International Social and Public Policy

International social and public policy is a discipline that examines how governments and other actors make decisions about collective welfare, and how those decisions play out across different societies and cultural contexts. It draws on economics, political science, sociology, behavioural science, and philosophy to understand the complex dynamics of welfare states, healthcare systems, housing policy, education, criminal justice, and social security, and to evaluate how different approaches to these challenges produce different outcomes for different groups of people. The international dimension is fundamental: comparing policies across countries is one of the most powerful ways to understand what works, why, and for whom.

At the University of Bristol, this three-year full-time programme includes a foundation year that provides additional academic preparation for students working towards degree-level social policy. The programme gives you the tools to explore, analyse, and critically evaluate policy issues in and across societies in a range of geographical and cultural contexts, drawing on multiple disciplines and theoretical frameworks. Bristol has a strong research tradition in social policy, and the programme reflects the quality of that intellectual community.

You will engage with comparative welfare systems, the politics of social policy reform, the evidence on policy effectiveness, and the philosophical foundations of different approaches to social justice and redistribution.

You will develop skills in policy analysis, comparative research, critical reading of theory and evidence, and the clear written communication of complex policy arguments.

Graduates from international social and public policy programmes pursue careers in government, the civil service, local authorities, international organisations, NGOs, research institutions, the charity sector, and policy consultancy. The analytical and research skills developed are valued across public, private, and third sectors. Postgraduate study in social policy, public administration, political science, or a related discipline is a natural continuation.