Sociology and Social Policy with a Year Abroad

Our Sociology and Social Policy degree explores how societies work and how their futures can be shaped. From the local to the global, the personal to the structural, it examines key current challenges, critical debates, and real-life solutions.

You will explore the key factors that shape our everyday experience of social life, as well as how society identifies needs, promotes wellbeing and allocates resources. You will examine major issues such as social justice, inequality, health, education and social movements, always connecting them to today’s trends and tomorrow’s possibilities.

Our flexible degree structure with a wide range of specialist modules gives you the scope to tailor your course to your particular interests, career ambitions, or plans for further study.

To enrich your learning, we offer a wide range of activities such as field trips to places of social and political interest, including the Senedd, Big Pit, the Swansea Copperjack Boat, South Wales Police HQ and Swansea Prison. We also regularly welcome guest speakers to share their specialist knowledge in workshops and seminars, giving you the chance to hear directly from professionals across the sector.

You will have the opportunity to undertake either a Year Abroad or a Year in Industry, allowing you to choose the pathway that best suits your interests and future ambitions. The Year in Industry can be spent in the UK or overseas, enabling you to gain valuable workplace experience. The University advocates for paid-only placements, which on average have a salary of over £20,000. Unpaid placements are considered on a case-by-case basis.

The optional Foundation Year for this programme can give you an exciting introduction to higher education, setting you up with the skills, confidence, and knowledge that you will need to be successful in your undergraduate degree. It’s ideal if you need a little more support after further education, or are returning to education after a gap. Following successful completion of the Foundation Year, you will progress onto Year 1 of your BSc.

Kickstart a bright future at Swansea University.

With around 300,000 residents, Swansea isn’t the biggest city this side of the Severn, but she’s got a big personality with a cost of living that’s refreshingly affordable compared to most other UK cities. Whether you like to explore the outdoors, take in a bit of culture, or anything in between, Swansea has something for everyone.

As a student at Swansea University, you'll benefit from a friendly, inclusive community and opportunities to gain skills that last a lifetime. Alongside first-class resources that include a mock court room, indoor athletics centre & virtual reality lab, you'll learn from leading academics, in a supportive and nurturing environment.

With 120 societies, 50 sports clubs and 12 months of must-see events, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy between lectures.

Whoever you are and whoever you want to be, you'll find yourself right at home in Swansea.