Department of Social & Policy Sciences

One of the UK's leading centres for social sciences, we offer degrees in sociology, social policy, social work, international development and criminology.

Study sociology, social policy, social work, international development and criminology

Find out about our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, funding opportunities and how you can apply.

Department of Social & Policy Sciences undergraduate courses

A woman in a lecture listening and smiling.

View the undergraduate courses that are available in the Department of Social & Policy Sciences.

Department of Social & Policy Sciences postgraduate studies

A lecturer gesturing at a chart on the whiteboard

Choose from a range of high-quality postgraduate courses that build on our renowned research activities.

MSc Public Policy course video

Students on MSc Public Policy reflect upon their experience on this part-time, distance learning degree.

MSc Humanitarianism, Conflict and Development course video

Hear students share what they value most about studying MSc Humanitarianism, Conflict and Development.

5 reasons to study social sciences at Bath

There are lots of reasons to study social sciences at Bath. Here's our top 5.

Combining academic study with UNICEF projects

Student Rand Altaher standing in front of UNICEF tent in Jordan. Photo Credit: UNICEF

MSc Humanitarianism, Conflict and Development student Rand Altaher reveals how studying at the University of Bath shaped her career and work at UNICEF.

Our research and people

Our research brings together insights and approaches from social policy, sociology, social work, international development studies and criminology.

Department of Social & Policy Sciences research

A group of students in a seminar listening to a presenter

Our research brings together insights and approaches from social policy, sociology, international development and criminology studies.

Women in Nepal still forced to sleep outside in ‘menstruation huts’ despite practice being banned

A Chhaupaudi hut in Nepal - picture taken during the research project led by Dr Channon.

New research from Dr Mel Channon (SPS) with Dr Jennifer Thomson (PoLIS) focuses on the practice of 'chhaupadi' outlawed, but still practised, in Nepal.

Looming crisis for older family carers of people with learning disabilities

A new report highlights hidden challenges pushing informal, family carers of people with conditions such as Down’s syndrome to breaking point.

The blurring of life and death by technology

Listen to Director of the Centre for Death & Society, lecturer and author Dr John Troyer, as he discusses his new book Technologies of the Human Corpse.

Adopt Universal Basic Income amid Coronavirus crisis – Dr Neil Howard

Dr Neil Howard has organised an open letter now signed by nearly 500 leading voices calling on governments to adopt basic income in response to COVID-19.

Department of Social & Policy Sciences academic staff

We oversee and deliver the Department’s teaching and research activities.

News

Our latest news and updates.

The Centre for Analysis of Social Policy mark a new dawn of public engagement with Policy Labs

Member of CASP meet for their first Policy Lab smiling at the camera

Policy Labs will aim to look at and solve social policy issues in a new way by communicating with users over a long period of time.

The ethics of AI development in public policy

A close up of a microchip and processor with the letters AI on it

Dr Emma Carmel writes for Open Access Government about the paradoxical realities of ethics of AI development, with recommendations for forming public policy.

Care leavers and Covid-19: A time for even greater state and community responsibility

A child watching the sun rise overlooking a city. and child sitting outside on a step talking

Justin Rogers along with Philip Mendes and Ian Thomas, write for ABC News about the impact of Covid-19 on care leavers and the support they need.

Nav Sawhney presents: My vision for the Washing Machine Project

Nav Sawhney, MSc Humanitarianism, Conflict & Development, presents a seminar discussing his low-cost washing machine created for those living on the margins.

Washing Machine Project heads to refugee camps in Iraq

Nav Sawhney with one of the Divya manual drive washing machines on campus at the University of Bath.

An innovative project from Bath MSc student Nav Sawhney to bring low-cost, manual washing machines to refugee camps will be piloted in Iraq from this week.

New DfID project to improve evidence on harmful children’s work in African agriculture

A seven-year, £10m research project, involving our development researchers will explore children’s harmful work in African agriculture.

Get involved

Find out more about our 2020 seminar series

Department of Social & Policy Sciences lunchtime seminars

Discover more about our programme of research seminars taking place this year.

Awards and accolades

Our awards, rankings and reputation.

Top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020 for Social Policy & Administration

Awarded Gold for excellence in undergraduate teaching

About the Department of Social & Policy Sciences

With a reputation for cutting-edge research and innovative teaching, we focus on international development, social policy and death studies, and offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in sociology, social policy and international development.

Academic staff provide learning experiences including tutorials, debates, seminars, guided reading, online discussion groups, placements and lectures.

View Larger Map

Contact us

Ask us more details about our courses and research.

If you're a current student, you can find your course contact.

Undergraduate admissions

Alison Borgelin, Department Coordinator