Expand+How and when to Apply
How to Apply
Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained...

Hide-How and when to Apply
How to Apply
Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained from the UCAS website at: www.ucas.com/students.

When to Apply
UCAS will start processing applications for entry in Autumn 2020 from 1 September 2019.

Advisory closing date: 15 January 2020 (18:00).

Late applications are, in practice, accepted by UCAS throughout the remainder of the application cycle, but you should understand that they are considered by institutions at their discretion, and there can be no guarantee that they will be given the same full level of consideration as applications received by the advisory closing date.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as is consistent with having made a careful and considered choice of institutions and courses.

The Institution code name for Queen's is QBELF and the institution code is Q75.

Expand+A level requirements
BBB

Irish leaving certificate requirements
H3H3H3H3H4H4/H3H3H3H3H3

Access Course
Successful completion of Access Course with an average of 65%.

International Baccalaureate Diploma
32 points overall, including 6,5,...

Hide-A level requirements
BBB

Irish leaving certificate requirements
H3H3H3H3H4H4/H3H3H3H3H3

Access Course
Successful completion of Access Course with an average of 65%.

International Baccalaureate Diploma
32 points overall, including 6,5,5 at Higher Level. If not offered at Higher Level/GCSE then Standard Level grade 4 in English would be accepted

BTEC Level 3 Extended/National Extended Diploma
QCF Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma (180 credits), with 100 credits at Distinction grade and 80 credits at Merit grade.

RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma (1080 Guided Learning Hours (GLH), with at least 540 GLH at Distinction grade (minimum 240 GLH to be externally assessed) and 540 GLH at Merit grade.

Graduate
A minimum of a 2:2 Honours Degree

All applicants
There are no specific subject requirements to study Social Policy and Sociology.

Selection Criteria

In addition, to the entrance requirements above, it is essential that you read our guidance below on 'How we choose our students' prior to submitting your UCAS application.

Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by individual University Schools. Once your on-line form has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.

Selection is on the basis of the information provided on your UCAS form. Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS.

For entry last year, applicants for this degree offering A-Level/ BTEC Level 3 qualifications must have had, or been able to achieve, a minimum of 5 GCSE passes at grade C/4 or better (to include English Language). The Selector will check that any specific entry requirements in terms of GCSE and/or A-level subjects can be fulfilled.

Offers are normally made on the basis of 3 A-levels. Two subjects at A-level plus two at AS would also be considered. The offer for repeat applicants is set in terms of 3 A-levels and may be one grade higher than that asked from first time applicants. Grades may be held from the previous year.

Applicants offering two A-Levels and one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent qualification), or one A-Level and a BTEC Diploma/National Diploma (or equivalent qualification) will also be considered. Offers will be made in terms of performance in individual BTEC units rather than the overall BTEC grade(s) awarded. Please note that a maximum of one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent) will be counted as part of an applicant’s portfolio of qualifications. The normal GCSE profile will be expected.

Applicants offering other qualifications, such as Higher National Certificates and Diplomas will also be considered.

For applicants offering a HNC, the current requirements are successful completion of the HNC with all credits at Merit grade.

For those offering a Higher National Diploma, to be eligible for an offer, at least half of the units completed in the first year of the HND must be at Merit level and remainder Passes. Applicants must successfully complete the HND with all credits assessed in final year to be at Merit grade. Any consideration would be for stage 1 entry only. Some flexibility may be allowed in terms of GCSE profile.

For applicants offering the Irish Leaving Certificate, please note that performance at Junior Certificate is taken into account and a minimum of 5 passes at Grade C is required.

The information provided in the personal statement section and the academic reference together with predicted grades are noted but, in the case of BA degrees, these are not the final deciding factors in whether or not a conditional offer can be made. However, they may be reconsidered in a tie break situation in August.

A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking would not normally be considered as part of a three A-level offer and, although they may be excluded where an applicant is taking 4 A-level subjects, the grade achieved could be taken into account if necessary in August/September.

Applicants are not normally asked to attend for interview, though there are some exceptions and specific information is provided with the relevant subject areas.

If you are made an offer then you may be invited to a Faculty/School Open Day, which is usually held in the second semester. This will allow you the opportunity to visit the University and to find out more about the degree programme of your choice and the facilities on offer. It also gives you a flavour of the academic and social life at Queen's.

If you cannot find the information you need here, please contact the University Admissions Service (admissions@qub.ac.uk), giving full details of your qualifications and educational background.


International Students

For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements

An IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification, details of which are available at: http://go.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs


If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
•Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
•Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

International Students - Foundation and International Year One Programmes

INTO Queen's offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help prepare international students for undergraduate study at Queen's University. You will learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre on campus, and will have full access to the University's world-class facilities.

These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry.
•Foundation
The INTO progression course suited to this programme is
http://www.intostudy.com/en-gb/universities/queens-university-belfast/courses/international-foundation-in-business-humanities-and-social-sciences.

Expand+Social Policy students learn how to tackle major policy problems. They do this by applying core concepts from social science to intractable social problems such as gender inequality, eldercare, children's rights and climate change. As an applied and ...

Hide-Social Policy students learn how to tackle major policy problems. They do this by applying core concepts from social science to intractable social problems such as gender inequality, eldercare, children's rights and climate change. As an applied and critical social science, you will gain knowledge and understanding of contemporary government policies, their impacts, and consider how we can achieve improvements.

Sociology is a scientific discipline concerned with the explanation of social life and human behaviour of all kinds. It equips students with the skills to understand the breadth of social practice, ranging from the global (including power and politics, conflict and peace processes, security, the digital world, climate change, racism and social justice) to individual experiences (such as the body, intimacy, emotions, identity, beliefs and mental health). Through theoretical tools and methodological techniques, Sociology at Queen’s provides students with a unique way of interacting with the world as critical and engaged citizens.

Drawing on multidisciplinary ideas from politics, sociology, economics and law, this course helps create highly relevant and versatile graduates with the ability to enter employment at local, national and international levels.

Social Policy and Sociology Degree highlights

Social Policy is ranked 17th in the UK (The Guardian University Guide 2019).

Global Opportunities
•Students have the opportunity to spend time studying in one of our linked universities in Europe.
•There is also the opportunity to study or work abroad, supported by schemes such as Erasmus and Study USA.

Internationally Renowned Experts
•Social Policy and Sociology is taught by a group of internationally recognised researchers who specialise in areas such as criminal justice policy, prisons, community sanctions, drug use, youth justice, conflict, social justice, gender inequality, population change and human rights.
•Students in the School are educated in a dynamic academic environment by award-winning teaching staff, and in a recent government-sponsored review of research, staff in the School achieved 'world-leading' and 'international excellence' status for the high quality of their research work.

Student Experience
•Students can expect personal attention as classes are smaller when you take joint honours Social Policy with Criminology or Sociology.


“Social Policy offers a unique insight into various realms of social life, such as the family, the judicial system and the health care system. Not only did this subject enable me to understand how these social realms are interconnected, it opened my eyes to the impact they have on the trajectory of my own life, such as how my income will impact on my health outcomes. I was taught by academics who are truly passionate about their field and who set coursework which was exceptionally varied and designed with employability skills in mind.’’
Erin Delaney, BA (Hons) Social Policy and Sociology graduate (2016)

Brexit Advice

Information on the implications of Brexit for prospective students.

Expand+Exit Route
Students who wish to benefit from specialist training in quantitative research can undertake a series of dedicated social science research modules over the course of their degree studies. Successful completion of 80 CATS credits of advanc...

Hide-Exit Route
Students who wish to benefit from specialist training in quantitative research can undertake a series of dedicated social science research modules over the course of their degree studies. Successful completion of 80 CATS credits of advanced quantitative research training (four modules) in level 2 and level 3 will receive the enhancement of BSc “with Quantitative Methods” added to the name of the degree awarded.

Introduction
The degree concentrates overall on policy in the UK and Ireland, but also takes a comparative perspective that explores, where appropriate, how other nations provide public services.

Stage 1
Compulsory modules
Introducing Social Policy
Rethinking Society
Themes and Issues in Social Policy
Digital Society
Sociological Imagination

Optional Modules

Introducing Criminology
Visualising the Social World

Stage 2
Compulsory modules

Welfare in Theory and Practice
The Power of Social Theory
Qualitative Research Skills
Quantitative Research Skills
Social Inequalities and Diversity
Questions for an Ageing World

Optional module
Theory Counts

Stage 3
Compulsory modules

Policy Briefing Paper
Gender, Family and Social Policy
Disability and Society

Stage 3 Optional Courses
Contemporary Irish Society
Religion: Death or Revival
Modern Families, Intimate and Personal Relationships
Norms and Social Change
Emotion, Power, Politics
Global Risk Society
Modelling the Social World
Social Identity: Difference and Inequalities
Welfare States on the Move: Social Policy Reform in Comparative Perspective

What else will you do?
Students will receive detailed instructions on assignments in tutorials or in one-to-one meetings with tutors and lecturers.

Expand+Career Prospects

Introduction
Social Policy and Sociology graduates are ideally placed for work in a range of occupations, including the civil service, public services, policy analysis, media, research, teaching, business, the voluntary sector, c...

Hide-Career Prospects

Introduction
Social Policy and Sociology graduates are ideally placed for work in a range of occupations, including the civil service, public services, policy analysis, media, research, teaching, business, the voluntary sector, commerce, marketing and management. Some graduates build on the degree by undertaking postgraduate training in fields such as social work, law, social science research and teaching. Tailored careers advice and study guidance is available to all students throughout their time at Queen’s.

Studying for a Social Policy/Sociology degree at Queen’s will assist you in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions. Graduates from this degree are well regarded by many employers (local, national and international) and over half of all graduate jobs are now open to graduates of any discipline.

The diversity of interests and topics covered in the discipline, plus the wide range of skills it equips you with, means that our students enter a wide range of careers on graduation. These include the public sector (e.g. social services, education, criminal justice, social work), private sector (e.g. market research, policy analysis, human resources), and third sector (e.g. policy analyst, researcher, youth support worker, charity fundraiser). A number of our students also go on to postgraduate study, on a full or part-time basis.
http://www.prospects.ac.uk

Employment after the Course
Social policy students have gone on to work for Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, the civil service, charities such as the Peter McVerry Trust and Age NI. Many go on to further study in social policy at masters and PhD level.

Employment Links
The following is a list of some of the employers that have attracted graduates from the School in recent years:
Northern Ireland Civil Service
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
National Health Service
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
PWC
Ulster Bank
Commission for Victims and Survivors NI
Santander
Belfast City Council
Ipsos Mori
South Eastern Library Board
REED
University of Ulster
Queen’s University Belfast


Additional Awards Gained

Students undertaking project SPY3002 (Policy Briefing) in year 3 will incur travel costs visiting partner organisations, the cost of which will vary depending on location.

Prizes and Awards

The highest achieving students are regularly awarded prizes and scholarships, such as the SWAN prizes for best pieces of work on gender, the Lockheed Prize and the Foundation Scholarships.

Top performing students are regularly awarded prizes/scholarships. A Sociology student was a Global Winner of the Undergraduate Awards (2017), a world leading undergraduate awards programme. She is now studying for a masters degree in Social Policy.

Degree plus award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.