Social and Public Policy

Social and public policy is the academic discipline concerned with understanding the causes of social problems and the ways in which governments, organisations and communities attempt to address them. From poverty and housing to health and education, from criminal justice to environmental sustainability, policy shapes the conditions of everyday life for millions of people. Studying it means developing the analytical tools to ask why social problems exist, what different responses to them look like, and which interventions actually work and for whom.

At the University of York, this three-year programme, which the university describes as enabling you to understand the causes of social problems and how societies attempt to solve them both nationally and internationally, provides a rigorous grounding in social science methods alongside substantive engagement with key policy areas. You will study the welfare state, comparative social policy, social inequality, housing and urban policy, healthcare policy, criminal justice and international development, developing the ability to analyse policy from both empirical and normative perspectives. The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad and work placements, providing structured routes to develop professional experience and international perspective.

York's location and its strengths in social policy research make it a particularly stimulating environment for this kind of study.

The skills the degree develops, including quantitative and qualitative research methods, policy analysis, critical writing and the ability to engage with complex social questions, are highly valued by employers across the public and voluntary sectors.

Graduates go on to careers in government, local authorities, charities, international organisations, think tanks, public health, social research, policy analysis, housing, education and social work (with further training). Further study in social policy, public administration, social work or related disciplines is also a common route.