# Undergraduate degree in Social and Political Sciences

**Source**: https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/study/sps-undergraduate/
**Parent**: https://www.york.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/subject-explorer/

[See how to apply](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/applying/) [Sign up for updates](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/email-updates/)

Through studying a degree in social and political sciences, you will combine political, social policy and sociological approaches to explore contemporary social problems.

## Why study social and political sciences at York?

Social and political sciences draws upon expertise from three world-class departments – School for Business and Society, Politics and International Relations, and Sociology – to utilise a research-led approach to teaching and learning. Taught by leading academics, you'll learn how to apply the most up-to-date theories in social and political sciences to some of society’s most pressing social and political problems.

This unique degree awards you great flexibility to tailor your studies to your interests through choosing from a range of modules across three core social and political sciences’ disciplines. The programme also offers interdisciplinary perspectives on understanding and addressing social inequalities and injustices while developing appropriate skills for a wide range of career destinations.

12th in the UK

for Sociology according to the Complete University Guide 2026.

8th in the UK

for Social Policy according to the Complete University Guide 2026.

11th in the UK

for Politics, according to The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.

## Our courses

- [Social and Political Sciences (BA)](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/ba-social-political-sciences/)
- [Social and Political Sciences (with a year in industry) (BA)](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/ba-social-political-sciences-industry/)

Or [search all undergraduate courses](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/all).

## Course options

There are opportunities for you to undertake placements or spend a year abroad as part of your course.

If you're studying at a university outside the UK, you may be able to spend up to a year in York as a visiting student. 

- [Study abroad](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/study-abroad/global-opportunities/)
- [Placements and real-world experience](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/careers/)
- [Social and Political Sciences modules for visiting students](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/international/applying/visiting-students/courses/sps/)

## Scholarships and funding

Find out about scholarships and studentships that are available to students in the School for Business and Society.

- [Undergraduate funding](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/study/funding/undergraduate/)

World Top 50

41st for Social Policy & Administration in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025.

Committed to equality

We are proud to hold an Athena Swan Bronze award in recognition of the work we do to support gender equality.

## Gold-standard education

Our teaching, learning and student experience is outstanding, recognised by a Gold rating from the Office for Students in their latest national assessment (2023 Teaching Excellence Framework).

[Why York's gold-rated](https://features.york.ac.uk/gold-for-york)

## School for Business and Society

Study with us in our modern Church Lane Building, which offers bespoke learning spaces. With state-of-the-art teaching facilities and dedicated social spaces, Church Lane is an interdisciplinary hub for the leaders of tomorrow.

Video

### [Take a look at our Church Lane Building](#uoy_modal_youtube_embed_1098199_1)

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lATa26bXoIU>

## Careers

You will develop skills that are highly valued in the graduate labour market. Our dedicated careers and employability team will help support you in identifying and securing your chosen career with an optional placement year providing outstanding workplace experience.

- We believe in an active approach to the social sciences, giving students a hands-on experience in social and political sciences through placements and collaboration with experienced practitioners.
- The nature of our degree means you can pursue career-related interests throughout your study, offering useful opportunities to demonstrate your knowledge and skills to future employers.
- Our graduates have developed careers as policy researchers and analysts, holding offices and managerial roles in governments, campaigning organisations, the public sector and businesses.

[Learn more about careers and employability](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/careers/)

*[Find your career advantage](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/careers/): Turn ambition into achievement with our expert guidance and connections. From your first day here to life after graduation, we’ll help you succeed.*

## Student and graduate stories

Hear what our students and graduates have to say about studying with us.

> Studying three different disciplines in one course gave me a great chance to have a wider perspective and greatly enhanced my options for work and applying for postgraduate courses. This unique experience sometimes makes me think that we have three different pairs of magical glasses to see the world and each of these glasses is more fascinating than one another.

Tugba, BA Social and Political Sciences. [Read Tugba's blog post](https://blogs.york.ac.uk/student-voices/2024/03/05/studying-social-and-political-sciences-as-a-mature-student/).

[Read more stories](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/study/sps-undergraduate/stories/)

## Next steps

Open Days

[Book now](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/visits/open-days/)

Applications

Scholarships

[Find funding](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/study/funding/undergraduate/)