Get degree ideas using our A level explorer tool

Social Science

Entry requirements


A level

A,B,B-B,B,B

Where an applicant is taking the EPQ alongside A-levels, the EPQ will be taken into consideration and result in lower A-level grades being required. Socio-economic factors which may have impacted an applicant's education will be taken into consideration and alternative offers may be made to these applicants. General Studies and Critical Thinking A-levels are not accepted. At least five GCSEs at grade A*-C or 9-4 including English and Mathematics are also required.

Access to HE Diploma

D:27,M:18

Pass in a relevant subject with at least 24 level 3 credits at Distinction and the remaining level 3 credits at Merit. Please note that the Access to Higher Education Diploma will only be acceptable if the applicant has had a considerable break from education

Applicants with the Cambridge Pre-U are strongly encouraged to apply to Royal Holloway. Offers will be made on the basis of equivalent A-Level grades as can be found on the Royal Holloway website.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

We require at least five GCSEs at grade A*-C or 9 - 4 including English and Mathematics.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

32

6,5,5 at Higher Level with a minimum of 32 points overall.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H2,H2,H3,H3,H3

Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF)

D*D

In a relevant subject area plus an A-level grade B.

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)

DDD

in a relevant subject area.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DD

In a relevant subject area plus an A-level grade B.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

D

Plus A-level grades BB.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDM

in a relevant subject area.

Scottish Higher

A,A,B,B,B

AABBB

Requirements are as for A-levels where one non-subject-specified A-level can be replaced by the same grade in the Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.

UCAS Tariff

120-147

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Social sciences

Our School has an intellectually challenging approach to research and education. Studying Social Science at Royal Holloway means that you will learn from internationally renowned experts from within sociology, criminology, law, social policy and social work who will share their research and experience so that you gain invaluable skills, such as research and data analysis, which are highly sought after by employers.

The BSc Social Science will help you to take a broad view of current social issues, and explore them from a range of different perspectives. It will introduce you to understanding society and people in society, not only from sociological and social policy perspectives, but also from socio-legal and applied ethical viewpoints.

Our approach to social issues involves a practical approach to research which includes evaluating policy and service provision and undertaking practical research projects.

This degree course will also provide you with practical experience of working with individuals and groups in society through a credited volunteer module, and there is also an optional year in industry module.

- A rigorous and critical approach to understanding people in society

- Practical experience of working with individuals and groups in communities

- Broad academic training including social legal perspectives and applied ethics

- Practical skills in evaluation and research

Modules

Please find a list of modules on our website.

Assessment methods

You will complete 120 credits each year mainly made up either 15 or 30 credit units.’In the first year all units are compulsory in the second and third year there will some choice of optional units, including a 30 credit ‘Year in Industry’ unit.

Teaching will involve a range of methods including, lectures, seminars, individual tutorials, peer group work and practical activities (such as court visits and engagement with community groups)

Assessment will involve a range of methods including, essays, examinations and tests and practical projects.

Throughout the course a tutor will be available to you to provide advice on the choice of courses and to offer pastoral support.

In the final year of the programme you will undertake a research project and you will be allocated a specialist dissertation supervisor to support you with this.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£19,600
per year
International
£19,600
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Royal Holloway, University of London

Department:

Social Work

Read full university profile

What students say


How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Social sciences (non-specific)

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.


Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

91%
UK students
9%
International students
12%
Male students
88%
Female students
82%
2:1 or above
9%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
B
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Social sciences (non-specific)

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£18,000
med
Average annual salary
96%
med
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

13%
Other administrative occupations
8%
Childcare and related personal services
8%
Other elementary services occupations

This section covers a range of subjects that are often very different, so if you have a particular course in mind, the data here might not fully reflect the possible outcomes from your particular choice. Graduates from these subjects tend to do similar sorts of things to graduates from other social studies courses, so welfare and community roles are common, as are education, whilst graduates also often go into management, marketing and HR jobs and jobs in the police, and employment rates are good in general — but talk to course tutors and attend open days and try to get stats for the course you’re interested in.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Social sciences (non-specific)

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£19k

£19k

£23k

£23k

£27k

£27k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

Explore these similar courses...

Higher entry requirements
Cardiff University | Cardiff
Human and Social Sciences
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 120-128
Lower entry requirements
University of Bedfordshire | Luton
Criminology and Sociology
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 96-112
Nearby University
University of Kent | Canterbury
Social Sciences
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 112

Share this page

This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here