BSc International Social and Public Policy with Study Abroad (L411)

2024 entry | view 2025 entry

Course summary

International Social and Public Policy draws on several disciplines, including economics, political science, sociology, behavioural science and philosophy, asking you to compare key ideas and theoretical frameworks. This course gives you the tools to explore, analyse and critically evaluate policy issues in and across societies in a range of geographical and cultural contexts.

Studying abroad further offers an excellent opportunity for you to extend and deepen your knowledge and experience of policy issues, institutions and outcomes in a different part of the world. To find out more about studying abroad, visit Centre for Study Abroad.

Course structure

In the first year, you explore key concepts and theories of comparative and international social and public policy to enable a deeper understanding of the ways in which social, political and economic issues are shaped and responded to in different parts of the world.

In the second year, you explore policymaking and implementation and international political economy in global, national and local contexts. Alongside this, you will choose optional units in a range of international policy areas and have the option to undertake a work placement to gain employment-related skills.

In the third year, students travel to one of our partner institutions to study overseas, before returning for their final (fourth) year where they will choose a topic for in-depth investigation and independent work.

Full details about the course structure and units for this course can be viewed in the programme catalogue.

Go to programme catalogue

Entry requirements

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.

AAB
DDD in any Applied General BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma

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34 points overall with 17 at Higher Level
31 points overall with 15 at Higher Level

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80% overall
Advanced Higher: AB, and Standard Higher: AAABB
Access to HE Diploma in Humanities, Social Sciences, Law or History (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include 24 credits at Distinction and 21 at Merit or above.

More about Access to HE entry requirements
Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.
Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/M2 is B, and M3 is C.
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and we accept a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

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