The MSc International Social Policy masters programme considers social policy issues and debates in a broad international context. Students will receive training in international social policy analysis and evaluation using quantitative and/or qualitative research methods. This MSc offers choice and flexibility to specialise on the basis of three pathways:
Ageing Societies, Development Studies and Research Methods.
How can we create a better society? What does it take to improve the way a global community interacts and governs? Explore these questions and more with a masters in International Social Policy and forge a career that covers social policy, welfare, politics, social policy issues and debates in a broad international context. Study fascinating modules which include International Social Policy, Understanding Social Change, Research Design and International Social Welfare.
The aims of the international social policy masters programme are to provide you with:
View the programme specification document for this course
Four pathways are offered for the MSc International Social Policy: Research Methods, Ageing Societies, Development, Social Enterprise
Research Methods
Compulsory
RESM6003 Qualitative methods 1
Optional
RESM6005 Survey design
DEMO6021 Understanding population change
DEMO6023 Population poverty and policy
DEMO6026 Population and reproductive health
GERO6017 Methods for researching ageing societies
GERO6018 Perspectives in gerontology
GERO6019 Demographic change ageing and globalisation
GERO6020 Ageing health and wellbeing
PAIR6005 The south and global politics
PAIR6010 Governance and policy
SOCI6035 Understanding modernity
SOCI6045 Development and migration
SOCI6048 Social enterprise design
Ageing Societies
DEMO6021 and DEMO6023 must be taken togehter
Compulsory
GERO6018 Perspectives in gerontology
Optional
DEMO6021 Understanding population change
DEMO6023 Population poverty and policy
GERO6017 Methods for researching ageing societies
GERO6019 Demographic change ageing and globalisation
GERO6020 Ageing health and wellbeing
Development
DEMO6021 (10 credits) and DEMO6023 ( 10 credits) must be taken together
Compulsory
SOCI6045 Development and migration
Optional
DEMO6021 Understanding population change
DEMO6023 Population poverty and policy
PAIR6005 The south and global politics
SOCI6035 Understanding modernity
The MSc Sociology and Social Policy is designed to equip postgraduate students with advanced knowledge in the disciplines of sociology and social policy. It allows for greater flexibility than either the MSc Sociology and Social Research or the MSc Social Policy and Social Research by enabling you to specialise in quantitative or qualitative methods.
This programme explores contemporary issues in sociology and social policy, such as social inequality and diversity, migration and terrorism, and can be used as a stepping stone for those who wish to pursue careers in the public, private or voluntary sector.
Do you want to explore the structure of human society? Do you want to investigate why societies pool their resources to pay for social protection how social policy forms society? Enrol on the MSc Sociology and Social Policy degree and conduct social science research to understand the forces behind the construction of policies.
This masters course will open a path a range of fulfilling careers in social research and social policy. It also provides a stepping stone for those who wish to pursue a PhD in sociology and/or social policy.
The aims of this programme are to provide you with:
View the programme specification document for this course
Anthropology, economics, geography, political science, sociology – you already know what the social sciences are. But how do they work? What makes them special?
There are clear senses in which they differ from some of the natural sciences, such as their extremely diverse set of methods and analytic techniques, but does this make the social sciences any less scientific or objective?
With LSE widely recognised as the world’s leading specialist social science university, the MSc Philosophy of the Social Sciences is the ideal degree with which to pursue questions about human societies, and to apply philosophical reasoning to understanding the nature of the social sciences themselves.
This programme offers a critical examination of the conceptual and methodological issues underlying social scientific research. The Department's strength in philosophy of economics and rational choice theory makes it the ideal environment in which to study, examine and critique the use of these methods within the social sciences.
Past programme graduates have gone on to a wide variety of careers, ranging from law, forming their own start-up, working in the City and working at Google. We have a very good record of students entering excellent PhD programmes.
Further information on graduate destinations for this programme
With a deep and rigorous programme of coursework and research in the Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method, the MSc Philosophy of Science explores both general questions about the nature of science and specific foundational issues related to the individual sciences.
This programme is primarily designed to be accessible and stimulating for two main audiences: those who have studied science as undergraduates and would now like to study the philosophical foundations and methodology of science in depth, and those who have studied philosophy and would now like to delve deeper into the philosophy of science.
Founded in 1946 by the eminent philosopher of science Sir Karl Popper, LSE’s Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method is the ideal place to explore conceptual, methodological and foundational issues in the sciences. Along with the closely related Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science, it enjoys an international reputation for its cutting-edge research, bustling seminar series and distinguished faculty and visitors.
This master's programme prepares you for many different possible destinations, including PhD work in philosophy or related disciplines, and employment in many non-academic fields such as science journalism, science administration and science management.
Further information on graduate destinations for this programme
Philosophy of Education at Winchester enables you to develop your knowledge of educational philosophy. You explore theory, policy, and practice as they relate to your intellectual curiosity and/or your current and future professional roles. You are introduced to a diverse range of theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches, and encouraged to enhance your analytical and research skills.
The course provides opportunities to think philosophically and critically about educational policy and practice in relation to a wider socioeconomic and political analysis. You learn to demonstrate advanced skills in critically engaging with educational literature and research, and to develop key transferable skills, including the capacity to manage projects, to communicate complex ideas to others with clarity, and to make effective decisions independently and with others, in preparation for equipping you for progression in graduate employment or for further advanced study.
You evaluate the contributions of theorists and educationalists, consider case studies drawn from empirical research, and delve into the rich tapestry of you own experiences to reflect critically upon educational issues, policy and practice. You study modules including Introducing the Politics of Educational Policy and Practice, Pedagogical Ethics, The Arts and Education, Disability and Inclusive Education. You are provided with full, one-to-one support in the production of a dissertation, which is a substantial piece of independent research of 15,000 to 20,000 words.
The course is excellent preparation for you to pursue or advance a career in teaching and school leadership, or in professions related to care and service. It also provides a firm foundation for undertaking a postgraduate research degree.
The programme is of benefit to anyone interested in pursuing or advancing careers in professions involving care and service. It provides a firm foundation for undertaking a postgraduate research degree.
UK, EU, World
In addition to lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, students are offered opportunities to engage in focused group work. Students evaluate the contributions of theorists and educationalists, consider case studies drawn from empirical research and delve into the rich tapestry of their own experiences to reflect critically upon educational issues, policy and practice.
Evenings
King Alfred or West Downs, University of Winchester
Each module is assessed through written assignments, usually essays, along with other forms of assessment. Assignment titles emerge from the context of each module, although there are opportunities for titles to be individually negotiated between students and module leaders. Students are provided with full, one-to-one support in the production of a dissertation, which is a substantial piece of independent research of 15,000-20,000 words.
Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.
We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day or Open Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.
We are committed to providing timely and appropriate feedback to you on your academic progress and achievement in order to enable you to reflect on your progress and plan your academic and skills development effectively. You are also encouraged to seek additional feedback from your course tutors.
For more information about our regulations for this course, please see our Academic Regulations, Policies and Procedures.
This programme delivers high-quality research methods training, including practical experience with qualitative and quantitative data analysis software packages and detailed analysis related to research epistemology and the philosophy of social science. It can provide opportunities to gain 'hands on' experience and contribute to current research projects, working, for example, with the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring (CEM).
The programme is suited to those hoping to later pursue a research degree (usually PhD) but who do not meet the research methods training entry requirements, as well as those who wish to apply for an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) studentship, as the programme is recognised by the ESRC for 1+3 funding.
The programme is a Faculty-wide course and modules are taught within the School of Education, the School of Applied Social Sciences (Sociology) and the Department of Psychology. This provides you with the opportunity to come into contact with other students studying research methods in different disciplines across the Social Sciences.
Either:
Or:
Either:
And:
Or:
15 credits from:
Teaching is offered through lectures, seminars and tutorials. You will take part in a range of learning activities, including reading, discussion, presentations, criticising existing research, analysing and interpreting data, designing experiments, search literature and synthesising the results of multiple studies. Each module is assessed with an assignment (3,000) words for a 15-credit module and a dissertation of 12,000 words.
Career opportunities in education are wide and include classroom teaching, educational leadership and management, administration and policy development.
MRes Human Sciences course provides a comprehensive research training programme enabling you to gain high-level research skills, equipping you for further study at MPhil and PhD level, or for a range of professional careers in the knowledge economy.
The emphasis of the course is the development of critical thinking skills and their application to concrete research problems and issues. The modules are wide ranging covering a broad base of academic subjects in law, humanities and social sciences.
The course consists of both taught and research elements, with modules covering the philosophy and ethics of research, quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and the application of computerised and virtual research techniques.
The course culminates with an option to produce a piece of independent, original research, guided by a supervisor with expertise in your chosen area of study or to complete a grant funding proposal for potential development as a research project at MPhil or PhD level.
The emphasis of the course is the development of critical thinking skills and their application to concrete research problems and issues. The modules are wide ranging covering a broad base of academic subjects in law, humanities and social sciences.
Why study the MRes in Human Sciences at the University of Wolverhampton:
Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to pursue a wide range of opportunities and careers involving advanced level research.
These include MPhil and PhD study across a range of disciplines within law, humanities and the social sciences, many professional careers within, for example, government and the public sector, the uniformed services, the legal and criminal justice industries, market research and think-tank organisations.
At the end of this course you will be able to:
The MA in Human Rights focuses on the pressing questions of human rights. Can there be space for human rights in world affairs? Who is responsible for the protection of human rights in world politics? These theoretical and practical concerns form the central focus of the degree and are addressed through the compulsory course units. This research route course is designed for students for whom a taught MA will be a prelude to a PhD. It will appeal particularly to those with an interest in the political, legal and ethical issues that arise from widespread human rights violations globally. The course provides students with an advanced, critical, interdisciplinary and systematic understanding of human rights issues within a global context. It is an interdisciplinary degree which allows student's exposure to developments in international politics, political theory, and law in order to better understand the complex global environment in which human rights claims are made.
Course Director: Dr Jamie M. Johnson
Tel: 0161 306 6929
Email: [email protected]
IMPORTANT NOTE ON PART-TIME STUDY
Part-time students complete the full-time programme over two years. There are NO evening or weekend course units available on the part-time programme.
You must first check the schedule of the compulsory modules and then select your optional modules to suit your requirements.
Updated timetable information will be available from mid-August and you will have the opportunity to discuss your module choices during induction week with your Course Director
The School of Social Sciences is now based in a brand new purpose-built building which allows 24/7 access.
Dedicated area in the atrium with computer terminals
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: [email protected]
Successful graduates go into careers in Academia, the Civil Service, Journalism, the NGO sector, and wide range of related positions in both the public and private sectors among others.
Sample modules:
Please note that all modules are subject to change. Please see our modules disclaimer for more information.
We provide lots of opportunities for you to develop transferable skills for your future career. Our graduates move on to a wide range of roles, including UK ambassadors, military officers, members of the SAS or intelligence analysts, bankers, political analysts, university lecturers, staff college lecturers, journalists, officials in international organisations or police officers.
Others have gone into industry, teaching, local government administration, charitable foundations or Parliament.
This MA programme is unique in the UK. It is based in a major centre for philosophy of education and aims to give students a comprehensive grounding in the subject.
This programme enables students to explore further the relevance of ethics, political philosophy, philosophy of mind and epistemology to contemporary educational issues and to bring philosophical thinking to bear on their own educational concerns including professional practice. Students will gain a grounding in philosophical approaches, becoming part of a lively community of Master's and doctoral students from a wide range of backgrounds.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of core modules (60 credits), optional modules (60 credits) and the dissertation (60 credits).
Core modules
Optional modules
The following option is recommended:
Dissertation/report
All students are required to submit either: a dissertation of 18,000-20,000 words in philosophy of education (60 credits) or a report of about 10,000 words plus a further 30-credit optional module approved by the Programme Leader.
Teaching and learning
The taught sessions consist primarily of presentation by the tutor or another speaker, often reviewing a range of positions and arguments on a topic (on occasion students may be invited in advance to make their own presentation to the group); and discussion, both as a whole class and in small groups, which is vital both to clarifying and being able to argue for your own position, and to understanding the positions and arguments of others.
Assessment on the Philosophy MA modules is by means of a 5,000-word written essay.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Philosophy of Education MA
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Graduates of this programme are currently working across a broad range of areas. Some are working as teachers and senior school leaders, while others have jobs as university lecturers and researchers. Graduates can also be found working as staff in policy think tanks and as youth workers or in adult and informal education.
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
The Department of Education, Practice and Society at UCL Institute of Education (IOE) is the well-established home of an interdisciplinary grouping bringing together high-quality teaching and research in the history, sociology and philosophy of education and international development.
The IOE has, through the decades, been in the vanguard of the development and dissemination of work in the field. Its Centre for Philosophy draws together research across the IOE as well as showcasing our extensive connections in the field.
The centre is committed to rigorous exploration of a variety of philosophical approaches, encompassing such topics as the aims of education, teaching, learning, and the curriculum, democracy, citizenship, philosophy with children, new technology, and the environment.
This innovative programme offers students the opportunity to examine processes of governance and policy-making at a variety of levels, from global to local, utilise ideas about governance to better understand contemporary policy processes in a range of settings, while also gaining rigorous research methods training. Students can explore these issues of governance and policy in a cross-disciplinary way, making use of insights from politics, international relations, social policy, sociology, demography, gerontology and social statistics. This programme is specifically structured to enable students to shape their degree around their own particular interests in the fields of governance and policy more broadly, and will appeal to those not only from a social science background, but also to those with relevant work experience in the public, private and third sectors and beyond who wish to expand their skills and knowledge portfolio. In addition, it delivers extensive research training particularly suited to those who wish to pursue PhD study or a career where skills in research methodology may be of relevance. This programme is accredited by the ESRC.
Enhance your understanding of modern governance and the operation of policymaking processes while also developing highly valued skills across a range of research methods. The MSc Governance and Policy (Research) degree at the University of Southampton enables you to develop your interests in the complexities of governance and the challenges of policymaking and public policy delivery, as well as cultivating your abilities in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, research design, and independent thinking skills.
This rigorous programme of study, and the specific research skills it seeks to develop, means that graduates are well placed for careers not just across a broad range of local, national and international political and policy organizations, but also in areas where independent research skills are at a premium. It is also ideal for those aiming for PhD research in this field.
This programme is designed both to equip students to undertake independent research across the social sciences, with specific reference to the fields of governance and policy, and to develop in-depth research methods skills that are of relevance to a broad range of careers in the public and private sector. The cross-disciplinary nature of the programme enables students to build their own degree according to their own particular interests and preferences within the broad areas of governance and policy, drawing on the diverse range of relevant modules taught across the disciplines of politics and international relations, sociology, social policy, social statistics, demography and gerontology. The core module of the programme, Governance and Policy, also enables students to develop their policy skills by preparing a policy briefing as part of their assessment, a task designed to enable students to use the knowledge and conceptual insights gained to outline ways to solve ‘real world’ policy problems, thus delivering key skills prized by employers.
All of our MSc programmes endeavour to develop your subject-specific knowledge and understanding, and provide opportunities for you to shape your own degree trajectory through optional module selection. In addition, all our MSc programmes aim to help you gain:
In addition to the credit-bearing modules you will take as part of your chosen programme, all MSc students participate in our bespoke training workshops, led by the MSc Coordinator, and specifically designed to help you get the best grades you can on during your masters study with us:
MSc Coursework Workshop (Semester 1)
This workshop explains the expectations and demands of coursework in our masters programmes, delineates the critical thinking, research and writing skills required, outlines the processes associated with literature reviews and coursework planning, and the rules about academic integrity. The workshop is designed to give practical support to students as they approach their coursework tasks, help UK/EU students understand the specific expectations we have at masters level, and help overseas students unfamiliar with higher education in this country get a better sense of what is expected.
MSc Dissertation Workshop (Semester 2)
This workshop helps students begin the process of thinking about and planning for their MSc dissertation. It provides guidance on topic selection, generation of research questions, aims of the literature review, the role of primary research, dissertation structure, writing advice, and the role of the supervisor. The workshop also offers practical advice from academics about how to produce an original piece of work, the role of depth over breadth, and how to craft convincing arguments.
View the programme specification document for this course
