Social Policy and Sociology, MA (Hons)

This joint degree programme offers a comprehensive foundation in social policy and sociology, disciplines that mutually enhance understanding of societal dynamics. Social policy at the University of Edinburgh equips students to confidently address contemporary political debates, exploring areas such as health, welfare, labour markets, education, and family. It examines policy impacts on civic culture, political engagement, and economic structures, while fostering critical analysis of policy formulation and influencing factors.Sociology investigates how individual decisions are shaped by broader social forces, including relationships between groups, issues of identity and belonging, causes of cooperation and conflict, and the evolution of societies and institutions. Students gain skills to compare national contexts and tackle global issues. At Edinburgh, instruction from research-active staff emphasises real-world applications through collaborations with governments, NGOs, and international organisations, developing empirical research abilities and encouraging a reevaluation of politics, society, and the economy.