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Social Policy with Study Abroad

  • BSc (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time with time abroad
  • September 2026
  • Undergraduate
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More about University of Bristol

Course options

2025-20262026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

Social Policy provides an exciting opportunity to critically analyse contemporary social issues related to human wellbeing, inequality, disadvantage and crime. You will explore real-world challenges in a global context, drawing on social, political, public policy and economic theories.

Social Policy at Bristol addresses some of the key questions of our time. What should we do about inequality? Why does poverty persist? Who should pay for care for the elderly? What can be done about the climate crisis? How can citizens engage with policy?

Our BSc Social Policy course is one of the longest-running social policy degrees in the country and consistently scores highly in university subject rankings.

Graduates of the course have gone on to achieve success in a wide range of careers in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Alternatively, the course provides a strong foundation for furthering your studies in public policy.

For the study abroad programme, you will study at one of our partner institutions overseas during year three (of a four-year course), where you can choose from social sciences, arts and humanities subjects. To find out more about studying abroad, visit the Centre for Study Abroad (https://www.bristol.ac.uk/centre-for-study-abroad/outbound/).

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BSc (Hons) • Full-time with time abroad • 4 Years

Start dates

  • September 2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
L404
Institution code:
B78
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Bristol has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
L404
Institution code:
B78
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students and accepts a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate study. If you studied at a school, college or university outside the UK, please select the relevant page for further information on qualification equivalences, scholarships and details of our education representatives in your country/region: bristol.ac.uk/international/countries/

Open days

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

A level
AAB - BBB

Standard offer: AAB.

Contextual offer: BBB.

Please visit: bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/entry-requirements-qualifications/contextual-offers/ for more information about contextual offers.

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

DDD in any Applied General BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma.

Access to HE Diploma
D: 24 credits M: 21 credits

Access to HE Diploma in any acceptable title. The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include 24 credits at Distinction and 21 at Merit or above.

Mature students can contact mature-students@bristol.ac.uk to check the suitability of their Access course.

Scottish Higher
AAABB

Standard Higher: AAABB.

Scottish Advanced Higher
AB

Advanced Higher: AB.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
31 - 34 points

Standard offer: 34 points overall with 17 at Higher Level.

Contextual offer: 31 points overall with 15 at Higher Level.

Please visit: bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/entry-requirements-qualifications/contextual-offers/ for more information about contextual offers.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales or the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/ D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/ M2 is B, and M3 is C.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. We consider a large range of contextual factors when making application decisions.

If you receive and accept an offer from the University of Bristol, and you meet the terms of your offer in full, you will be accepted.

Learn more on the University of Bristol website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Fees are subject to annual review and are liable to rise each year. Home fees will be set in line with UK government policy and updated as per their guidance, while international fees increase annually in line with expected inflation rises. Visit bristol.ac.uk/ug-fees-funding for further information, including estimated fees for subsequent years and typical total costs.

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