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Social Policy

MA

Attendance

Full-timePart-time

Campus

Preston Campus

Start

September 2025January 2026

Duration

1 year

Start

September 2025

Delivery

In-person

Our MA in Social Policy is designed for those passionate about understanding the policies that impact people’s lives. This modular program tackles key issues. This includes cultural shifts, demographic trends, economic challenges, political changes, and technological advances.

Why study with us

• You can tailor this course to focus on aspects of your current role and conduct primary research in an area of personal or professional interest.
• As well as looking at the latest issues around welfare provision you’ll explore what’s historically shaped social policy provision in the UK.
• You’ll also examine the principles, political tensions and ethical dilemmas involved in planning and organising a piece of social research.

What you'll do

• This course is all coursework based, with no exams and a final year dissertation.
• You’ll develop a framework of knowledge, critical understanding and analytical skills as a basis for both professional and personal development.
• You’ll be taught through a combination of lecture, seminar and workshop settings, with the research module taught online.

Modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Understanding Poverty and Social Inequality: Perspectives from History
  • Module code: SP4001
• Comparative Social policy and Social Change
  • Module code: SP4002
• Social Theory and Social Policy: Rethinking Welfare
  • Module code: SP4003
• The Making of Social Policy
  • Module code: SW4012
• Dissertation
  • Module code: SW4037
• Themes & Perspectives in Social Research
  • Module code: SW4800

Optional modules

• Social Policy in Practice
  • Module code: SP4004
• Housing and Social Justice
  • Module code: SP4005
• Reflecting on Politics, Policy and Practice
  • Module code: SW4066

Entry requirements

• Applicants should hold at least a 2:2 degree in Social Policy or a related discipline such as Economics or Health Studies or History or Politics or Sociology
• Exception: consideration will also be given to applicants with a first degree of Honours Classification of 2:2 or above in other disciplines
• Candidates with a professional qualification in social care or a related area who do not have a first degree will be asked to demonstrate their suitability for postgraduate study on the basis of an essay of 2000 to 2500 words on a relevant topic and candidates may be asked to attend an interview

Fees and funding

2025/26

UK

• Full-time: £9,450 per year
• Part-time: £1,050 per 20 credits

International

• Full-time: £17,900 per year

Additional costs

As part of your course there may be additional costs to consider that are not included in your tuition fees. Most of these will be optional, but some courses have essential additional costs.

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer many scholarships, bursaries and funds to support you during your studies.

• Dependants Bursary
• Carers Bursary
• Sports scholarships
• Alumni Loyalty Discount

Learning and assessment

If you’re a full-time student you’ll have six hours per week class contact time, with three taught modules per semester.

If you’re part-time it’s normally between two to four hours per week class contact time, as you’ll study one to two modules per semester, depending on your chosen programme of study. Through your tutor you can negotiate additional tutorial support.

You’ll be assessed in a number of ways including essays, seminar presentations and data analysis. The 12,000-word dissertation is worth three modules.

Alumni spotlight

• Alumna turns her passion for social justice into political and career success
• UCLan graduate, Karen Livesey, reflects on starting her youth work business

Future careers

Our MA in Social Policy benefits professionals working in one or other sector of the mixed economy of welfare, as well as anyone interested in social policy or related discipline such as economics, health studies, history, philosophy, politics and sociology.

It can lead to further postgraduate research and taking on a managerial or professional level role.