Sociology and Social Policy with a Foundation Year, BSc (Hons)

Course Overview

Studying a Sociology and Social Policy degree will equip you with the essential theoretical foundation to understand people's behaviour as social beings, as well as the wider social, cultural, political, and economic factors influencing our constantly changing society.

The foundation year of this four-year course will introduce you to the key concepts and knowledge you need to progress to the BSc in Sociology and Social Policy. Following successful completion of the Foundation Year, students will progress onto Year 1 of the BSc.

The foundation year (level 3) will be delivered by The College, Swansea University (TCSU). Years 2-4 (levels 4-6) will be delivered by the School of Social Sciences.

You will explore how society promotes the well-being of its members, examining themes and values such as social justice, equality, fairness, and citizenship, alongside specific policy focal points such as health, education, housing, disability, crime, poverty, and the family.

You will learn how to generate new knowledge and information using a variety of qualitative and quantitative social research tools, and throughout the course, you will develop excellent communication and presentation skills, together with the ability to analyse and critically evaluate evidence and construct arguments around the complex societal issues that affect us all.

Why Sociology and Social Policy at Swansea?

• Social Policy at Swansea is ranked:
  • 5th in the UK for Student Satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2026)
  • 1st in the UK for Student Experience (Times Good University Guide 2025)
  • 1st in the UK* and 100% overall satisfaction** (NSS 2025)
  • 8th in the UK Social Policy (Daily Mail University Guide 2026)
• Sociology at Swansea is ranked:
  • Top 20 in the UK for Graduate Prospects (Complete University Guide 2026)

Our core teaching staff have a strong, international profile in research, and regularly consult on policy in Wales, the UK, and beyond.

Your Sociology and Social Policy Experience

Our flexible degree structure with a wide range of specialist modules gives you the scope to tailor your course to your particular interests, career ambitions, or plans for further study.

Sociology and Social Policy Employment Opportunities

A Sociology and Social Policy degree opens up a wide range of further study or career opportunities. Graduates have gone on to pursue careers in many different fields, including:

• Youth work
• Education
• Research
• Journalism
• Policy development
• Legal, police, and probation services
• Marketing and Advertising
• Ecology and Environmental Planning
• Human Resources

Depending on the sector, Sociology and Social Policy graduates can expect to earn an average annual salary of £22,000, rising to £50,000 for more senior posts.

The Sociology and Social Policy degree can also be a gateway to further professional and vocational training in fields such as teaching and social work.

Modules

We're currently reviewing our curriculum to enhance your learning experience and embed skills that will benefit your future career. This means that some modules may be subject to change.

Year 0 (Level 3)

Entry Level 3 / Foundation Year

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

• Compulsory Modules:
  • Academic Writing
  • Critical Thinking
  • Interactive Learning Skills and Communication
  • Statistics
  • Principles of ICT
  • Applied Critical Thinking
  • The College Resilience module
  • Understanding Society
• Optional Modules:
  • Choose Exactly 30 credits from the following Modules:
    • Business and Management
    • Globalisation
    • Foundations of Psychology
    • Welfare across the globe
    • Biology 1

Year 1 (Level 4)

FHEQ 4 Undergraduate / HECert

Compulsory Modules:

• Introducing Social Policy
• Individuals and Society
• Sociology: The Classics
• Economics, Politics and Society
• The History of Social Policy
• Sociology: Contemporary Controversies

Year 2 (Level 5)

FHEQ 5 Undergraduate / HEDip

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

• Compulsory Modules:
  • Social Problems I
  • Using Evidence for Research, Policy and Practice
• Optional Modules:
  • Choose Exactly 40 credits from the following Modules:
    • Health Policy
    • Investigating Gender
    • Devolution, Policy Making and Social Change
  • AND
  • Choose Exactly 40 credits from the following Modules:
    • Poverty and Social Justice
    • Education, Policy and Society

Year 3 (Level 6)

FHEQ 6 Undergraduate / Honours

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

• Compulsory Modules:
  • Dissertation
• Optional Modules:
  • Choose Exactly 80 credits from the following Modules:
    • Principles of Social Policy
    • The Family and Children: Ethics and Policy
    • Black Mirror Sociology: Technology and Society
    • Risk in Modern Society
    • Understanding the sex industry: Theory, policy and practice
    • Social Movements, Social Policy and Social Change
    • Illegal Economies
    • Probation and Community Justice: Policy, Practice and Partnerships
    • Bodies in Society
    • Race and Nation

Entry Requirements

We consider all applicants on their own merits and welcome applications from students with a wide range of qualifications.

A level (or equivalent) typical offer

• CCC

BTEC

• MMM

UK Access

• minimum of 45 Merits from Level 3 subjects

T Levels

• Pass

Mixed Qualifications

• 96 UCAS tariff points from 3 highest qualifications

International Baccalaureate

• 26 points

Selection Process

Please see How To Apply to find out more.

How You're Taught

At Swansea, you will benefit from a high-quality, research-informed education that combines a range of effective and inclusive teaching methods, carefully tailored to suit the needs of your course. Most courses are taught in person, on campus, giving you the opportunity to actively engage with other students, academic staff, and the wider university community.

You can expect a mix of lectures, seminars, workshops, and practical sessions – including laboratory work, skills training, or studio-based teaching where relevant to your discipline. These sessions are designed to encourage active participation, collaboration, and the development of both subject-specific and transferable skills.

Digital learning tools are also used to enhance your learning experience. These may include:

• Recorded lectures to support flexible study and revision.
• Virtual labs or simulated environments, particularly in science, healthcare, and technical disciplines.
• Online resources on the university's virtual learning environment (Canvas), including videos, reading materials, quizzes, and discussion forums.

This approach enables you to engage with and review content at your own pace while benefiting from the structure and support of in-person teaching.

Welsh Provision

Unfortunately, there is currently no formal Welsh-medium provision on this course. If you would like to let us know that you are interested in pursuing an element of your course through the medium of Welsh, please email to indicate your interest along with your year of entry and we will do our best to see what is possible.

Whilst this course does not offer academic content delivered in Welsh, the University can provide you with the following, and Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support you:

• An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
• The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.
• The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be marked in Welsh.
• A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.
• One-to-one support through the medium of Welsh to improve your academic skills.
• An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers, namely the WJEC and Coleg Cymraeg's Welsh Language Certificate.
• Opportunity to be a member of the Swansea University Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

To learn more about the above and all the opportunities available to you through the medium of Welsh, visit Academi Hywel Teifi's undergraduate pages.

Meet Your Lecturers

Our degrees are taught by industry experts, who have real-world experience, providing them with a wealth of knowledge, which can be passed on to you.

You can find out more about our academic expertise on our staff pages.

Tuition Fees

• Start Date | UK | International
  • September 2025 | £ 5,760 | £ 19,100
  • September 2026 | £ 5,760 | £ 20,050

Fees for full-time undergraduate UK students on classroom-based foundation programmes will increase from Year 1, and in subsequent years, to the maximum regulated fee level set by the Welsh Government.

You can find further information on your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

Funding and Scholarships

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries, and other funding opportunities that are available, please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Additional Costs

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

• Travel to and from campus
• Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery, and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
• Purchase of books or texts
• Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Careers and Employability

The Careers and Employability Team will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

• Employability workshops, employers' talks, bespoke events, and careers fairs
• Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
• Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements, and volunteering opportunities
• Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
• Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding
• Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

As a Swansea University graduate, you can access lifelong careers and employability support.

Academic Support

As well as subject-specific support by college teaching staff and your personal tutor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops, and one-to-one support in areas such as:

• Academic writing
• Maths and statistics
• Critical thinking
• Time management
• Digital skills
• Presentation skills
• Note taking
• Revision, memory, and exam techniques
• English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health, or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success has Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

Study Abroad and Global Opportunities

To learn more about study abroad, visit our Go Global webpages.

International summer programmes are open to students from all schools. Programmes typically range from 2 to 6 weeks, across destinations such as Sri Lanka, South Korea, Fiji, Bali, the USA, and across Europe. For more information about programmes and eligibility visit our Summer Abroad webpages.

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Overview:

• Founded in 1920 as University College of Swansea
• Received its Royal Charter in 1948, becoming Swansea University
• Consistently ranked among the top 30 universities in the UK
• Home to over 20,000 students from over 140 countries
• Notable achievements include:
  • 2019 Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for its work in developing and delivering innovative teaching methods
  • 2018 Times Higher Education Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community
  • 2017 Research Excellence Framework (REF) results showed that 90% of Swansea University's research was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent

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Student Life:

• Over 150 student clubs and societies
• Sports teams in a variety of disciplines, including rugby, football, and basketball
• Student support services include:
  • Counseling and mental health support
  • Disability support
  • Financial advice
  • International student support
• Campus facilities include:
  • Bay Campus: Modern campus with state-of-the-art facilities, including a library, sports center, and student union
  • Singleton Campus: Historic campus with a mix of traditional and modern buildings, including the iconic Singleton Abbey
  • Tycoch Campus: Home to the College of Engineering and the School of Management

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Academics:

• Academic resources include:
  • Over 400 undergraduate and postgraduate programs
  • World-class research facilities
  • Extensive library resources
• Faculty:
  • Over 1,000 academic staff, including internationally renowned researchers and industry experts
• Teaching methodologies:
  • Focus on student-centered learning
  • Use of innovative teaching methods, such as problem-based learning and flipped classrooms
• Academic support services:
  • Academic skills workshops
  • Writing center
  • Math and statistics support
• Unique academic programs or initiatives:
  • Swansea Employability Academy: Provides students with opportunities to develop employability skills
  • Swansea University Global: Offers international study and research opportunities

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Top Reasons to Study Here:

• Top 30 UK university
• Excellent teaching and research
• World-class facilities
• Strong industry connections
• Vibrant student life
• Notable alumni include:
  • Michael Sheen, actor
  • Catherine Zeta-Jones, actress
  • Sir Terry Matthews, entrepreneur

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Services:

• Counseling and mental health support
• Health center
• Housing services
• Library resources:
  • Over 1 million books and journals
  • Access to online databases and e-resources
• Technology support:
  • Free Wi-Fi across campus
  • Computer labs and printing facilities
• Career development services:
  • Career counseling
  • Job search assistance
  • Employer networking events