MA (Social Sciences) (Hons) Social & Public Policy at University of Glasgow

Programme overview

Social & Public Policy applies ideas from political science, sociology and economics to understand how governments respond to people's needs, welfare and wellbeing, with a focus on practical workplace skills such as writing policy briefs and input from sector practitioners.

Faculty: College of Social Sciences | Department: School of Social and Political Sciences | Duration: 4 years | Intake: September | Location: Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

What you will study

Year 1 examines the development of welfare policy from the 1942 Beveridge Report and contemporary social problems in Glasgow; Year 2 covers international perspectives on welfare, the politics of policymaking and policy evaluation. Honours topics include housing policy, health inequalities, big data policy and power, environmental and climate justice, and youth policy. Around a quarter of study time in the Quantitative Methods (Q-Step) variant is devoted to quantitative methods.

Career pathways

Graduate roles include policy coordinator, housing officer, business and policy advisor, campaign executive, project management graduate and teacher.

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Application information

Entry requirements

Social & Public Policy MA(SocSci) (L430): A-levels AAB including English or Humanities at A/B; IB 36 points (6,6,5 at HL) with HL English or HL Humanities and SL English at 6; Scottish Highers minimum AABB from S5 to be reviewed for an S6 offer, with offers typically at AAAAB by the end of S6, including Higher English at A and Higher Humanities at A. The Quantitative Methods variant (LG43) is also offered. International applicants from non-English-speaking countries: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no subtest below 6.0 (single sitting, taken within 2 years 5 months of the start date); TOEFL iBT 92 overall (tests from 21 January 2026) with minimum Reading 22, Listening 20, Speaking 23, Writing 21; PTE Academic 59 overall and in every subtest. UCAS deadlines: 13 January for UK applicants (15 October for Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine or Oxford/Cambridge applicants); 30 June for international students.

Intake: September 2027

Duration: 4 years

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