Course Overview

Our programme will enable you to understand the causes of social problems and how societies attempt to solve them through the design and implementation of policy and welfare. 

Take today’s headlines - food banks, the ‘crisis’ in the NHS, unaffordable housing, problems with Universal Credit - we see these terms in the news, but what do they actually mean? Why are some members of society faced with these issues whilst others thrive? We explore how these inequalities come to exist and the influences of political and social factors on the development of social policies to maintain the wellbeing of citizens. On this course you will develop an awareness and understanding of key social issues and develop the skills and tools to develop effective policy in order to address them.

Social policy has never been so important to protect the wellbeing of citizens and reduce the social impact of the virus. The COVID-19 pandemic is a unique time of social struggle. This year we will see expounded poverty levels as the economic impact of the crisis takes root. Our already overstretched NHS is being pushed to the limit caring for COVID-19 patients and providing continuing care to patients with existing conditions. Care home and hospices are in crisis as charitable funding is cut and staff shortages increase due to COVID-19. We are likely on the cusp of a mental health crisis, as people struggle to cope with isolation and key workers face burnout. We will experience the impact of this pandemic in our society for years to come. Undoubtedly, it will be those already vulnerable in society that suffer most from the impact of COVID-19 even as some of the systems adapt to provide some kind of security.

We are extremely proud that our course is ranked in the Complete University Guide as number one in the country for student satisfaction and number one within the North West for Social Policy courses (2023).

You will:

• Learn about the ways in which governments seek to improve the welfare of their citizens

• Explore the factors which influence the development of social policy and the provision of welfare

• Understand the root causes of social problems and identify how to solve them

• Develop the skills to develop social policy to protect the most vulnerable in society

• Be supported by passionate and committed educators and research-active staff

General Eligibility

GCSE

English Language and Maths at Grade 4/C or above (or equivalent). You must fulfil our GCSE entry requirements as well as one of the requirements listed below

UCAS tariff points

96 points

A level

96 points

Part Time Work Details

20 Hours of Work permit weekly for international students.

Language Requirement

• The IELTS score for international applicants is 6.0 (with no less than 5.5 in each component).