Social Policy and Law MA (Hons) Level: Undergraduate Subject: Social Policy Year of entry: 2026 Key facts UCAS Code LM41 Award MA (Hons) Duration of study 4 years Delivery Full-time Study location Central Area Start date September 2026 School School of Social and Political Science College College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Study abroad Available Placement No Open days and events Overview About the degree programme This popular joint degree programme provides a grounding in both social policy and law, two subjects which complement and enrich one another.The joint programme MA Social Policy and Law aims to promote advanced knowledge and understanding of the theory, concepts and rules of law.Social policySocial policy at the University of Edinburgh will enable you to engage with confidence in many of the political debates of our time.We deal with a wide array of policy areas, for example:healthwelfarelabour marketseducationfamily and childhoodWe discuss how policies affect our civic culture through studying political engagement and citizen participation.Our programme will equip you with the knowledge to understand how policies affect society and the economy. It will also enable you to critically assess how policies are made and what actors and processes influence the policy-making process.Our cooperationsWe work closely with:governmentsnon-governmental organisations (NGOs)third sector and interest representation groupsinternational organisationsother external actors How long it takes to complete this degree programme This programme is studied over 4 years.A key benefit to studying a 4-year degree programme is that you have the flexibility to study a range of subjects, outside your chosen degree programme, in Year 1 and Year 2.This allows you the opportunity to study other courses that interest you or enhance your degree. By the end of Year 2, you can decide which of these subject areas you want to focus on in the honours years of your programme.How long it takes to complete our degree programmes How a joint degree programme works A joint programme allows you to gain a well-rounded learning experience. You will have more exposure to different disciplines, allowing you to expand your knowledge and expertise.Teaching on joint programmes is split across the two subject areas, and teaching will take place in locations associated with both subjects.You will gain a different perspective through studying more than one subject and have a wider skill set that is highly attractive to future employers. Programme rankings We are ranked in Europe's top 4 universities for social policy in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. Programme benefits We have close relationships with the Scottish and UK governments, as well as European and global institutions. You will have the opportunity to be immersed in a diverse range of contemporary policy developmentsInternational comparative analyses are one of our main strengths. We place a strong emphasis on providing you with empirical research skills, so that you can become a critical researcher yourself.Take a social policy degree at the University of Edinburgh and you will be challenged to re-evaluate how you look at politics, society and the economy, and develop the ability to improve others’ understanding as well. Entry requirements Find your entry requirementsUse the dropdowns to find out your entry requirements.Select the country where you are studying or where you studied your qualification.Select the qualification you are studying or studied. Where you are studying or where you studied United KingdomAfghanistanAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBelizeBhutanBoliviaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaHaitiHondurasHong Kong-SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLithuaniaLuxembourgMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritiusMexicoMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlands, TheNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTajikistanTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTrinidad and TobagoTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamWest Indies and CaribbeanYemenZambiaZimbabweMy country is not listed Qualification - Select a qualification -SQA Highers: standard requirementsSQA Highers: widening access requirementsA levels: standard requirementsA levels: widening access requirementsIB: standard requirementsIB: widening access requirementsOther UK qualificationsMature applicants (including adult returners)International qualifications by country United Kingdom, Fees and funding Tuition fees for MA (Hons) Social Policy and Law View the tuition fees for one academic year of MA (Hons) Social Policy and Law. Accommodation and living costs You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.We estimate that a single student can potentially spend a maximum of £920 to £2,257 on living costs each month, depending on your accommodation.This estimate covers the costs of:accommodationfoodutility billstravel within Edinburghhealth and wellbeing costsSee a breakdown of living costs Scholarships and funding Funding information You can find detailed information on financial support available, based on where you are living, in our funding section. Funding Programme details What you will study The joint MA Social Policy and Law allows you to gain a disciplinary understanding in core social policy analyses as well as law.Social policyWe will introduce key ways to analyse how government policies affect society.We use a variety of important concepts, like power and inequality, to make sense of societal structures. This allows us to look at the impact of policy on different groups of people (for example, based on class, gender or race).LawYou will develop knowledge and understanding of the theory, concepts and rules of law.Study within the Edinburgh Law School is grounded in Scots law and the Scots legal system. You will also be made familiar with the law and legal systems of:the other parts of the United Kingdomthe European Unionthe wider worldYou will gain insights into particular methods of understanding society through the lens of legal studies.You will apply those insights to real-world problems that stretch beyond the reach of those disciplines. This will help you understand the impact particular decisions have on different parts of society.This allows you to take specialisation courses in both disciplines in Years 3 and 4.CoursesYou will be able to choose from a range of specific social policy courses (between two and four) that cover particular policy areas or processes.You will also choose specific courses from Law (between two and four), in addition to the central methods and approaches courses in both disciplines.You can usually choose which subject area to write your dissertation in. Year 1 Social policyYou will take Social Policy and Society.In this course we will introduce you to core concepts in the analysis of key government policy areas. We do this by contrasting various lenses through which we can understand social policy. You will explore the consequences of different policy decisions by governments on different parts of society.You will also study Politics of the Welfare State.This course examines social policy as a political issue in the UK. It introduces you to the politics of welfare, an area that constitutes one of the largest sets of government expenditure. You will be confronted with debates about the different ways of delivering welfare, and the interplay between the state and the private sector.LawYou will take the compulsory law courses:Scottish Legal SystemPublic Law of the UK and Scotland Find Year 1 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Year 2 Social policyYou will take Comparative Social Policy: Global Perspectives. In this course, you will compare different approaches to social policy in European and non-European countries.In addition, you will take the following courses:Research Skills for Social Policy - This course equips you with core research training and provides a forum for subject-specific learning and community-buildingEvidence, Economy and Social Policy - This course will focus on the economic dimension of social policy, and the (mis)use of underlying evidenceLawYou will take 40 credits of law courses including the compulsory course Public Law and Individual Rights. Find Year 2 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Year 3 You will select option courses that cover a wide array of policy fields such as:family policylabour market policiessocial inequalitiescriminal justicehealth policyeducation policyeco-social policyYou will also take:courses in qualitative and quantitative research methodsa course that will teach you to analyse and communicate policies from multiple lenses (economic, political and sociological)You will take a further 80 credits of law option courses. Find Year 3 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Year 4 You will continue to take social policy courses.You will also complete an individual research project.This may involve collecting and analysing data and information from sources such as:the European CommissionUK GovernmentScottish Governmentlocal authoritiesvoluntary organisations Find Year 4 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Study abroad You may apply to spend Year 3 abroad in one of many universities where the University has special links, in locations such as:EuropeNorth AmericaCentral and South AmericaAustraliaAsiaWe also have a dedicated European exchange scheme with Leuphana University Lüneburg in Germany.What are my options for going abroad? Teaching and assessment Teaching You will be taught through a combination of:lecturestutorialsseminarsindividual supervision Assessment You will be assessed through a wide range of methods that will enable you to develop different academic and practical skills.Our assessment methods include:traditional academic essays and examspolicy analyses and briefspolicy blogginganalyses of political actorsproject workseminar engagement Support for your studies You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.Support for your studies Our academic staff You will be taught by staff members who are passionate about conducting research that has strong applications to the world outside academia. Where you will study Study location Most of the teaching in this programme takes place in the University's Central Area. Academic facilities You will also have access to the University's library and computer facilities. Career paths and further study Career paths Most of our graduates move into careers in policy or research within areas such as:governmentvoluntary organisationspressure groupscommercial organisationsThese programmes also equip you with skills and knowledge that could be applied to careers in teaching, or to the management and delivery of services, whether public or commercial. Careers Service Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals.The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies.With the Careers Service, you can:access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisionsVisit the Careers Service website Further study After you complete your programme, you may want to go onto further study at Edinburgh or a different university. You could progress to:a masters degreea postgraduate diploma or certificatea PhDa second undergraduate degreeFind out about options for further studySome graduates have gone on to study for professional qualifications in:housing managementsocial workhuman resource management Applying How to apply You must submit a full application through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) before the relevant deadline.Guidance on applying through UCAS What you need to apply As part of your application, you will need:your academic qualificationsa personal statementevidence of your English language skills (with relevant qualifications)a reference How we select If you have met, or are predicted to meet, all our entry requirements by the relevant deadline, then your application will go into our selection process.As part of this selection process, we will review all the information you submit in your UCAS application when we decide who to select for this degree programme.How we select applicants When to apply 2026 entry UCAS deadline: 14 January 2026 (6:00pm GMT)This is the deadline for all UK, EU and international applicants to non-medicine and veterinary medicine programmes.To find out if any degree programmes have spaces after 14 January 2026, search the University of Edinburgh on the UCAS website.Search degrees that are open on the UCAS websiteKey application dates and deadlines After you apply After you have applied for your degree programme, we suggest you have a look at the following information to help you prepare for university:How to submit your qualificationsAttend an offer holder eventReceiving our decisionAccepting your offerAfter you’ve accepted your offerIf you have a disability and need more support at university Applying as an international student As an international student, you apply for this degree programme through UCAS. Find out more about applying through UCAS Visas and immigration If you do not have the right to live in the UK, you will need to apply for and secure a Student visa before the start date of your degree programme. Our Student Immigration Service can help you with the Student visa application process. Applying for a visa Agents An education agent is someone who can help you with the application process as an international student. We work with education agents around the world and have a list of local offices you can contact. Find contact details for an education agent Life at Edinburgh What our students say Student testimonialsHear about what it is like to study with us, and about life in Edinburgh from those who know it best: our students and graduates.Testimonials from our students and graduatesCheck out our student blogOur team of School of Political Sciences (SPS) student writers share their experiences and thoughts on the things that matter to them on our student blog, for example:writing your first assignmentwhat to do in Edinburgh on the weekendwhat to expect in Welcome Weekliving away from homehybrid learningliving sustainablyOur SPS student blog Accommodation We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single undergraduate students from outside Edinburgh. To be eligible, you need to meet all criteria and apply for accommodation by 16 August in the year of your entry to the University.University accommodation websiteAccommodation guarantee criteriaIf you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place Societies and clubs Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.SocietiesSports clubsAdditionally, most of the departments in the School of Social and Political Science (SPS) have associated student societies, which are designed to offer you the best chance to develop your interests, network and meet like-minded people.Edinburgh Political UnionFacebook - Edinburgh Political UnionX - Edinburgh Political UnionEmail the Edinburgh Political Union at edinburghpolitics@gmail.comSustainable Development AssociationFacebook - Sustainable Development AssociationX - Sustainable Development AssociationEUSA website - Sustainable Development AssociationEmail the Sustainable Development Association at eduni.sda@gmail.comSociology SocietyFacebook - Sociology SocietyInstagram - Sociology SocietyEmail the Sociology Society at edisociologysociety@gmail.comSocial Anthropology SocietyFacebook - Social Anthropology SocietyEmail the Social Anthropology Society at soc.anth.soc@gmail.comSocial Policy SocietyFacebook - Social Policy SocietyX - Social Policy SocietyEmail the Social Policy Society at ediunisocpolsoc@gmail.comQ-Step SocietyFacebook – Q-Step SocietyEmail the Q-Step Society at edqsoc@gmail.com The city of Edinburgh Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life.Find out more about living in Edinburgh Exercise, leisure and support facilities Outside of your studies, we offer a range of facilities to daily life, including: sport and exercise facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and nonea University nursery (based at King’s Buildings campus) Health and wellbeing support You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.The support services we offer include:a student counselling servicea health centre (doctor's surgery)support if you're living in University accommodationdedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustmentHealth and wellbeing support services Contact and events
