Two Year Master'sin International Social Policy - MA

at University of Kent

This programme has been designed to equip you with essential skills over the course of two years. Years one and two gradually build your cumulative knowledge in your chosen subject area, alongside developing essentially study skills at a higher level.

Our two year Master's programmes offer a structured and supportive environment in which you can develop both academic and language skills while undertaking postgraduate study at a renowned UK university.

In the first year, you take 45 credits of academic skills and English, and a 30 credit core module in your chosen pathway. In addition, you select 45 credits from a wide range of optional modules at higher or intermediate level.

In the second year you take 120 credits of modules at Master's level and a 60 credit dissertation in a topic of your choosing. The core modules of the second year (80 credits) are: Comparative Social Policy; Design of Social Research; Key Issues in Comparative Social Policy and Critical Social Research: Truth, Ethics and Power.

Modules
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year.  Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules.

You may also have the option to take modules from other programmes so that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas that interest you.

Compulsory modules currently include

• PREM6001 - Advanced Academic Study Skills for Humanities and Social Sciences (15 credits)
• PREM6002 - Independent Research Skills (15 credits)
• PREM6011 - Advanced English for Academic Study in Humanities and Social Sciences (15 credits)
• SAPO5030 - A Future for the Welfare State? Social Change, Challenge and Crisis (30 credits)
• WSHOPWRIT - Write,Right (0 credits)

Optional modules may include

• SOCI5320 - Sociology of Mental Health (15 credits)
• SOCI5750 - Poverty, Inequality and Social Security (15 credits)
• SOCI6011 - 'Selfies': Individualization and Society (15 credits)
• SOCI6450 - The Third Sector: Charities and Social Enterprises in Modern Societies (15 credits)
• SOCI6590 - Risk and Society (15 credits)
• SOCI6700 - Kent Student Volunteering (15 credits)

Compulsory modules currently include

• SOCI8320 - Critical Social Research: Truth, Ethics and Power (20 credits)
• SOCI8330 - Design of Social research (20 credits)
• SOCI8720 - Comparative Social Policy (20 credits)
• SOCI8770 - Key Issues in Comparative Social Policy (20 credits)
• SOCI9981 - Preparing Your Dissertation (5 credits)

Optional modules may include

• SOCI8130 - Health, Medicine and Society (20 credits)
• SOCI8190 - Quantitative Data Analysis (20 credits)
• SOCI8220 - Social & Political Movements (20 credits)
• SOCI8230 - Political Economy of Development (20 credits)
• SOCI8250 - Terrorism and Modern Society (20 credits)
• SOCI8860 - Worlds of Work (20 credits)
• SOCI9380 - Technology, Society and Policy (20 credits)
• Compulsory modules currently include
• SOCI9980 - Dissertation (60 credits)

Undergraduate study at an overseas university or institution in a relevant social sciences field;

• or, an undergraduate degree from a UK institution where Social Policy has represented a component but not the principal focus of study;
• or, a relevant foundation degree, ordinary (Bachelors) degree, Diploma of Higher Education or other higher diploma.
• All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications. 

International students
Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.

English language entry requirements
Average 6.0 in IELTS test, minimum 6.0 in Reading and Writing (students will need to meet the SSPSSR linguistic entry requirement by gaining an equivalent grade in module LZ605 - Advanced English for Postgraduate Academic Study in Social Sciences and Humanities).

Home full-time
£13600

EU full-time
£13600

International full-time
£13600

Building on Kent’s success as the region’s leading institution for student employability, we place considerable emphasis on you gaining specialist knowledge in your chosen subject alongside core transferable skills.

We ensure that you develop the skills and competences that employers are looking for including: research and analysis; policy development and interpretation; independent thought; writing and presentation, as well as time management and leadership skills.

You also become fully involved in the professional research culture of the School. A postgraduate degree in the area of social and public policy is a particularly flexible and valuable qualification that can lead to many exciting opportunities and professions.

Recent graduates have pursued careers in academia, journalism, local and central government, charities and NGOs.