Social sciences

Study in a dynamic, interdisciplinary and innovative School of Social Sciences with an international reputation for research excellence.

Why study with us

In an increasingly globalised and fast-changing world, it has never been more important to understand the behaviours, attitudes and motivations of people and how opportunity and success is shaped by our interactions with the institutions and structures that surround us.

Placements and studying abroad

Extend your study to four years by spending a year on professional placement or studying abroad.

Excellent research

3rd in the UK for our research in Education, and 10th in the UK for our research in Sociology, Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.

Employability

93% of graduates were in employment and/or further study, due to start a new job or course, or doing other activities such as travelling, 15 months after the end of their course (Graduate Outcomes survey 2021/22).

Courses

Entry year

Criminology (BSc)

Full time, 3 years

Our Criminology degree, delivered by renowned social scientific scholars, draws on a range of social science perspectives, including sociology, law and history. You will learn how to approach problems of crime, justice and control as a social

Criminology and Social Policy (BSc)

Full time, 3 years

Criminology and Social Policy gives students the opportunity to combine study of crime, deviance and victimisation with study of wider society and the social and governmental policies within it.

Criminology and Sociology (BSc)

Full time, 3 years

Criminology and Sociology gives students the opportunity to combine study of crime, deviance and victimisation with study of wider society and the social processes within it.

Education (BSc)

Full time, 3 years

Education is an exciting social science subject increasingly being presented as a principal means of fostering economic growth, social cohesion and personal well-being.

Human and Social Sciences (BSc)

Full time, 3 years

Study our BSc Human and Social Sciences and you will be pursuing a unique opportunity to combine psychology with another social science discipline in one of the UK’s largest and most successful centres of social science.

Law with Criminology (LLB)

Full time, 3 years

Gain a thorough grounding in the theory and practice of law, working with respected academic researchers and experienced legal practitioners.

Politics and Sociology (BSc Econ)

Full time, 3 years

Combining Politics with Sociology enables you to acquire a broad understanding of society.

Social Science (BSc)

Full time, 3 years

Our Social Science BSc is an excellent way to obtain the maximum benefit from your time studying in one of the UK's largest and most successful centres of social science.

Sociology (BSc)

Full time, 3 years

Study our Sociology BSc and you will be pursuing one of the oldest and most prestigious social science disciplines in one of the UK's largest and most successful centres of social science.

Sociology and Education (BSc)

Full time, 3 years

By combining Sociology and Education, you will develop a deep understanding of the social, historical, political, economic and developmental contexts of education, preparing you to make your own contribution to improving society.

Sociology and Social Policy (BSc)

Full time, 3 years

Sociology and Social Policy BSc gives students the opportunity to study wider society, combined with an element of social and governmental policy.

Welsh and Education (BA)

Full time, 3 years

Education and Welsh BA (Joint Honours) gives first-language Welsh students the opportunity to combine study of Welsh with educational policy and development theory – leading onto a number of different possible career routes within the education

Student experience

Find out what our students say about their time at the School of Social Sciences.

Learn about our subjects

We offer a dynamic teaching and research environment to around 1,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students and over 160 academic staff within seven disciplines:

Human and Social Sciences (BSc)

Dr Katy Greenland introduces our human and social sciences course.

Welsh provision at the School of Social Sciences

Dr Sion Jones talks about how Welsh speakers are supported in our school.

Sociology (BSc)

Dr Daniel Smith introduces our social analytics course.

Social Science (BSc)

Dr Nick Bailey introduces our social science course.

Social Policy (BSc)

Dr Sioned Pearce introduces our social policy course.

Criminology (BSc)

Professor Trevor Jones introduces our criminology course.

Education (BSc)

Dr Kevin Smith introduces our education course.

Work placements

Turn theory into practice with a work placement. Many of our courses can be extended to four years, with the third year spent either on a professional placement or studying abroad.

A person smiling while leaning on a wall with trees in the background

“My placement year got me a dream start to my career.”

Placement student Amy blogs about her work experience year.

“My placement really helped me develop my analysis skills and build my confidence.”

Placement student Emelie chatted with us about her work experience at Cardiff University.

Student using a laptop with a coffee cup in the foreground against a green backdrop

Our postgraduate courses

Once you've completed your undergraduate studies, you may wish to dive deeper into your chosen subject or discover more about a related area within the social sciences.

Our postgraduate courses are informed by internationally-recognised researchers who have influenced policy in the UK and around the world.

By progressing your studies with us, you can develop your thinking and skills, or begin your career in social work.

Our postgraduate courses are:

Education (MSc)
International Criminology and Criminal Justice (MSc)
Social Science Research Methods (MSc)
Sociology (MSc)
Social and Public Policy (MSc)
Social Work (MA)

Jodie Luker Social Analytics (BSc 2018) and Social Science Research Methods (Criminology) (MSc 2019)

Research-led learning

Our teaching is informed and underpinned by the most recent academic research and scholarship and is recognised as internationally excellent, having a direct impact on policy and practice around the world.

Many of our staff act as advisors to international public and private sector organisations, Westminster and European parliaments, and the Welsh Government.