COURSE CURRICULUM

This master's programme provides students with advanced expertise in social policy analysis and social research methods, preparing them to investigate contemporary social issues and contribute to evidence-based policy development and evaluation. The course encourages critical examination of social policy by exploring the changing nature of governance in the United Kingdom over the last four decades and analysing the impact of major political and economic developments. Students study key issues such as austerity measures, welfare reform, and privatisation, assessing how government policies and legislation influence inequality, communities, public services, and individual lives. Alongside specialist policy knowledge, the programme develops comprehensive research skills through training in both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis. Students examine traditional social research approaches as well as emerging techniques for gathering and interpreting data, while gaining experience in the use of large-scale datasets and resources such as the UK Data Service. The strengths and limitations of different research methods are critically evaluated, and students learn how to present findings effectively through visualisation and data interpretation techniques. The course also provides a strong foundation in research design by exploring the relationships between philosophy, theory, and methodology. Students develop the ability to formulate research problems and questions, justify methodological choices, and assess issues such as sampling strategies and sampling error and their impact on research outcomes. Another important aspect of the programme is the study of social inequalities, where students examine how inequality emerges through different social, economic, cultural, and political factors and how these intersect in contemporary society. Topics such as consumerism, identity, ideology, social relationships, and belonging are explored through the application of social theory to modern social challenges. The programme concludes with an independent dissertation project that enables students to conduct original research under academic supervision while developing advanced analytical, research, and professional skills for careers in research, policy, and academia.