About

We are part of a £19.5 million, UK-wide Q-Step programme designed to promote a step-change in social science training.

Q-Step was developed as a strategic response to the shortage of quantitatively-skilled social science graduates. As part of the programme, 15 universities across the UK are delivering specialist undergraduate programmes, including new courses, work placements and pathways to postgraduate study.

Expertise and resources will be shared across the higher education sector through an accompanying support programme, which will also forge links with schools and employers.

The programme is funded by the Nuffield Foundation, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

Find out more about Q-Step across the UK.

Our achievements

We have developed an interdisciplinary BSc Social Analytics pathway that combines a thorough training in quantitative methods with substantive modules from sociology, criminology, education or social policy.

We have substantially increased the quantitative competency of all of our undergraduate students, whereby on completion of their degree they have operational skills in survey research, interpretation and manipulation of data, descriptive statistics and data analysis.

However, in the medium term this is not sufficient and we see the necessity of creating a different kind of pool of students that we might recruit to BSc Social Analytics. As a result we have created a new QCF level 3 (AS level equivalent) qualification in social analytics supported by the WJEC, the Royal Statistical Society Centre for Statistical Education (RSSCSE) and a consortium of schools and colleges in South Wales.

Contact us

Contact us to find out more about studying the BSc Social analytics or to get involved in our work in schools: