Expand+The deadline for undergraduate and conservatoire is now 18:00 (UK time) on 29 January 2021

See this link for further information: https://www.ucas.com/corporate/news-and-key-documents/news/ucas-extends-january-deadline-all-applicants

How and wh...

Hide-The deadline for undergraduate and conservatoire is now 18:00 (UK time) on 29 January 2021

See this link for further information: https://www.ucas.com/corporate/news-and-key-documents/news/ucas-extends-january-deadline-all-applicants

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 2021 from 1 September 2020.

Advisory closing date: 15 January 2021 (18:00). This is the 'equal consideration' deadline for this course.

Applications from UK and EU students after this date are, in practice, considered by Queen’s for entry to this course throughout the remainder of the application cycle (30 June 2021) subject to the availability of places.

Applications from International (non-UK/EU) students are normally considered by Queen’s for entry to this course until 30 June 2021. If you apply for 2021 entry after this deadline, you will automatically be entered into Clearing.

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.

Further information on applying to study at Queen's is available at: www.qub.ac.uk/Study/Undergraduate/How-to-apply/

Expand+Entrance requirements
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 ove...

Hide-Entrance requirements
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 on 'How we choose our students' prior to submitting your UCAS application. Details available on course webpage link ‘see below’.

Expand+Learning and Teaching
At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable students to achieve their full academic po...

Hide-Learning and Teaching
At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable students to achieve their full academic potential.

On the joint BA (Hons) in Social Policy and Sociology we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society, and make use of innovative technologies and a world class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners.

Social Policy students at Queen's are taught in a dynamic academic environment by an award-winning teaching staff, in a School that was rated as one of the leading departments in the United Kingdom. The School is located within a recently renovated building, with state of the art teaching and learning facilities, together with dedicated student space including a large student common room. Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course are:

E-Learning technologies
Information associated with lectures and assignments is often communicated via our Canvas Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree programme through the use of, for example, online discussion forums, research methods modules involving statistics, additional learning resources, online readings, and opportunities to use IT programmes in project- based work.

Lectures
These introduce foundation information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. As the module progresses this information becomes more complex.

Peer Mentoring
We offer a peer mentoring scheme for our BA students, which sees specially- trained second and third year students, under the guidance of staff and the Centre for Educational Development, help first year students settle into life at Queen’s through social events, small group or one-to-one informal support and learning skills workshops.

Personal Tutor
Undergraduates are allocated a Personal Tutor from their first day at the university. The Personal Tutor is available to meet with them and to give advice throughout their time at Queen’s, in support of their academic development and to act as an important point of contact with the School.

Self-directed study
This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.

Seminars/tutorials
A significant amount of teaching is carried out in small groups (typically 10-20 students). These sessions are designed to explore, in more depth, the information that has been presented in the lectures. This provides students with the opportunity to engage closely with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of their peers. You should also expect to make presentations and other contributions to these groups.

Study abroad opportunities
Students have the opportunity to spend some time studying in one of our linked universities. For example, this can take the form of a semester’s study in Sweden (Lünd) (for which credits are transferred back to your degree here in Queen’s) or an intensive two week international study school in Spain (Barcelona).

Supervised research
In final year, you will be expected to carry out a significant piece of research for a voluntary organisation on a topic selected through liaison with the Northern Ireland Science Shop. You will receive support to guide you in terms of how to carry out your research and will be provided with feedback in person and via email.

Work-Related learning/Field Trips/Study Tours
Study visits and field trips are integrated into several of our option modules. The purpose of these tours are to help students apply their learning to the real-work context and to exercise critical thinking and interpretation. Back in the classroom, students undertake a number of group-based tasks in workshops focused on the field trip and present their findings to classmates.

Expand+Overview
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 ap...

Hide-Overview
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 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.

Course Structure
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.

All of the optional modules are taught by experts in the area, who have published textbooks and research articles on the topic at hand.

Expand+Stage 1
Core Modules
- Introducing Social Policy
- Rethinking Society
- Themes and Issues in Social Policy
- Digital Society
- The Sociological Imagination

Stage 1
Optional Modules
- Introducing Criminology
- Visualising the Social Wo...

Hide-Stage 1
Core Modules
- Introducing Social Policy
- Rethinking Society
- Themes and Issues in Social Policy
- Digital Society
- The Sociological Imagination

Stage 1
Optional Modules
- Introducing Criminology
- Visualising the Social World

Stage 2
Core Modules
- Welfare in Theory and Practice
- The Power of Social Theory
- Qualitative Research Skills
- Quantitative Research Skills

Stage 2
Optional Modules
- Social Inequalities and Diversity
- Questions for an Ageing World
- Theory Counts

Stage 3
Core Modules
- Policy Briefing Paper
- Gender, Family and Social Policy
- Disability and Society

Stage 3
Optional Modules
- 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

The Optional Q-Step Exit Pathway
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.

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, com...

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.