60% of global leaders have undergraduate degrees in social science fields, including 61% of politicians (Academy of Social Sciences)

Studying social and policy sciences helps you understand why the world is the way it is.

Degrees in this area allow you to analyse how the decisions we make, as individuals and groups, shape our societies, and how to bring about better futures for people.

To gauge where one of our social and policy sciences degrees can take you, Liz Kullmann (Director of Admissions in the Department of Social and Policy Sciences) hosted a webinar with recent graduates from our social and policy sciences courses to find out what they’ve gone on to do.

Meet our alumni

Deanna Kotecha

Graduated in 2023 with a degree in International Development with Economics. Now works as a Senior Associate at DAI, an international development consultancy, based in London.

Ulysse Ha

Graduated in 2019 with a Sociology degree. Currently an AI Portfolio Manager at Carlsberg in Copenhagen. Originally from Hong Kong.

Mark Tsui

Graduated in 2024 with a Criminology degree and did a professional placement in the university’s marketing team. Now works for Kantar, a marketing research firm, based in Hong Kong.

Konstantina Tagkopoulou

Graduated in 2016 with a Sociology degree. Currently leads go-to-market efforts for startups at Amazon Web Services in Athens.

Hridaii Sharma

Graduated in 2024 with a degree in International Development with Economics. Works as an Account Executive and in business development at Olleco, the renewable arm of ABP Food Group.

Why did you choose a social sciences a degree?

Konstantina: I chose Social Sciences out of pure interest. At school, I felt overwhelmed about choosing something that would dictate my career - spoiler alert, it doesn’t. I’m glad I followed my instincts. The course exposed me to politics, philosophy, and education, honing my analytical skills and giving me transferable abilities. I haven’t looked back.

Hridaii: I wanted to go into economics but also do something impactful beyond data and econometrics. International Development with Economics was the perfect mix of theory and tangible solutions. The breadth and depth of the course allowed me to explore policy and sustainability while gaining transferable skills.

What stood out about the course and how did the course help your career?

Deanna: The breadth was key for me: psychology, development, philosophy, politics, and criminology. I knew I wanted to work in the humanitarian space but wasn’t sure what that would look like. The interdisciplinary global outlook was perfect. The course combined real-world issues with theory, which has been invaluable in my career.

Mark: Criminology taught me data analysis and research skills, including using an analytics package, which I now use daily in marketing research. Beyond hard skills, I gained problem-solving, project management, and self-learning abilities – all crucial in my current role.

What role did professional placements play?

Mark: I chose Bath because of its strong placement support. My placement in the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences marketing team gave me practical experience and confidence, helping me secure my current role.

Hridaii: I applied with placement from the start for both accountability (to myself) and the experience. Bath provided excellent support, from CV workshops to detailed guidance before starting. My placement in sustainability was pivotal. It’s a tough industry to enter, and that experience opened doors.

Deanna: My placement in an NGO shaped my dissertation and gave me insight into different organisational structures. It’s invaluable for career direction and meeting employers’ expectations for experience.

Konstantina: I disliked my placement work, but it taught me what I don’t want, which is just as important! It helped me pivot to tech and choose a dissertation topic on Facebook, which was new at the time.

Mark: Criminology graduates often work in criminal justice, civil service, or policing, but the skills are transferable. I moved into marketing research because of the analytical and data skills I gained.

What was your experience of Bath?

Konstantina: Bath was transformational academically and personally. It opened my mind to global opportunities and gave me confidence to pursue tech roles.

Mark: Bath is safe, beautiful, and has a strong sense of community. The alumni network is excellent, especially internationally.

Ulysse: Very positive. Large introductory lectures combined with smaller seminars for discussion. You can design your own path with optional modules, making the experience interactive and flexible.

Hridaii: Coming from Dubai, Bath’s green spaces and sunsets were incredible. It’s one of the most gorgeous and safest places I’ve lived.

Did your career plans change during your studies?

Hridaii: I started wanting to work in policy but shifted to sustainability and finance after exploring modules and projects.

Ulysse: I began focused on politics and policy but discovered big data and tech in my final year, which led me to anthropology and product development.

Deanna: My placement clarified the type of organisation I wanted to work for and shaped my dissertation.

How was the transition back after placement?

Konstantina: I returned more mature and intentional. Placements give you real-world perspective and help you design your final year with purpose.

Ulysse: It was strange at first! Workplace research often has an agenda, so returning to academic rigour reminded me of its value.

Who were your main academic contacts and what support did you receive whilst at Bath?

Deanna: Personal tutors were consistent touchpoints and often became dissertation supervisors. They understood both academic requirements and personal challenges.

Hridaii: My personal tutor was crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic and later supervised my dissertation. Office hours can feel intimidating, but Bath lecturers are approachable and supportive. Opportunities like Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) let you apply skills to real-world challenges. My team won a Sustainability Action Award for consulting work with B&NES Council.

Deanna: Lecturers were welcoming and open to conversations beyond assignments. Bath has a great support system.

Ulysse: My dissertation supervisor was hugely influential, guiding me on postgraduate options and challenging me intellectually.

What advice might you have for future students thinking about doing social and policy sciences and getting the most out of their experience?

Ulysse: Be proactive and open-minded. Seek internships and projects to complement academic learning. Real-world experience matters as much as theory.

Mark: Focus on hard skills and projects you can showcase. Network, use career services, and try different things to discover what you enjoy.

Deanna: Take advantage of the flexibility to shape your degree. Explore modules across departments and design a path that works for you.

Liz: Thank you all for your incredibly valuable insights and your time. Flexibility is one of the department’s greatest strengths, you can weave in modules from different programmes and even other departments.

Thank you to our alumni for sharing their journeys and to everyone who joined us. We hope these insights help you as you consider your next steps.