reduction Partnership

Levell, J. , Staines, J. , Torrible, C. N. & Brett, R.

1/08/24 → 31/07/25

Project : Research

Penal pandemic: A comparative study on the governance, agenda setting, and resource allocation of Southeast Asia prisons during the COVID-19 pandemic to inform future pandemic preparedness

1/07/24 → 31/12/25

An Inconsequential Measure of Pain? Corporate Crime, Enforcement Action, and Surrogates of Deterrence

Fooks, G. J.

27/05/24 → 19/12/25

Student theses

(un)healthy prison masculinities : theorising men's health in prison.

Supervisor: Payne, S. (Supervisor) & Doyal, L. (Supervisor)

Student thesis : Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Access and equity in the school’s marketplace: the case for random allocation in secondary school admissions

Supervisor: Watson, D. L. (Supervisor) & Harris, P. R. (External person) (Supervisor)

Student thesis : Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Social Science (DSocSci)

A conversation analytic study of co-working between a person with learning disabilities and a person without learning disabilities

Supervisor: Dowling, S. F. (Supervisor) & Williams, V. J. (Supervisor)

14th Springer Prize for best paper by an early career scholar

Wang, Yiming (Recipient), Feb 2010

Prize : Prizes, Medals, Awards and Grants

2010/11 New Political Economy Graduate Student Paper Prize

Siles-Brugge, Gabriel (Recipient), 2011

2016 Annual Best Paper Award (International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity)

Li, Bai (Recipient), 2016

Replication Data for: What are the impacts of counter-SOC awareness raising strategies?

Peiffer, C. (Creator), Harvard Dataverse, 2024

DOI : 10.7910/dvn/xbf6jw , https://dataverse.harvard.edu/citation?persistentId=doi:10.7910/DVN/XBF6JW

Comparison of children's physical activity profiles before and after COVID-19 lockdowns - dataset

Salway, R. E. (Creator), Zenodo, 24 Mar 2023

DOI : 10.5281/zenodo.7767743 , https://zenodo.org/record/7767743

Capture-24 Tiny Sample

Thomas, E. (Creator), Harms, T. (Creator), Gershuny, J. (Creator), Chan Chang, S. (Creator), Walmsley, R. (Creator), Acquah, A. (Creator), Milton, K. (Creator), Kelly, P. (Creator), Foster, C. (Creator), Wong, A. (Creator), Gray, N. (Creator), Haque, S. (Creator), Hollowell, S. C. H. (Creator) & Doherty, A. (Creator), Zenodo, 7 Mar 2023

DOI : 10.5281/zenodo.7705976 , https://zenodo.org/record/7705976

• 93 Participation in conference
• 71 Editorial activity
• 50 Invited talk
• 44 Public talk, debate, discussion
• 28 Media coverage or participation
• 26 Participation in workshop, seminar, course
• 17 Membership or peer review panel or committee
• 15 Publication peer-review
• 14 Advisory work for/on national or international committee or working group
• 12 Visiting an external academic institution
• 9 Fellowship awarded competitively
• 8 Membership of public/government advisory/policy group or panel
• 7 Membership of external research organisation
• 5 Festival, exhibition, performance
• 4 Stakeholder engagement
• 3 Appointments or secondments with industry or commerce
• 3 Advisory work for/on panel for social community or cultural engagement Advisory work for/on
• 2 Consultancy
• 2 External Examination and Supervision
• 2 Hosting an academic visitor
• 2 - Research and Teaching at External Organisation
• 2 Community engagement, including convening focus/advisory groups

Activities per year

Violence at Home, Violence on Road

Jade Levell (Speaker)

Activity : Talk or presentation types › Public talk, debate, discussion

University experts begin tackling Bristol knife crime epidemic

Jade Levell (Interviewee)

Activity : Other activity types › Media coverage or participation

Rhyme and Reality: Youth work in the booth: A research and reflection project

Social Policy PhD

Want to know what it's like to study this course at uni? We've got all the key info, from entry requirements to the modules on offer. If that all sounds good, why not check out reviews from real students or even book onto an upcoming open days ?

Different course options

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

University of Bristol

SEP-24, JAN-25

Select a course option

SEP-24, J..

Select a subject

Select a an exam type

Select student location

Course info

Entry requirements, tuition fees, latest reviews.

• research centres

Our research examines policy areas that affect us all in day-to-day life, influences and challenges policies implemented by governments and institutions, and investigates the issues, factors and attitudes underlying the social concerns that make the headlines every day.

The school is an exciting environment for graduate studies; we welcome graduate students from the UK and around the world to join our diverse and highly-rated research team. We particularly welcome applications on topics with direct relevance to national and international policy concerns.

What students say

I like the University of Bristol because the support it provides to students in terms of their courses, but also mental health... Read more

Decent.. Read more

An upper second-class honours degree and a pass at MSc/MA level (or equivalent experience/qualification).

Students living in

£4,758 per year

Students from Domestic

Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to a 8% increase in fees each year.

£20,700 per year

Students from EU

Students from International

Latest Social Policy / Administration reviews

Review breakdown, how all students rated:.

Beacon House Queen’s Road Bristol BS8 1QU

Thinking of studying in Bristol?

Check out our

Other courses you may like

UCL (University College London)

Anglia Ruskin University

University of Hull

Find a course

• Undergraduate
• Foundation degree
• Access & foundation
• Postgraduate

YOUR UCAS POINTS 0

Please wait

Clearing Universities & Courses

Clearing Advice

Recommended Clearing Universities

New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering, NMITE

West Midlands Region · 67% Recommended

Northumbria University

North East England · 97% Recommended

dBs Institute of Sound and Digital Technologies

South West England · Leave a review

Popular Course Categories

Take our quick degree quiz

Find the ideal uni course for you with our Course Degree Quiz. Get answers in minutes!

Take our full degree quiz

Get more tailored course suggestions with our full Course Degree Quiz and apply with confidence.

Search by Type

Search by Region

Recommended Universities

University of Leicester

East Midlands Region · 93% Recommended

University of Westminster

London (Greater) · 91% Recommended

University of Sunderland

North East England · 95% Recommended

Search Open Days

What's new at Uni Compare

Tired of exams? Dive into career-relevant learning and hands-on experience with the UK's engineering specialists. Click here!

dBs Music (The Sound and Music Institute)

Find your passion at dBs, perfectly equipped to foster your creativity!

Ranking Categories

Regional Rankings

More Rankings

Top 100 Universities

Taken from 131,500+ data points from students attending university to help future generations

About our Rankings

Discover university rankings devised from data collected from current students.

Guide Categories

Advice Categories

Recommended Articles

Popular Statement Examples

Statement Advice

What to include in a Personal Statement

Personal Statement Tips

Social Policy PhD

University of Bristol

Discover more 👀

Learn more about this course.

Course Overview - Social Policy PhD

The School for Policy Studies links theory, policy and practice in a multidisciplinary, research-intensive environment. Our research engages with and influences national and international policy. Our policy experts come from a wide variety of backgrounds in social policy research, social work, sociology, poverty, gender violence, disability studies, childhood studies, health and social care, urban studies, economics, psychology, physical activity, nutrition and health sciences, based within seven specialist research centres. Our research examines policy areas that affect us... Read more

The School for Policy Studies links theory, policy and practice in a multidisciplinary, research-intensive environment. Our research engages with and influences national and international policy. Our policy experts come from a wide variety of backgrounds in social policy research, social work, sociology, poverty, gender violence, disability studies, childhood studies, health and social care, urban studies, economics, psychology, physical activity, nutrition and health sciences, based within seven specialist research centres.<br/><br/>Our research examines policy areas that affect us all in day-to-day life, influences and challenges policies implemented by governments and institutions, and investigates the issues, factors and attitudes underlying the social concerns that make the headlines every day.<br/><br/>The school is an exciting environment for graduate studies; we welcome graduate students from the UK and around the world to join our diverse and highly-rated research team. We particularly welcome applications on topics with direct relevance to national and international policy concerns.<br/><br/>We welcome new PhD students all year round. However, the largest intake is in September each year with a secondary intake in January. We strongly recommend applicants to consider either a September or January start.

Course Information

2 option s available.

Some courses vary and have tailored teaching options, select a course option below.

Course Details

Information

Clifton Campus

Course Address

Beacon House, Bristol, BS8 1QU

Application Details

Application deadline

Provider Details

Course Code

Institution Code

Points of Entry

Search Undergraduate Courses at University of Bristol

Find more courses from University of Bristol with our undergraduate course search.

Fees and funding

undergraduate Universities

Undergraduate uni's.

Uni of Leicester

321 courses

Uni of Westminster

456 courses

Uni of Sunderland

193 courses

Uni of East London

316 courses

West London IoT

120 courses

Kingston Uni

387 courses

ARU Writtle

Uni of Chester

376 courses

Uni of Winchester

166 courses

Heriot-Watt Uni

209 courses

Uni of Bradford

266 courses

560 courses

302 courses

Uni for Creative Arts

301 courses

Cardiff Met Uni

309 courses

Cardiff Uni

558 courses

Coventry Uni

454 courses

Ravensbourne

Leeds Beckett Uni

518 courses

Escape Studios

Wrexham Uni

161 courses

Leeds Arts University

Uni of Surrey

424 courses

459 courses

Uni of Kent

513 courses

Middlesex Uni

485 courses

Uni of Roehampton

268 courses

482 courses

Staffordshire Uni

Uni of Hertfordshire

431 courses

Uni of Brighton

368 courses

Queen's Uni

413 courses

Uni of Hull

277 courses

UWE, Bristol

320 courses

Swansea Uni

1102 courses

Uni of Portsmouth

571 courses

Nottingham Trent

705 courses

Uni of Reading

398 courses

Uni College Birmingham

111 courses

Uni of Huddersfield

661 courses

Highlands & Islands

304 courses

Edge Hill Uni

381 courses

Uni of Essex

764 courses

Uni of Bedfordshire

419 courses

Goldsmiths, UOL

417 courses

Northeastern Uni

Bath Spa Uni

315 courses

551 courses

• EN Action Another action
• Free Counselling

Thanks for visiting TopUniversities.com today! So that we can show you the most relevant information, please select the option that most closely relates to you.

• Looking for undergraduate studies
• Looking for postgraduate studies
• Student but not looking for further education at the moment
• Parent or Guardian
• University administrator
• Professional

Thanks for sending your response.

Your input will help us improve your experience. You can close this popup to continue using the website or choose an option below to register in or login.

Already have an account? Sign in

PhD Social Policy

48 months program duration, 20,700 gbp tuition fee/year, yes scholarships, public policy main subject area, program overview, main subject.

Public Policy

Study Level

The School for Policy Studies links theory, policy and practice in a multidisciplinary, research-intensive environment. Our research engages with and influences national and international policy. Our policy experts come from a wide variety of backgrounds in social policy research, social work, sociology, poverty, gender violence, disability studies, childhood studies, health and social care, urban studies, economics, psychology, physical activity nutrition and health sciences, based within seven specialist research centres. Find more details on these research centres.

Our research examines policy areas that affect us all in day-to-day life, influences and challenges policies implemented by governments and institutions, and investigates the issues, factors and attitudes underlying the social concerns that make the headlines every day.

The school is an exciting environment for graduate studies; we welcome graduate students from the UK and around the world to join our diverse and highly-rated research team. We particularly welcome applications on topics with direct relevance to national and international policy concerns.

Admission requirements

Exam scores, important dates, application.

• Candidates are required to submit references or letter(s) of recommendation for acceptance
• Candidates are required to submit an essay(s) for acceptance

Tuition fee and scholarships

Tuition fee, scholarships, domestic students, international students.

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

In this guide you will find:

Where to look for scholarship opportunities

How to apply to scholarships relevant to you

A list of available scholarships around the world

A scholarship application checklist

More programs from the university

Bachelor ug.

The University of Bristol offers a world-class undergraduate education. Teaching is delivered by leading academics and informed by our influential research. 

We offer a range of  undergraduate degrees in Arts; Engineering; Health Sciences; Life Sciences; Science; and Social Sciences and Law. 

Many courses include optional units to help students tailor their degree to suit their interests. Some incorporate study abroad, innovation, industrial experience or quantitative research methods. 

Students can apply for undergraduate courses through UCAS.

Arts and Humanities (6)

Ba ancient history, ba archaeology and anthropology, ba classical studies, ba classics, ba comparative literatures and cultures, ba comparative literatures and cultures and french, ba comparative literatures and cultures and german, ba comparative literatures and cultures and italian, ba comparative literatures and cultures and portuguese, ba comparative literatures and cultures and russian, ba comparative literatures and cultures and spanish, ba english and classical studies, ba english and french, ba english and german, ba english and history, ba english and italian, ba english and philosophy, ba english and portuguese, ba english and russian, ba english and spanish, ba english with study abroad, ba history and french, ba history and german, ba history and italian, ba history and portuguese, ba history and russian, ba history and spanish, ba history of art, ba history of art and french, ba history of art and german, ba history of art and italian, ba history of art and portuguese, ba history of art and russian, ba history of art and spanish, ba history with study abroad, ba liberal arts, ba modern languages, ba music and french, ba music and german, ba music and italian, ba music and portuguese, ba music and russian, ba music and spanish, ba philosophy, ba philosophy and french, ba philosophy and german, ba philosophy and italian, ba philosophy and portuguese, ba philosophy and russian, ba philosophy and spanish, ba philosophy and theology, ba religion and theology, ba theatre and english, ba theatre and film, ba theatre and french, ba theatre and german, ba theatre and italian, ba theatre and performance studies, ba theatre and portuguese, ba theatre and spanish, bsc philosophy and economics, bsc philosophy and economics with study abroad, bsc philosophy and politics, international foundation programme (arts and humanities), marts history with innovation, marts music with innovation, marts religion and theology with study abroad, marts theatre with innovation, mlibarts liberal arts with study abroad, business and management (6), ba international business management and french, ba international business management and german, ba international business management and spanish, bsc accounting and finance, bsc accounting and finance with study abroad, bsc accounting and management, bsc accounting and management with study abroad, bsc business analytics, bsc business and management, bsc business and management with study abroad, bsc business and management with study abroad in a modern language, bsc economics, bsc economics and accounting, bsc economics and accounting with study abroad, bsc economics and econometrics, bsc economics and econometrics with study abroad, bsc economics and finance, bsc economics and finance with study abroad, bsc economics and management, bsc economics and management with study abroad, bsc economics and mathematics, bsc economics and politics, bsc economics and politics with study abroad, bsc economics with study abroad, bsc economics with study abroad in a modern language, bsc finance, bsc international business management, bsc international business management with study abroad, bsc international business management with study abroad in a modern language, bsc marketing, bsc marketing with study abroad, bsc marketing with study abroad in a modern language, msci accounting with innovation, msci business and management with innovation, msci economics with innovation, msci finance with innovation, engineering and technology (6), beng aerospace engineering, beng civil engineering, beng electrical and electronic engineering, beng engineering design, beng engineering design with study in industry, beng engineering mathematics, beng mechanical engineering, beng mechanical and electrical engineering, bsc computer science, bsc data science, bsc data science with a year in industry, international foundation programme (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), meng aerospace engineering, meng civil engineering, meng computer science, meng computer science with innovation, meng electrical and electronic engineering, meng electrical and electronic engineering with innovation, meng electrical and electronic engineering with study abroad in a modern language, meng engineering design, meng engineering design with study in industry, meng engineering mathematics, meng engineering mathematics with study abroad, meng mechanical engineering, meng mechanical and electrical engineering, life sciences and medicine (6), bds dentistry, bds gateway to dentistry, bsc applied anatomy, bsc biochemistry, bsc biochemistry with medical biochemistry, bsc biochemistry with molecular biology and biotechnology, bsc biology, bsc biomedical sciences, bsc cancer biology and immunology, bsc cellular and molecular medicine, bsc dental hygiene and therapy, bsc medical microbiology, bsc neuroscience, bsc pharmacology, bsc pharmacology with study in industry, bsc physiological science, bsc plant sciences, bsc psychology, bsc psychology in education, bsc psychology in education with study abroad, bsc veterinary nursing and companion animal behaviour, bsc virology and immunology, bsc zoology, bvsc gateway to veterinary science, bvsc veterinary science, bvsc veterinary science: accelerated graduate entry, international foundation programme for dentistry, mb chb gateway to medicine, mb chb medicine, msci biochemistry, msci biochemistry with medical biochemistry, msci biochemistry with molecular biology and biotechnology, msci biology, msci cancer biology and immunology, msci cellular and molecular medicine, msci medical microbiology, msci neuroscience, msci pharmacology, msci physiological science, msci plant sciences, msci psychology and neuroscience, msci psychology with innovation, msci virology and immunology, msci zoology, natural sciences (6), bsc chemical physics, bsc chemistry, bsc chemistry with computing, bsc environmental geoscience, bsc geography, bsc geography with quantitative research methods, bsc geography with study abroad, bsc geography with study abroad in a modern language, bsc geology, bsc mathematics, bsc mathematics and computer science, bsc mathematics and philosophy, bsc mathematics and physics, bsc mathematics with statistics, bsc mathematics with statistics for finance, bsc mathematics with study abroad in a modern language, bsc palaeontology and evolution, bsc physics, bsc physics and philosophy, bsc physics with astrophysics, bsc physics with computing, meng mathematics and computer science, msci chemical physics, msci chemical physics with industrial experience, msci chemistry, msci chemistry with computing, msci chemistry with industrial experience, msci chemistry with study abroad, msci chemistry with study abroad in a modern language, msci environmental geoscience, msci environmental geoscience with study abroad, msci geography with innovation, msci geography with quantitative research methods, msci geology, msci geology with study abroad, msci mathematics, msci mathematics and philosophy, msci mathematics and physics, msci mathematics with statistics, msci mathematics with study abroad, msci mathematics with study abroad in a modern language, msci palaeontology and evolution, msci physics, msci physics and philosophy, msci physics with astrophysics, msci physics with computing, msci physics with computing with industrial experience, msci physics with industrial experience, msci physics with innovation, msci physics with international experience, msci physics with study abroad in a modern language, msci theoretical physics, social sciences and management (6), ba anthropology, ba film and english, ba film and french, ba film and german, ba film and italian, ba film and portuguese, ba film and spanish, ba film and television, ba politics and french, ba politics and german, ba politics and italian, ba politics and portuguese, ba politics and russian, ba politics and spanish, bsc childhood studies, bsc childhood studies with quantitative research methods, bsc childhood studies with study abroad, bsc criminology, bsc criminology with quantitative research methods, bsc criminology with study abroad, bsc education studies, bsc education studies with study abroad, bsc international social and public policy, bsc international social and public policy with study abroad, bsc politics and international relations, bsc politics and international relations with study abroad, bsc politics and sociology, bsc politics with quantitative research methods, bsc politics with quantitative research methods with study abroad, bsc social policy, bsc social policy and politics, bsc social policy and sociology, bsc social policy with criminology, bsc social policy with quantitative research methods, bsc social policy with study abroad, bsc sociology, bsc sociology and philosophy, bsc sociology with quantitative research methods, bsc sociology with quantitative research methods with study abroad, bsc sociology with study abroad, international foundation programme (social sciences and law), llb law and french, llb law and german, llb law and spanish, marts anthropology with innovation, marts film and television with innovation, msci childhood studies with quantitative research methods, msci criminology with quantitative research methods, msci politics with quantitative research methods, msci social policy with quantitative research methods, msci sociology with quantitative research methods.

Postgraduates at Bristol study alongside leading academics engaged in ground-breaking research. The University has strong research links, expert staff and a reputation for innovation.

Students can choose from a range of  postgraduate degrees at Bristol.  

Our wide range of taught programmes includes MA, MSc and LLM degrees. We offer research programmes such as PhDs and master’s degrees by research. Some programmes provide part-time study options or distance learning.

Postgraduate students can apply online through the University of Bristol website.

MA Black Humanities

Ma chinese-english audiovisual translation, ma chinese-english translation, ma comparative literatures and cultures, ma creative writing, ma english literature, ma history of art, ma immersive arts (virtual and augmented reality), ma philosophy, ma translation (online), ma composition of music for film and television, ma medieval studies, ma creative innovation and entrepreneurship, mres economics, msc accounting and finance, msc accounting, finance and management, msc business analytics, msc business innovation and entrepreneurship, msc economics, msc economics and finance, msc economics with data science, msc economics, finance and management, msc finance and investment, msc financial technology, msc financial technology with data science, msc international business and strategy: global challenges, msc management, msc management (csr and sustainability), msc management (digitalisation and big data), msc management (entrepreneurship and innovation), msc management (international business), msc management (international human resource management), msc management (project management), msc marketing, msc social innovation and entrepreneurship, msc social science research methods (management), msc strategy, change and leadership, msc technology innovation and entrepreneurship, msc banking, regulation and financial stability, msc global operations and supply chain management, msc innovation and entrepreneurship, msc management (marketing), msc advanced microelectronic systems engineering, msc aerial robotics, msc biorobotics, msc communication networks and signal processing, msc computer science (conversion), msc cyber security (infrastructures security), msc data science, msc data science (online), msc earthquake engineering and infrastructure resilience, msc engineering with management, msc human-computer interaction (online), msc immersive technologies (virtual and augmented reality), msc optoelectronic and quantum technologies, msc robotics, msc scientific computing with data science, msc sustainable engineering, msc wireless communications and signal processing, msc image and video communications and signal processing, msc nuclear science and engineering, msc optical communications and signal processing, mres health sciences research, msc applied neuropsychology, msc applied neuropsychology (online), msc bioinformatics, msc biomedical sciences research, msc cardiovascular perfusion (online), msc clinical perfusion science, msc clinical research methods and evidence-based medicine, msc digital health, msc health economics and health policy analysis, msc health professions education (online), msc healthcare management (online), msc medical statistics and health data science, msc periodontology, msc psychology (conversion), msc reproduction and development, msc science communication for a better planet, msc stem cells and regeneration (online), msc translational cardiovascular medicine, msc translational cardiovascular medicine (online), msc clinical neuropsychology, msc dental implantology, msc epidemiology, msc global wildlife health and conservation, msc molecular neuroscience, msc oral medicine, msc psychology of education bps, pgcert clinical neuropsychology practice, pgcert clinical oral surgery, pgcert clinical perfusion science, pgcert healthcare improvement (online), pgdip applied neuropsychology, pgdip applied neuropsychology (online), pgdip clinical neuropsychology, pgdip orthodontic therapy, pgdip theoretical and practical clinical neuropsychology, ma environmental humanities, mres sustainable futures, msc advanced composites, msc climate change science and policy, msc engineering mathematics, msc environmental analytical chemistry, msc environmental modelling and data analysis, msc environmental policy and management, msc geographic data science and spatial analytics, msc human geography: society and space, msc mathematical sciences, msc water and environmental management, msc by research global environmental challenges, msc palaeobiology, llm banking and finance law, llm commercial law, llm company law and corporate governance, llm employment, work and equality, llm general legal studies, llm health, law and society, llm human rights law, llm international commercial law, llm international law, llm law, environment, sustainability and business, llm law, innovation and technology, llm international law and international relations, ma anthropology, ma film and television, mres advanced quantitative methods, mres education, msc development and security, msc digital and technological society, msc east asian development and the global economy, msc education (education and climate change), msc education (inclusive education), msc education (leadership and policy), msc education (learning, technology and society), msc education (mathematics education), msc education (neuroscience and education), msc education (open pathway), msc education (policy and international development), msc education (teaching and learning), msc gender and international relations, msc global development and environment, msc human resource management and the future of work, msc international development, msc international relations, msc international security, msc policy research, msc public health, msc public policy, msc social science research methods (politics), msc social science research methods (sociology), msc social work, msc social work research, msc social and cultural theory, msc society, politics and climate change, msc socio-legal studies, msc sociology, msc teaching english to speakers of other languages (tesol), msc contemporary identities, msc nutrition, physical activity and public health, pgce education (secondary), phd anthropology and archaeology, phd classics and ancient history, phd creative writing, phd english literature, phd hispanic, portuguese and latin american studies, phd history, phd history of art, phd italian, phd linguistics, phd medieval studies, phd philosophy, phd religion and theology, phd russian, phd theatre and performance, phd translation, phd comparative literatures and cultures, phd accounting and finance, phd economics, phd innovation and entrepreneurship, phd management, phd aerospace engineering, phd civil engineering, phd computer science, phd electrical and electronic engineering, phd mechanical engineering, dedpsy educational psychology, phd biochemistry, phd biological sciences, phd cellular and molecular medicine, phd disability studies, phd dynamic molecular cell biology (wellcome trust), phd exercise, nutrition and health, phd great western four+ doctoral training partnership (nerc), phd integrative cardiovascular science (bhf), phd molecular, genetic and lifecourse epidemiology (wellcome), phd oral and dental sciences, phd physiology, pharmacology and neuroscience, phd population health sciences, phd psychological science, phd south west biosciences doctoral training partnership (bbsrc), phd translational health sciences, phd veterinary sciences, phd health and wellbeing, phd aerosol science, phd chemistry, phd earth sciences, phd engineering mathematics, phd geographical sciences (human geography), phd geographical sciences (physical geography), phd mathematics, phd physics, phd technology enhanced chemical synthesis, phd sustainable futures, phd east asian studies, phd education, phd politics, phd professional research in education, phd social work, phd sociology, phd advanced quantitative methods, phd film and television.

Videos & media

Social Policy PhD University of Bristol

• On campus - Clifton Campus
• Sep 1, 2023 Full-time - 4 years
• Jan 1, 2024 Full-time - 4 years
• Sep 1, 2023 Part-time - 8 years
• Jan 1, 2024 Part-time - 8 years

Key Course Facts

• View programme website
• Admission advice for international students

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews for 10 graduates of Social Policy PhD at University of Bristol for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Anthropology.

Salary of Graduates in Sociology, Social Policy and Anthropology

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Anthropology at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students .

Salary of all UK Graduates of Sociology, Social Policy and Anthropology

Course Description

The School for Policy Studies links theory, policy and practice in a multidisciplinary, research-intensive environment. Our research engages with and influences national and international policy. Our policy experts come from a wide variety of backgrounds in social policy research, social work, sociology, poverty, gender violence, disability studies, childhood studies, health and social care, urban studies history, human geography, economics, psychology, physical activity nutrition and health sciences, and family and child welfare, based within seven specialist research centres.

Our research examines policy areas that affect us all in day-to-day life, influences and challenges policies implemented by governments and institutions, and investigates the issues, factors and attitudes underlying the social concerns that make the headlines every day.

The school is an exciting environment for graduate studies; we welcome graduate students from the UK and around the world to join our diverse and highly-rated research team. We particularly welcome applications on topics with direct relevance to national and international policy concerns.

Accreditation by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) , working in partnership with University Archaeology UK (UAUK) , recognises academic programmes which provide students with appropriate workplace skills relevant to both a career in the historic environment and CIfA membership at Practitioner grade.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

What graduates are doing after 15 months

Current jobs

Job in line with future plans, utilise skills from studies, work is meaningful.

Required skill level of job after 15 months

% skilled jobs.

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Social Policy PhD at University of Bristol

Assessment Methods

Entry requirements / admissions, ucas tariff of accepted students for this course.

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

• Graduate Degrees
• Graduate Degrees Law, Econ, Medicine, English
• Undergraduate Degrees
• Undergraduate Degrees Law, Econ, Medicine, English

UCAS International Information

Tuition fees social policy phd.

Average student cost of living in the UK

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

University Rankings

Positions of university of bristol in top uk and global rankings., rankings of university of bristol in related subject specific rankings., social studies & humanities, about university of bristol.

The University of Bristol is a traditional red brick research university located in Bristol, England. This university does not have a campus that it designates as its main campus, but instead has a group of buildings in the city centre which is referred to as the “University precinct”. With six different faculties and 29 distinct schools, there is sure to be something of interest for almost any student at Bristol.

List of 408 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Bristol - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Bristol

Where is this programme taught.

Similar courses

Ask a Question to University of Bristol

Request course information or send a question directly to university of bristol, ranking publishers, shanghairanking consultancy, gras global ranking of academic subjects - shanghairanking  (published: 27 october, 2023).

view methodology

NTU ranking

Ntu rankings by subject  (published: 11 july, 2023).

• Log in
• Site search

Social Policy

Entry requirements.

An upper second-class honours degree and a pass at MSc/MA level (or equivalent experience/qualification).

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

The School for Policy Studies links theory, policy and practice in a multidisciplinary, research-intensive environment. Our research engages with and influences national and international policy. Our policy experts come from a wide variety of backgrounds in social policy research, social work, sociology, poverty, gender violence, disability studies, childhood studies, health and social care, urban studies, economics, psychology, physical activity, nutrition and health sciences, based within seven specialist research centres .

Our research examines policy areas that affect us all in day-to-day life, influences and challenges policies implemented by governments and institutions, and investigates the issues, factors and attitudes underlying the social concerns that make the headlines every day.

The school is an exciting environment for graduate studies; we welcome graduate students from the UK and around the world to join our diverse and highly-rated research team. We particularly welcome applications on topics with direct relevance to national and international policy concerns.

Information for international students

Fees and funding.

The Faculty of Social Sciences and Law has an allocation of 1+3 and +3 ESRC SWDTP scholarships . Applicants may also be interested in applying for funding from the University of Bristol scholarship fund or alumni PhD scholarship fund.

Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

• Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

• Home »
• University of Bristol »
• School for Policy Studies »
• Social Policy

find your perfect postgrad program Search our Database of 30,000 Courses

University of bristol: social policy.

The School for Policy Studies links theory, policy and practice in a multidisciplinary, research-intensive environment. Our research engages with and influences national and international policy. Our policy experts come from a wide variety of backgrounds in social policy research, social work, sociology, poverty, gender violence, disability studies, childhood studies, health and social care, urban studies, economics, psychology, physical activity, nutrition and health sciences, based within seven specialist research centres.

Our research examines policy areas that affect us all in day-to-day life, influences and challenges policies implemented by governments and institutions, and investigates the issues, factors and attitudes underlying the social concerns that make the headlines every day.

The school is an exciting environment for graduate studies; we welcome graduate students from the UK and around the world to join our diverse and highly-rated research team. We particularly welcome applications on topics with direct relevance to national and international policy concerns.

We welcome new PhD students all year round. However, the largest intake is in September each year with a secondary intake in January. We strongly recommend applicants to consider either a September or January start.

Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

Full-time, 4 years started sep 2024.

Part-Time, 8 years started Sep 2024

Not what you are looking for?

Postgraduate Bursary Opportunity with Postgrad.com

Are you studying as a PG student at the moment or have you recently been accepted on a postgraduate program? Apply now for one of our £2000 PGS bursaries.

Exclusive bursaries Open day alerts Funding advice Application tips Latest PG news

Complete Our Destination Survey

Take 2 minutes to complete our Destination Survey for the chance to win a Postgrad Study Bursary worth £2,000.

All we need to know is:

• Your university
• Your PG course

Our cookies

We use cookies for three reasons: to give you the best experience on PGS, to make sure the PGS ads you see on other sites are relevant , and to measure website usage. Some of these cookies are necessary to help the site work properly and can’t be switched off. Cookies also support us to provide our services for free, and by click on “Accept” below, you are agreeing to our use of cookies .You can manage your preferences now or at any time.

Privacy overview

We use cookies, which are small text files placed on your computer, to allow the site to work for you, improve your user experience, to provide us with information about how our site is used, and to deliver personalised ads which help fund our work and deliver our service to you for free.

The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience.

You can accept all, or else manage cookies individually. However, blocking some types of cookies may affect your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.

You can change your cookies preference at any time by visiting our Cookies Notice page. Please remember to clear your browsing data and cookies when you change your cookies preferences. This will remove all cookies previously placed on your browser.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, or how to clear your browser cookies data see our Cookies Notice

Manage consent preferences

Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.

They are essential for you to browse the website and use its features.

You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. We can’t identify you from these cookies.

Functional cookies

These help us personalise our sites for you by remembering your preferences and settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers, whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then these services may not function properly.

Performance cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and see where our traffic comes from, so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are popular and see how visitors move around the site. The cookies cannot directly identify any individual users.

If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to improve its performance for you.

Marketing cookies

These cookies may be set through our site by social media services or our advertising partners. Social media cookies enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They can track your browser across other sites and build up a profile of your interests. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to see or use the content sharing tools.

Advertising cookies may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but work by uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will still see ads, but they won’t be tailored to your interests.

Social Work PhD

University of bristol, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

Social Work

Course type

A PhD in Social Work equips students with the skills and experience to apply social research methods and tools to critically examine some of the most pressing contemporary issues in social work practice, policy and education. Students are encouraged to develop a topic of interest that directly relates to their own practice experiences or is of wider interest and relevance to the delivery of social work services and support to disadvantaged individuals and groups, either in the UK or overseas.

Students will be supported to develop research questions and design a study that enables them to rigorously research their topic of interest and make an original contribution to the knowledge base of social work. Topics may directly explore practice issues or contribute more broadly to social work knowledge, working with specific groups and communities and addressing systems of inequality and social disadvantage. Where appropriate, students are encouraged to work in collaboration with relevant organisations and user and interest groups to ensure their research outputs and key findings can directly inform social work practice and service delivery.

We are a multidisciplinary, research-intensive school which brings together theory, policy and practice. Our research engages with and influences national and international policy. Our policy experts come from a wide variety of backgrounds in social policy research, social work, sociology, gender violence, childhood studies, disability studies, health and social care, history, human geography, economics, psychology, physical activity, nutrition and health sciences, urban studies, and poverty, based within seven specialist research centres.

Supervisors in social work bring diverse interests across child and family social work (for example, looked after children; adoption and fostering; supporting parents with substance misuse or learning disabilities; domestic violence responses and interventions) and adult social care (for example, disabled adults' social care needs; housing and homelessness; mental health social work; social work with older people and carers; inclusive service provision for LGBTQ+ individuals).

The school is an exciting environment for postgraduate studies; we welcome students from the UK and abroad to join our diverse and highly-rated research team. We particularly welcome applications on topics with direct relevance to national and international social work and policy concerns.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

An upper second-class honours degree and a pass at MSc/MA level (or equivalent experience/qualification).

MA Social Work

Northumbria university, newcastle, canterbury christ church university, nottingham trent university, ma advanced social work practice, bournemouth university.

• News and articles
• Find us Find nearest IDP offices IDP Australia IDP Bahrain IDP Bangladesh IDP Cambodia IDP Canada IDP China IDP Egypt IDP Ghana IDP Hong Kong IDP India IDP Indonesia IDP Iran IDP Jordan IDP Kenya IDP Korea IDP Kuwait IDP Lebanon IDP Malaysia IDP Mauritius IDP Middle East IDP Nepal IDP New Zealand IDP Nigeria IDP Oman IDP Pakistan IDP Philippines IDP Saudi Arabia IDP Singapore IDP Sri Lanka IDP Taiwan IDP Thailand IDP Turkey IDP UAE IDP Vietnam IDP Corporate
• Where we operate
• Africa IDP Egypt IDP Ghana IDP Kenya IDP Nigeria
• Europe IDP Turkey
• Middle East IDP Bahrain IDP Iran IDP Jordan IDP Kuwait IDP Lebanon IDP Middle East IDP Oman IDP Pakistan IDP Saudi Arabia IDP UAE
• North America IDP Canada
• North Asia IDP Hong Kong IDP Korea IDP Taiwan
• Oceania IDP Australia IDP New Zealand
• South Asia IDP Bangladesh IDP India IDP Mauritius IDP Nepal IDP Sri Lanka
• South East Asia IDP Cambodia IDP Indonesia IDP Malaysia IDP Philippines IDP Singapore IDP Thailand IDP Vietnam
• New Zealand

United Kingdom

• United States
• Courses by subject
• Scholarships
• Vocational (VET)
• University Preparation
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate and Masters
• History of IDP
• Frequently asked Questions
• Arrival services
• Money transfer
• Student health cover
• Student banking
• Accommodation
• Find nearest IDP offices
• IDP Australia
• IDP Bahrain
• IDP Bangladesh
• IDP Cambodia
• IDP Hong Kong
• IDP Indonesia
• IDP Lebanon
• IDP Malaysia
• IDP Mauritius
• IDP Middle East
• IDP New Zealand
• IDP Nigeria
• IDP Pakistan
• IDP Philippines
• IDP Saudi Arabia
• IDP Singapore
• IDP Sri Lanka
• IDP Thailand
• IDP Vietnam
• IDP Corporate
• IDP Education /
• Colleges and Universities /
• United Kingdom /
• University of Bristol /

PhD in Social Policy

• University of Bristol

At UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL

Qualification

Next intake

26 September 2024

Entry Score

About the course

The School for Policy Studies links theory, policy and practice in a multidisciplinary, research-intensive environment. Our research engages with and influences national and international policy. Our policy experts come from a wide variety of backgrounds in social policy research, social work, sociology, poverty, gender violence, disability studies, childhood studies, health and social care, urban studies, economics, psychology, physical activity, nutrition and health sciences, based within seven specialist research centres. Our research examines policy areas that affect us all in day-to-day life, influences and challenges policies implemented by governments and institutions, and investigates the issues, factors and attitudes underlying the social concerns that make the headlines every day. The school is an exciting environment for graduate studies, we welcome graduate students from the UK and around the world to join our diverse and highly-rated research team. We particularly welcome applications on topics with direct relevance to national and international policy concerns.

• Scholarships View all scholarships
• Internships

Start dates and prices

Course fees are indicative and should be used as a guide. to get an accurate price.

Duration: 4 Year (s)

Fees: GBP 20100

How to apply

Entry requirements for university of bristol, application deadline.

The application deadline isn't available Speak to an IDP counsellor for more detailed information

Further information

If you aren't eligible for the above entry requirements, you might ant to explore pathway options at University of Bristol . If you want to find out more, speak to our counsellors.

Career outcomes

Pathway options to study at this institution

Reviews and rankings

The world ranking.

81 st / 1250

16 th / 130

What our students think

We’ve haven’t received any reviews for this institution yet.

More about University of Bristol

Calculate your cost of living in

Recommended for you

• Scholarship
• THE World Ranking:190
• Cardiff , United Kingdom
• Next intake:07/2024
• Entry Score: IELTS 7.0
• GBP19450 (2024)
• THE World Ranking:129
• Leeds , United Kingdom
• Next intake:09/2024
• Entry Score: IELTS 6.5
• GBP21000 (2024)
• THE World Ranking:601
• Coventry , United Kingdom
• GBP14863 (2024)
• THE World Ranking:193
• St Andrews , United Kingdom
• GBP19360 (2024)
• THE World Ranking:401
• Stirling , United Kingdom
• GBP15967 (2024)
• THE World Ranking:351
• Kuala Lumpur , United Kingdom
• MYR38640 (2024)

Your action plan

Shortlist your courses.

Choose the best three courses you’re most likely to pursue.

Check your eligibility

Get an instant in-principle offer for courses with the IDP FastLane tag.

Apply through IDP Live

Fill out the form once and use it to apply to multiple courses.

How does IDP FastLane work?

With the FastLane 'Offer in Principle', you'll know in minutes if you'll be accepted!

Select an institution and course

Create your academic profile

Submit your application for an 'Offer in Principle'

Your chosen institution(s) will send you a decision in minutes!

Get ready to apply with an expert counsellor

Careers Service Blog

Helping you get to where you want to be when you graduate

How to get into Social Policy

Last month the faculty of social sciences and law hosted a panel event on how to get into social policy, as part of the ‘how to get into’ event series. .

Here we bring you an overview of the sector and the panellists’ top tips for getting into social policy.

What is social policy?

Social policy is all about addressing human needs for security, social justice and welfare, and it considers how states and societies deal with such issues.

There are many different routes into policy work and a wide range of roles to pursue if you’re interested in this area – both in the private and public spheres.

A common entry route into the sector is as a research associate for independent think tanks. You could also work in project delivery or as a policy adviser in a government department. If you’re interested in more local issues, you might consider applying for the National Graduate Development Programme which is run through local governments.

Meet the panel – click their names to check out their LinkedIn profiles!

• Rosie Fortune is Senior Participation Officer – Policy and Campaigns – at NSPCC . Rosie graduated with a BSc in Social Policy from the University of Bristol in 2022, and is now pursuing an MSc in Social Work Research.
• Hannah Shackleford is Senior Public Policy & Political Engagement Manager at TPXimpact . Hannah has a BSc in Psychology from the University of Bristol, and an MSc in Social Policy and Social Research from UCL.
• Sara Soliman Riaño is Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer at Toynbee Hall . Sara graduated in 2022 with a Social Policy BSc from the University of Bristol.
• Patty Miranda is Gender Legal Advisor at The Asia Foundation . Patty has an LLM in Health, Law and Society from the University of Bristol.

Top tips from the panellists:

1. work on your communication style.

Working in social policy, it is important to be able to communicate well, for example by translating complicated policy into clear and simple briefs.

Make sure you show potential employers that this is a skill you possess. Check out this article on mycareer on how to improve your communication skills .

In addition, here are a couple of articles on how to write effective policy briefs from the UK Parliament and from the University of North Carolina .

2. Build your CV

Use your time at university to build your CV and develop new skills. Employers tend to recognise that most graduates don’t have years of work experience.  However, having a part-time job, doing an internship, or engaging in a leadership role within a society or student organisation allows you to develop skills that will be extremely useful when applying for graduate positions. Check out the opportunities page on mycareer to find work experience and internships!

3. Develop your skill set

One of the speakers recommended engaging with various online modules that teach more practical, hands-on skills, such as management.  Forage offers free virtual work experience programs within areas like social impact, law, and consulting. Coursera offers free and paid-for courses on a range of topics including project management and policy implementation.

Employers generally expect employees to have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, so using your time at university to work on these skills will be really useful for when you start applying for graduate roles. Take a look at Microsoft 365 Training , Excel video training – Microsoft Support and Microsoft Excel Online Training Courses by LinkedIn Learning.

4. Recognise your strengths and areas to improve your skills

Do a skills assessment. Assess your strengths and capabilities to sort out what your skills and passions are.

A self-assessment could help you discover what role you’re best suited for and what skills you might need to build on.

If you find public speaking or interviews challenging, make sure to practise! Try the mycareer strengths assessment and other Career Service resources to practise and grow in your self-confidence, for example, the Get interview-ready pathway .

5. Utilise LinkedIn

LinkedIn allows you to connect with other students, alumni, potential employers, and professionals working in social policy. Do not be afraid to reach out to people working in specific roles you might be interested in (for example the speakers from this event), and ask whether they would be willing to have a conversation with you about your future career. LinkedIn can also be a source of inspiration , by allowing you to see what other students and professionals have done to gain work experience and increase their competency.

Find out more:

• Explore our Policy Sector Guide for more info on the Policy sector and other related areas of work.
• Article from Prospects on careers in Public Services and Administration, an umbrella sector term which covers social policy
• Have a look at the Social Policy Association ’s website – a professional association for lecturers, researchers and students of social policy in the UK and internationally.
• Attend more events like this one – Explore more Career Service events .
• Explore work opportunities and internships on mycareer .

Blog written by Henrietta Skareng , a 3rd year BSc Politics and International Relations student, Student Engagement Team Worker and Career Peer Support Assistant.

Undergraduate study

Social policy.

Study with experts recognised for their work in poverty, gender-based violence, housing, migration, and health and social care, whose research has positively impacted people's lives.

Top reputation

Bristol is ranked in the UK's top 5 for the study of Social Policy and Administration (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023).

Excellent prospects

Our sought-after social policy graduates have the interdisciplinary skills to succeed in a diverse range of careers.

World-leading research

Our research makes a big impact on policy and practice, with 98% of the school's research classed as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' (REF 2021).

Social Policy courses for 2024

Single honours.

• BSc International Social and Public Policy (L410)
• BSc International Social and Public Policy with Study Abroad (L411)
• BSc Social Policy (L400)
• BSc Social Policy with Criminology (LM49)
• BSc Social Policy with Quantitative Research Methods (L402)
• BSc Social Policy with Study Abroad (L404)
• MSci Social Policy with Quantitative Research Methods (L403)

Joint Honours

• BSc Social Policy and Politics (LL42)
• BSc Social Policy and Sociology (LL43)

Social Policy at Bristol

Social policy is the interdisciplinary study of how societies conceptualise and respond to 'need' and promote the welfare and wellbeing of their members. Bristol's School for Policy Studies is known for covering a broad range of social policy areas and for exploring them within an international context.

As a social policy student, you will learn to think critically about issues such as risk, need, citizenship, inequality and globalisation. You will explore real-world challenges in a global context, drawing on social, political, public policy and economic theories.

Bristol is home to internationally renowned lecturers and researchers from a wide range of disciplines. We provide an ideal environment for you to explore your interests and delve into a specialism.

You will also have the opportunity to apply to take our optional work placement unit to gain real-world experience working in organisations that promote individual and community wellbeing.

I chose my subject because I love the idea of understanding society and how governments can influence people's lives. The support available at Bristol is amazing. Bristol is the best student city! It has everything you could want.

Career prospects

A degree in social policy gives you the best of both worlds. The degree can be vocational, leading to careers in a range of public, private and voluntary sector organisations. About one third of our graduates enter the public sector, including the national management training schemes for the NHS, local government and the civil service.

Social policy is also a non-vocational degree, and many graduates succeed in fields that do not require specific subject knowledge but rather transferable skills, for example in communication, teamwork and problem solving. Students go on to careers in areas such as journalism, development, advertising, housing, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), finance and PR.

Our graduates also pursue further study and other professional vocations such as law, teaching and social work.

Course structure

Our courses are designed to introduce you to the interdisciplinary study of the subject and to develop your skills and knowledge. As you progress through the degree, you can specialise to suit your interests.

The first year starts with the Critical Skills for Social Scientists unit alongside units covering historical, theoretical, comparative and international perspectives on social policy. Years two and three allow you to develop your own pathway through a wide variety of optional units, including the opportunity to undertake a work placement, depending on your particular interest.

Sample units may include:

• Climate Emergency
• Gender-Based Violence
• Poverty, Social Exclusion and Social Policy
• Social Care in Crisis
• Drugs and Society
• Migration: the UK, EU and Global Policy Perspectives.

Final-year students undertake a dissertation that lets you choose your own research topic. Students on other joint honours courses may choose a dissertation as an optional unit.

There are opportunities to spend time studying abroad in your second year on a number of our Social Policy courses. Alternatively, our four-year Study Abroad degree includes a year of study at one of our partner institutions overseas. Partner locations have included Australia, Japan, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the US. To find out more about studying abroad, visit the Centre for Study Abroad . 

Q-Step programme

Social policy is a partner in Bristol Q-Step, part of a national initiative offering enhanced skills training in the social sciences.

We offer the option of three- and four-year degree courses that combine core disciplinary learning with enhanced quantitative skills training in applied data analysis relevant to research in the social sciences.

Find out more about our courses with Quantitative Research Methods .