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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.

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Placements and studying abroad

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

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Excellent research

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

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Employability

97% of our graduates are 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 (HESA data).

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 and Criminology (LLB)

Full time, 3 years

Your Law modules will examine the system of rules used by a country or state to regulate its inhabitants whilst your Criminology modules will focus on on criminalisation, victimisation and social responses to crime and disorder.

Politics and Sociology (BSc Econ)

Full time, 3 years

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

Social Analytics (BSc)

Full time, 3 years

Our BSc in Social Analytics is a unique opportunity to combine social science modules including Sociology, Criminology, Social Policy, Education or Politics with cutting-edge training in quantitative research methods and a guaranteed work placement.

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

Our talks and videos

Studying social sciences at Cardiff University

Studying social sciences at Cardiff University

Our virtual open day presentation gives a flavour of our undergraduate social science courses, how we teach, and the additional opportunities available as part of your degree.

You can also view all of our social sciences subject videos on our YouTube playlist.

School of Social Sciences

School of Social Sciences

Find out more about studying at the School of Social Sciences.

One aspect of my degree which I have thoroughly enjoyed is the ability for students to put theory into practice through research projects. I have loved how passionate the lecturers and seminar leaders have been, which has definitely sparked my passion for my degree.
Poppy Dall'Occo BSc Education

Learn more about us

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Study in an active research environment

We have a large and active research community in our School, with our work making changes around the world.

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Work placements

Turn theory into practice with a work placement. The majority of our students can undertake a short work placement in their second year, or extend their studies to four years, spending the third on a professional placement.

Our teaching is informed and underpinned by the most recent academic research and scholarship

Research in the School is recognised as internationally excellent, and as having direct impact on policy and practice around the world. Many of our staff act as advisors to international organisations, Westminster and European parliaments, and the Welsh Government, as well as to public and private sector organisations.

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Student support

Get free, impartial and confidential advice on disability and dyslexia, money, careers, counselling and more.

Guaranteed accommodation

If you arrive in September, you're guaranteed a single occupancy room, and you'll be allocated with other first-year students.

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Student life

Learn more about our sport and recreation, free language programmes, living costs, learning support and the Students' Union.

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Living costs

See how far your money goes by using our living costs calculator.

Next steps

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View all social science undergraduate courses

Explore our courses.

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Download our undergraduate brochure

Learn more about our courses, School and the wider University.

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Contact us

Ask a question via our enquiry form, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

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How to apply

Everything you need to know about our application process.

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency, latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022

Copyright: Contains HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2022. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data