Government, Policy and Society with Quantitative Methods MA (Hons) Level: Undergraduate Subject: Social Policy Year of entry: 2026 Key facts UCAS Code L231 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 Available Open days and events Overview About the degree programme Government, Policy and Society with Quantitative Methods is based on social policy, the study of societies and the way they change through policy-making. It will equip you with advanced quantitative skills that allow you to engage at a high level with evidence-based policy-making.Social policy is relevant to many areas of everyday life, including:housingemploymentincomehealtheducationThis programme is designed for students interested in:the content of social policythe process by which policy is madethe impact of policy on societyYou will study these topics at local, national and global levels. You will examine the ways in which public policies, social institutions and market forces affect how contemporary societies operate, and how they are affected by debates about social justice. 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 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 developments.This programme receives support and funding from the UK-wide Q-Step initiative. This means you will benefit from small class sizes and be able to develop your skills in close proximity to experts.There is also plenty of support available if you are less confident with mathematics. Entry requirements Find your entry requirementsUse the dropdowns to find out your entry requirements.Select the country or region 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 or region 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 or region United Kingdom, Fees and funding Tuition fees for MA (Hons) Government, Policy and Society with Quantitative Methods View the tuition fees for one academic year of MA (Hons) Government, Policy and Society with Quantitative Methods. 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 £1,023 to £2,043 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 Year 1 You will take the following compulsory courses:Social Policy and SocietyMathematics for Social ScienceIntroduction to Statistics for Social ScienceUnderstanding Public PolicyPolitics of the Welfare StateSocial Policy and SocietyIn this course we 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).Understanding Public PolicyIn this course, you will develop the skills needed to analyse specific policies created by governments with regard to their goals, structures and effectiveness.You will engage with external practitioners to understand the practical implications of their academic knowledge to the world of real policy-making.Politics of the Welfare StateIn this course we introduce you to the politics of welfare.In many countries this area constitutes one of the largest sets of government expenditure. You will be confronted with debates about different ways of delivering welfare, and the interplay between the state and the private sector.Option coursesYou will take further option courses from across the University to broaden your perspectives. These may include courses within social and political science, such as:social anthropologyinternational relationssociologypolitical sciencesocial workYou can also choose options from other disciplines, such as:economicsphilosophyhistory Find courses The courses you can study will vary from year to year and may be different for your year of entry. You can get an idea of what you might study by viewing the latest course information for this programme. Find Year 1 courses (2025-2026 academic year) Year 2 You will take three compulsory courses:Comparative Social Policy: Global Perspectives - In this course, you will compare different approaches to social policy in European and non-European countriesResearch 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 evidenceOption coursesYou will take further option courses from across the University to broaden your perspectives. These may include courses within social and political science, such as:social anthropologyinternational relationssociologypolitical sciencesocial workYou can also choose options from other disciplines, such as:economicsphilosophyhistory Find courses The courses you can study will vary from year to year and may be different for your year of entry. You can get an idea of what you might study by viewing the latest course information for this programme. Find Year 2 courses (2025-2026 academic year) Year 3 You must take three core courses:Qualitative and Quantitative Research: Principles and Practicalities for Social PolicyAnalysing and communicating Social PolicyStatistical ModellingDuring Years 3 and 4, two or three courses must be in advanced quantitative methods. The remainder can be in a variety of topics in public policy, such as:social inequalitylabour marketschildhoodhealth policyeducation policy Find courses The courses you can study will vary from year to year and may be different for your year of entry. You can get an idea of what you might study by viewing the latest course information for this programme. Find Year 3 courses (2025-2026 academic year) Year 4 You will continue to take social policy courses and will complete an individual research project (dissertation). Find courses The courses you can study will vary from year to year and may be different for your year of entry. You can get an idea of what you might study by viewing the latest course information for this programme. Find Year 4 courses (2025-2026 academic year) Study abroad You may apply to spend Year 3 abroad in one of many institutions 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? Placements You will have the opportunity to apply for a summer internship which takes place during the summer of Year 3. Placements are designed to allow you to apply your data skills in a real world setting.Our previous placement hosts have included prestigious institutions such as:the Scottish GovernmentNational Health Service (NHS) ScotlandScottish Funding Councilcharitiesmuseums of Scotlandprivate sector employersOur Careers Service will offer advice and support on your application to the host institution.Gain an insight into the summer 2024 internship experience of one of our students who worked with the charity Parenting across Scotland by reading their blog post.Student blog post on the Parenting across Scotland summer placement 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 assessments include traditional academic essays and exams, as well as:policy 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 Our people are the most important thing about our subject area. It takes a team of academics, professional services colleagues and PhD students working together to deliver our teaching, carry out our research and keep the department running. Together, they form a supportive community covering a range of professional expertise.You can search for academic staff by name or role on our school website.Search academic staff by name or role Where you will study Study location Most of the teaching for 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 Quantitative skills in social science are in very short supply in the UK and further afield. Graduating from this programme can open up a wide range of fulfilling careers in areas such as:governmentvoluntary organisationspressure groupscommercial organisationsThe programme also equips you with skills and knowledge that could be applied to teaching or to the management and delivery of services, whether public or commercial.We offer bespoke career advice tailored towards the strengthened employability associated with studying quantitative methods. 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 study 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
