Social Policy and Politics

Social policy and politics is a combination that examines both how political systems work and what they do: how governments are organised and how they make decisions, and what the consequences of those decisions are for the welfare, equality, and life chances of citizens. Social policy focuses on the design and effects of the interventions that states make in areas such as healthcare, education, housing, social security, and employment. Politics provides the analytical framework for understanding the power relationships, ideological conflicts, and institutional constraints that shape what social policy is actually possible.

At Edinburgh this four-year full-time degree develops your analytical skills across both disciplines, combining theoretical political science with the empirical study of welfare systems, public services, and social inequality. You will study comparative politics, political theory, the sociology of welfare, social research methods, and the specific policy areas that shape everyday life. A year abroad is available within the programme, allowing you to study social policy and politics in a different national context, which is particularly illuminating given how differently countries have approached the same social challenges.

Edinburgh's outstanding social science faculty and its research strength in both politics and social policy give the programme substantial academic depth.

Graduates of social policy and politics degrees go on to careers in the civil service, local government, public health, social research, think tanks, charities, and international organisations. The analytical and research skills developed are also valued in journalism, consulting, and the private sector. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in social policy, politics, public administration, or social research methods, particularly those aiming at senior roles in policy development, research, or academic careers.