Postgraduate courses in Social Sciences

Social Sciences is a very broad area and postgraduate courses can benefit those, not only working within the social sciences field, but also those working in other areas who want to expand their knowledge in order to add to their management skills, their understanding and adapting an open mind to the world around them. 

If this is an area that is of interest to you, there are plenty of courses which might match your specific needs and wants. We have some examples to give you a guide below. Happy researching!

What is social sciences?

Social sciences is the study of people in relation to each other and to their world. It is a subject that explores different issues and is an interdisciplinary subject that includes history, geography, ecology, economics, law and other social science disciplines. 

The aim of social sciences is to allow people to make decisions that are informed and for the good of the public in a world that is ever changing, culturally diverse and interdependent with a democratic society.  

Courses

There are many courses to choose from across the UK. Some courses offer the opportunity to study either part time or full time. There may also be guidelines and rules in place due to Covid-19. Some courses available in this area include:

Social Studies 

Those who take a postgraduate course in social studies will have the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of social scientific theory and research methods as well as specialist areas. Areas that may be focused on include childhood and youth studies, crime, safety and justice, education, social theory and social and public policy. These courses are often suitable not only for those who want to work in the area but also professionals in other fields to improve transferable skills in their workplace. 

Environmental Social Sciences

Postgraduate courses focusing on environmental social sciences look at the crucial link between social sciences and their effect on solving environmental problems. They focus on how human behaviour produces many elements of the environment including landscapes, floods and famine. These courses also draw on contributions from other areas such as anthropology, conservation and ecology, law, social policy and sociology. 

Social Science Research Methods (Criminology)

There are a number of social science research methods courses for postgraduate students. This course looks at the criminology pathway and will allow students to gain research and analytical skills. They will gain an understanding of the production of criminological research and focus on areas including sociology, social policy, law, psychology and political science. 

Other courses in Social Science Research Methods are also available in: Education Studies, Management and Business Studies, Politics, Psychology, Science and Technology Studies, Social Policy, Social Work and Law, to name just a few. 

There are also courses available in Crime, Safety and Justice, Forensic Science, International Conflict and Security, Strategic Studies and Energy Security, among others. 

Entry requirements 

Entry requirements will differ from course to course and university to university so it is important to research your particular course in detail to ensure you meet the criteria to apply. You will need a bachelor’s degree to apply for almost all courses. Some may require a 2.2 degree while others may require a 2.1 degree. Full course overviews can be found online for more information. 

Job options

Whether you want to work specifically in social sciences or have a career in and area like management with the aim of gaining a better understanding of employees and the world, jobs where a postgraduate degree in this area would be helpful are:

• Social worker
• Researcher 
• Lecturer
• Business management
• Advertising/Marketing

Salary 

Salaries can differ depending on your specific job or if you’re already in another field and just want to add to your knowledge in order to carry out beneficial management skills. We will look at two examples. The average salary of a social scientist in the UK is believed to be around £43,278. If you want to go in the direction of education, you could earn between £43,267 and £58,089 as a university lecturer. These figures are based on estimates and are intended to be used as a guide only. 

Skills and requirements 

Skills that can be helpful in this area include: 

• Strong communication skills
• Excellent people skills
•  Ability to you use ICT
• Ability research and gather information 
• Time management 
• Organisation skills
• Ability to interpret and analyse data 
• Interpersonal skills
• An open and understanding mind