Sociology and Social Policy with a Year Abroad

UCAS code: L305

Here's what Swansea University says about its Sociology and Social Policy with a Year Abroad course.

Studying a Sociology and Social Policy degree will equip you with the essential theoretical foundation to understand people's behaviour as social beings, as well as the wider social, cultural, political and economic factors influencing our constantly changing society.

You will explore how society promotes the well-being of its members, examining themes and values such as social justice, equality, fairness, and citizenship, alongside specific policy focal points such as health, education, housing, disability, crime, poverty, and the family.

You will learn how to generate new knowledge and information using a variety of qualitative and quantitative social research tools and throughout the course, you will develop excellent communication and presentation skills, together with the ability to analyse and critically evaluate evidence and construct arguments around the complex societal issues that affect us all.

As part of this programme, you will spend a year abroad between your second and final year, broadening your skills and experience. Our partner institutions span the globe, with opportunities varying each year. If you wish to receive more information, please get in touch with us on [email protected]

Why Sociology and Social Policy at Swansea? Our Sociology and Social Policy degree programme has an enviable reputation; Social Policy at Swansea is ranked:

• 1st in the UK for Student Satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2025)

• 1st in the UK for Student Experience (Times Good University Guide 2025)

• 7th in the UK for Student Voice (NSS 2024*)

• 11th in the UK for Graduate Prospects (Complete University Guide 2025)

Sociology at Swansea is ranked:

• Top 20 in the UK for Graduate Prospects (Complete University Guide 2025)

• Top 25 in the UK Overall (Complete University Guide 2025)

Our core teaching staff have a strong, international profile in research, and regularly consult on policy in Wales, the UK and beyond. *Based on the average positivity score across questions 22 to 25 in the NSS 2024 when ranked against universities featured in the Times Good University Guide

Your Sociology and Social Policy Experience 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.

In Year 1, you will typically study areas including: Introducing Social Policy; Individuals and Society; Sociology: The Classics; Economics, Politics and Society; The History of Social Policy; and Sociology: Contemporary Controversies.

In Year 2, you will typically study areas including: Social Problems I; Using Evidence for Research, Policy and Practice; Health Policy; Investigating Gender; Devolution, Policy Making and Social Change; Poverty and Social Justice; and Education, Policy and Society.

As part of this programme, you will spend a year abroad between your second and final year, broadening your skills and experience. Our partner institutions span the globe, with opportunities varying each year. If you wish to receive more information, please get in touch with us on [email protected]

In Year 4, you will typically study areas including Principles of Social Policy; The Family and Children: Ethics and Policy; Society, Science and Technology; Risk in Modern Society; Understanding the sex industry: Theory, policy and practice; Understanding the sex industry: Theory, policy and practice; Illegal Economies; Probation and Community Justice: Policy, Practice and Partnerships; Bodies in Society; and Race and Nation. You will also undertake a dissertation.

We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course. Apart from a small number of online-only courses, most of our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students. Practical skills sessions, lab work seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group working and demonstrations. We also operate virtual labs and Simulated Learning Environments which will facilitate greater access to training opportunities in the future. However, our approach also includes the use of some online learning to support and enhance traditional face-to-face teaching. Online learning may take place ‘live’ using software such as Zoom, allowing you to interact with the lecturer and other students and to ask questions. Lecture recordings also allow for more flexibility to revisit material, to revise for assessments and to enhance learning outside of the classroom. Some modules have extra resources in Canvas, such as videos, slides and quizzes enabling further flexible study. This course may offer some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.