Study social policy abroad
An in-depth guide to studying social policy as an international student.
Social policy degrees abroad
Social policy is the study of social issues and government actions taken to manage them. It’s a broad field that includes elements of sociology, ethics, philosophy, psychology and economics.
As well as learning about the social inequalities that have existed throughout history, you’ll consider the contemporary challenges faced by communities today. You’ll use key concepts and theories to explore the causes and consequences of problems like poverty, unemployment, crime, homelessness and education. You’ll then evaluate how effective government policies have been at tackling such injustices.
By earning your degree abroad, you’ll see how social structures and government systems operate around the world. You’ll observe how social difficulties vary between countries and cultures, giving you a valuable international perspective.
Social policy program structure
Bachelor’s degrees in social policy are normally studied over three years, but some courses will integrate an additional 12-month placement. Although BA and BSc programs cover similar ground, BSc courses will focus more on statistical techniques and data analysis.
Social policy can be combined with another subject and studied as a joint honors course. This is a great way of tailoring your education to reflect your interests and ambitions. Common pairings include politics, economics, sociology and international relations.
Most US universities follow the liberal arts model of education, meaning undergraduate courses last four years. You’ll take general education classes for the first half of your program, before declaring a major in social policy at the end of your second year.
Once you’ve finished your bachelor’s degree, you might decide to enroll in a postgraduate program. Master’s degrees can be studied over one or two years, whereas research-based PhDs take several additional years.
Your timetable will mainly be made up of lectures, seminars, tutorials and discussion-based workshops. Assessment methods will depend on the modules you take, but you’ll probably complete exams, essays and presentations.
The content of your program will largely depend on where you choose to study and the social issues present in that location. However, most courses will introduce you to the following fundamentals:
- Introduction to social policy
- Social policy and control
- Health, care and wellbeing
- Policy analysis
- Poverty, class and inequality
- Education, policy and social justice
- Crime and society
- Social research
How to study social policy abroad
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Social policy study abroad programs
Social policy undergraduate programs
Bachelor's in social policy
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Economics (Public Policy) - BSc St. Francis College, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 26,688 USD
- Start date
- January, May, September
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Public Service and Public Policy (Science and Technology Policy) - BSc Arizona State University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 29,834 USD
- Start date
- January, May, August
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Social Policy - BA University of Birmingham, UK
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 18,420 GBP
- Start date
- September
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Public Policy - BA University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 29,800 USD
- Start date
- January, May, August
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Agricultural Economics: Public Policy - BSc University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 27,000 USD
- Start date
- January, June, August
Associate in social policy
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Liberal Arts & Sciences: Public Policy - ASc Mohawk Valley Community College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 6,892 USD
- Start date
- January, September
Social policy graduate programs
Master's in social policy
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Public Policy (Policy Informatics) - MPP Arizona State University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 28,534 USD
- Start date
- January, August
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Regulatory Affairs for Drugs, Biologics, & Medical Devices (Boston Campus) - MSc Northeastern University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 16,155 USD
- Start date
- January
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Public Policy, by coursework - MPP RMIT University, Australia
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 30,720 AUD
- Start date
- February, July
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Public Policy - Urban policy - MPP University of Maryland, Baltimore County, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 22,896 USD
- Start date
- January, August
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Public Policy - MA American University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 44,600 USD
- Start date
- January, August
Doctorate in social policy
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Public Policy - Education policy - PhD University of Maryland, Baltimore County, USA
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 3 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 22,899 USD
- Start date
- August
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Social Policy - PhD University of Chichester, UK
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 3 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 13,950 GBP
- Start date
- September
Diploma in social policy
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Public Policy and International Relations - PGDip University of California, Riverside Extension, USA
- Program type
- Postgraduate diploma
- Duration
- 9 months
- Tuition fees per year
- 18,200 USD
- Start date
- September
Certificate in social policy
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Regulatory Affairs - PGCert Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Canada
- Program type
- Postgraduate certificate
- Duration
- 18 months
- Tuition fees per year
- 24,588 CAD
- Start date
- September
Pathway in social policy
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Regulatory Affairs for Drugs, Biologics, and Medical Devices (Global Pathways) - PGP Northeastern University, USA
- Program type
- Postgraduate pathway
- Duration
- 4 months
- Tuition fees per year
- 15,200 USD
- Start date
- March, July, November
Future social policy careers
As a social policy graduate, you’ll be ready to make a real difference to people’s lives through your daily work.
Your problem solving, critical thinking and analytical skills will be in high demand across a range of sectors, including healthcare, social services, government, education, and charity. Some of the roles you could pursue include:
- Policy advisor
- Civil service administrator
- Social worker
- Charity officer
- Housing manager
- Local government officer
- Politician
- International aid worker
If you’re unsure of what to do after graduation, contact your university’s careers service. They’ll help you figure out your interests, land some work experience, and sharpen your resume.
