THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2025/2026

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.
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Degree Programme Table: Social Policy and Politics (MA Hons) (UTSOPPO)

Jump to: Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4

Year 1 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: September

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Social Policy and Society

Must be passed

SCPL08004 20 credits
Politics of the Welfare State

Must be passed

SCPL08005 20 credits
Political Thinkers

Must be passed

PLIT08011 20 credits
Politics and International Relations 1A: Concepts and Debates

Must be passed

PLIT08017 20 credits
Politics and International Relations 1B: The Global Dimension

Must be passed

PLIT08018 20 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 20 credits in this group.

Social Policy Pre-Honours

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Understanding Public Policy
SCPL08012 20 credits
AND

Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y

Select between 0 and 20 credits from Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y
AND

Challenge Courses: Engaging with complex problems through interdisciplinary collaboration

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Challenge Courses are designed to bring together students from different degree programmes to explore the complex issues facing the world today through interdisciplinary collaboration and creative thinking.

Working with each other and expert academics, students will gain new perspectives and develop important life skills highly valued by employers, such as teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability.
Our Changing World
BIME08006 20 credits
Sustainability and Social Responsibility (UG)
EDUA08116 20 credits
Sustainable Development Goals: History, Progress and Beyond 2030
EFIE08008 20 credits
Living in the Anthropocene
GESC08004 20 credits
Understanding Gender in the Contemporary World
SSPS08012 20 credits
Healthy Eating for People and Planet
VETS08016 20 credits

Year 2 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
Students who are planning on spending their Junior Year Abroad must successfully progress to honours before they can proceed on their JYA.

Students considering a transfer to single Honours in Politics must take 'Introduction to Political Data Analysis'.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Comparative Politics in a Globalized World

Must be passed

PLIT08008 20 credits
Comparative Social Policy: Global Perspectives

Must be passed

SCPL08014 20 credits
Research Skills for Social Policy

Must be passed

SCPL08015 20 credits
Evidence, Economy, and Social Policy

Must be passed

SCPL08017 20 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

Understanding Public Policy

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Understanding Public Policy
SCPL08012 20 credits
AND

Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y

Select between 0 and 40 credits from Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y
AND

Politics Year 2 Optional Courses

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Introduction to British Politics
PLIT08016 20 credits
International Political Economy
PLIT08020 20 credits
Theories of International Relations
PLIT08021 20 credits
AND

Challenge Courses: Engaging with complex problems through interdisciplinary collaboration

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Challenge Courses are designed to bring together students from different degree programmes to explore the complex issues facing the world today through interdisciplinary collaboration and creative thinking.

Working with each other and expert academics, students will gain new perspectives and develop important life skills highly valued by employers, such as teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability.
Our Changing World
BIME08006 20 credits
Sustainability and Social Responsibility (UG)
EDUA08116 20 credits
Sustainable Development Goals: History, Progress and Beyond 2030
EFIE08008 20 credits
Living in the Anthropocene
GESC08004 20 credits
Understanding Gender in the Contemporary World
SSPS08012 20 credits
Healthy Eating for People and Planet
VETS08016 20 credits

Year 3 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
Students who are planning on spending their Junior Year Abroad must successfully progress to honours before they can proceed on their JYA.

Students may substitute Health Policy Analysis and Globalisation and Public Health for one 20 credit Social Policy Honours course.

Students intending to write the Dissertation in Politics and International Relations must take Research Design in Politics and International Relations (PLIT10106) in Year 3 or 4. It is strongly encouraged taking Research Design in Politics and International Relations in Year 3.

Students are not required and not allowed to take Doing Survey Research if they have already taken and passed Introduction to Statistics for Social Science or Introduction to Political Data Analysis.

Qualitative Research: Principles and Practicalities for Social Policy (SCPL10040) must be taken in Year 3 or Year 4 by students planning to undertake a qualitative dissertation in Social Policy.

Year 3 students on a Junior Year Abroad planning to undertake a qualitative dissertation in Social Policy must find an approved equivalent to SCPL10040 (Qualitative Research: Principles and Practicalities for Social Policy), confirmed on their Learning Agreement by the Social Policy International Exchange Coordinator. Where no equivalent is available, they will be required to take the course in Year 4 upon their return.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Doing Survey Research
SCIL10063 20 credits
Qualitative Research: Principles and Practicalities for Social Policy
SCPL10040 20 credits
Analysing and communicating Social Policy
SCPL10045 20 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 60 credits in this group.

Social Policy Honours Electives

Select exactly 20 credits of the following courses
Children's Rights: Policy and Practice
EDUA10204 20 credits
Social Determinants of Health and Public Policy
IPHP10001 20 credits
Global Politics of Public Health
IPHP10002 20 credits
Europe and International Migration
PLIT10068 20 credits
Gender, Power and Representation
PLIT10113 20 credits
The Politics of the UK Constitution
PLIT10119 20 credits
Democracy and contemporary capitalism
PLIT10139 20 credits
Politics and communication of environmental risks
PLIT10175 20 credits
The Politics of Economic Expertise
PLIT10179 20 credits
Doing Survey Research
SCIL10063 20 credits
Social Demography
SCIL10097 20 credits
Population Health and Health Policy
SCPL10029 20 credits
Health Systems: Strengthening and Reform
SCPL10030 20 credits
Health Systems Analysis
SCPL10034 20 credits
Qualitative Research: Principles and Practicalities for Social Policy
SCPL10040 20 credits
Screening Social Policy
SCPL10042 20 credits
Race, Power, and Social Policy
SCPL10043 20 credits
Understanding sustainable welfare and eco-social policy
SCPL10044 20 credits
Domestic Violence: Concepts, Research and Policy
SCPL10046 20 credits
Advocacy, Lobbying and the Politics of Planetary Health
SCPL10047 20 credits
Drug Policy and the Public Good
SHSS10011 20 credits
Contemporary Feminist Debates
SSPS10001 20 credits
AND

Research Design in Politics and International Relations

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Students intending to write the Dissertation in Politics and International Relations must take Research Design in Politics and International Relations (PLIT10106) in Year 3 or 4. It is strongly encouraged taking Research Design in Politics and International Relations in Year 3.
Research Design in Politics and International Relations
PLIT10106 20 credits
AND

Politics and International Relations Years 3 and 4 Honours Electives

Select between 20 and 40 credits of the following courses
Advanced Issues in the Making of Contemporary Africa
AFRI10003 20 credits
Contemporary Issues in International Development
AFRI10004 20 credits
The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Nations in Collision
IMES10072 20 credits
Gendering the Middle East
IMES10100 20 credits
The Ottoman World: the Society, Culture and Legacy of Islam's Last Empire
IMES10101 20 credits
Muslim Societies in Southeast Asia
IMES10106 20 credits
International, Transnational and Globalised Dynamics of the Muslim World
IMES10108 20 credits
Unfolding Afghanistan in a Globalised Context
IMES10110 20 credits
Africa in World Politics
PLIT10003 20 credits
Politics of the Middle East
PLIT10036 20 credits
Contemporary Russian Politics
PLIT10048 20 credits
Global Justice and Citizenship
PLIT10054 20 credits
Europe and International Migration
PLIT10068 20 credits
Comparing Scottish Devolution
PLIT10080 20 credits
Understanding Indian Politics
PLIT10088 20 credits
Parliamentary Studies
PLIT10091 20 credits
Political Work
PLIT10093 20 credits
International Politics of Money
PLIT10095 20 credits
Democracy and its Discontents
PLIT10096 20 credits
Public participation in democracy and governance
PLIT10098 20 credits
Public Policy: Agenda-Setting
PLIT10100 20 credits
Neuropolitics
PLIT10101 20 credits
Contemporary Issues in Political Science
PLIT10104 20 credits
Contemporary Issues in International Relations
PLIT10105 20 credits
Research Design in Politics and International Relations
PLIT10106 20 credits
International Relations of the Asia Pacific
PLIT10109 20 credits
Gender, Power and Representation
PLIT10113 20 credits
Populism: Pathology or Panacea?
PLIT10114 20 credits
Climate Justice
PLIT10118 20 credits
The Politics of the UK Constitution
PLIT10119 20 credits
Strategic Studies and its Critics
PLIT10120 20 credits
Law, Violence, and Humanity
PLIT10125 20 credits
Social Movements and Collective Action in the Middle East
PLIT10128 20 credits
Gender, Peace and Security
PLIT10130 20 credits
Technology, Politics and Government
PLIT10133 20 credits
Russia's Foreign and Security Policy
PLIT10135 20 credits
Environmental Politics
PLIT10136 20 credits
Democracy and contemporary capitalism
PLIT10139 20 credits
Chinese Politics
PLIT10140 20 credits
The Persian Gulf in International Relations
PLIT10142 20 credits
Media and Protest
PLIT10143 20 credits
Europe in the World
PLIT10146 20 credits
Terrorism and Counterterrorism
PLIT10147 20 credits
Advanced Topics in Global Security
PLIT10151 20 credits
Foundations in Global Security
PLIT10154 20 credits
Model United Nations
PLIT10155 20 credits
Eastminster: Decolonisation and State-Building in Asia
PLIT10157 20 credits
Education and Social Justice
PLIT10158 20 credits
Global and Transnational Feminisms
PLIT10159 20 credits
Political Emotions
PLIT10160 20 credits
Utopia
PLIT10161 20 credits
Freedom and Slavery in Political Thought
PLIT10162 20 credits
Geopolitics
PLIT10163 20 credits
Anticolonial Political Thought
PLIT10164 20 credits
Conservatism and the Right
PLIT10165 20 credits
Corporate Lobbying and Policymaking in the Global Economy
PLIT10166 20 credits
Elite and Mass Political Behaviour
PLIT10167 20 credits
Majoritarian Nationalism, Populism and Ethnic Conflict in South Asia
PLIT10170 20 credits
Sport and Politics
PLIT10171 20 credits
The Far Right
PLIT10172 20 credits
Digital Media and Democracy
PLIT10173 20 credits
Politics and communication of environmental risks
PLIT10175 20 credits
Latin American Foreign Policies
PLIT10176 20 credits
Propaganda and Censorship in Democracies
PLIT10177 20 credits
Stability, Instability and Renewal in Democratic Systems
PLIT10178 20 credits
The Politics of Economic Expertise
PLIT10179 20 credits
The Political Psychology of Global Affairs
PLIT10180 20 credits
The Political Economy of Digital Capitalism
PLIT10183 20 credits
Migration, Borders, and Resistance
PLIT10184 20 credits
Kant and International Relations
PLIT10185 20 credits
Economic Nationalism and Business Power
PLIT10187 20 credits
Designing and Doing Social Research
SCIL10062 20 credits
Globalization
SCIL10067 20 credits
Health Systems: Strengthening and Reform
SCPL10030 20 credits
Race, Power, and Social Policy
SCPL10043 20 credits
Statistical Modelling
SSPS10027 20 credits
The Internet and Society
STIS10001 20 credits
Energy Policy and Sustainability
STIS10008 20 credits
Controversies in Medicine, Technology and the Environment
STIS10009 20 credits
Knowledge, Expertise and Policy
STIS10010 20 credits

Year 4 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
Students intending to write the Dissertation in Politics and International Relations and who have not taken Research Design in Politics and International Relations (PLIT10106) in Year 3 must take it in Year 4.

Qualitative Research: Principles and Practicalities for Social Policy (SCPL10040) must be taken in Year 3 or Year 4 by students planning to undertake a qualitative dissertation in Social Policy.

There are no compulsory courses in this year of this programme.

Course options

4TH YEAR DISSERTATIONS SOCIAL POLICY OR POLITICS Social Policy and Politics (MA)-Level 10

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses
Dissertation in Politics and International Relations
PLIT10182 40 credits
Dissertation (MA Social Policy)
SCPL10012 40 credits
AND

Politics and International Relations Years 3 and 4 Honours Electives

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses
Advanced Issues in the Making of Contemporary Africa
AFRI10003 20 credits
Contemporary Issues in International Development
AFRI10004 20 credits
The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Nations in Collision
IMES10072 20 credits
Gendering the Middle East
IMES10100 20 credits
The Ottoman World: the Society, Culture and Legacy of Islam's Last Empire
IMES10101 20 credits
Muslim Societies in Southeast Asia
IMES10106 20 credits
International, Transnational and Globalised Dynamics of the Muslim World
IMES10108 20 credits
Unfolding Afghanistan in a Globalised Context
IMES10110 20 credits
Africa in World Politics
PLIT10003 20 credits
Politics of the Middle East
PLIT10036 20 credits
Contemporary Russian Politics
PLIT10048 20 credits
Global Justice and Citizenship
PLIT10054 20 credits
Europe and International Migration
PLIT10068 20 credits
Comparing Scottish Devolution
PLIT10080 20 credits
Understanding Indian Politics
PLIT10088 20 credits
Parliamentary Studies
PLIT10091 20 credits
Political Work
PLIT10093 20 credits
International Politics of Money
PLIT10095 20 credits
Democracy and its Discontents
PLIT10096 20 credits
Public participation in democracy and governance
PLIT10098 20 credits
Public Policy: Agenda-Setting
PLIT10100 20 credits
Neuropolitics
PLIT10101 20 credits
Contemporary Issues in Political Science
PLIT10104 20 credits
Contemporary Issues in International Relations
PLIT10105 20 credits
Research Design in Politics and International Relations
PLIT10106 20 credits
International Relations of the Asia Pacific
PLIT10109 20 credits
Gender, Power and Representation
PLIT10113 20 credits
Populism: Pathology or Panacea?
PLIT10114 20 credits
Climate Justice
PLIT10118 20 credits
The Politics of the UK Constitution
PLIT10119 20 credits
Strategic Studies and its Critics
PLIT10120 20 credits
Law, Violence, and Humanity
PLIT10125 20 credits
Social Movements and Collective Action in the Middle East
PLIT10128 20 credits
Gender, Peace and Security
PLIT10130 20 credits
Technology, Politics and Government
PLIT10133 20 credits
Russia's Foreign and Security Policy
PLIT10135 20 credits
Environmental Politics
PLIT10136 20 credits
Democracy and contemporary capitalism
PLIT10139 20 credits
Chinese Politics
PLIT10140 20 credits
The Persian Gulf in International Relations
PLIT10142 20 credits
Media and Protest
PLIT10143 20 credits
Europe in the World
PLIT10146 20 credits
Terrorism and Counterterrorism
PLIT10147 20 credits
Advanced Topics in Global Security
PLIT10151 20 credits
Foundations in Global Security
PLIT10154 20 credits
Model United Nations
PLIT10155 20 credits
Eastminster: Decolonisation and State-Building in Asia
PLIT10157 20 credits
Education and Social Justice
PLIT10158 20 credits
Global and Transnational Feminisms
PLIT10159 20 credits
Political Emotions
PLIT10160 20 credits
Utopia
PLIT10161 20 credits
Freedom and Slavery in Political Thought
PLIT10162 20 credits
Geopolitics
PLIT10163 20 credits
Anticolonial Political Thought
PLIT10164 20 credits
Conservatism and the Right
PLIT10165 20 credits
Corporate Lobbying and Policymaking in the Global Economy
PLIT10166 20 credits
Elite and Mass Political Behaviour
PLIT10167 20 credits
Majoritarian Nationalism, Populism and Ethnic Conflict in South Asia
PLIT10170 20 credits
Sport and Politics
PLIT10171 20 credits
The Far Right
PLIT10172 20 credits
Digital Media and Democracy
PLIT10173 20 credits
Politics and communication of environmental risks
PLIT10175 20 credits
Latin American Foreign Policies
PLIT10176 20 credits
Propaganda and Censorship in Democracies
PLIT10177 20 credits
Stability, Instability and Renewal in Democratic Systems
PLIT10178 20 credits
The Politics of Economic Expertise
PLIT10179 20 credits
The Political Psychology of Global Affairs
PLIT10180 20 credits
The Political Economy of Digital Capitalism
PLIT10183 20 credits
Migration, Borders, and Resistance
PLIT10184 20 credits
Kant and International Relations
PLIT10185 20 credits
Economic Nationalism and Business Power
PLIT10187 20 credits
Designing and Doing Social Research
SCIL10062 20 credits
Globalization
SCIL10067 20 credits
Health Systems: Strengthening and Reform
SCPL10030 20 credits
Race, Power, and Social Policy
SCPL10043 20 credits
Statistical Modelling
SSPS10027 20 credits
The Internet and Society
STIS10001 20 credits
Energy Policy and Sustainability
STIS10008 20 credits
Controversies in Medicine, Technology and the Environment
STIS10009 20 credits
Knowledge, Expertise and Policy
STIS10010 20 credits
AND

Social Policy Honours Electives

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses
Children's Rights: Policy and Practice
EDUA10204 20 credits
Social Determinants of Health and Public Policy
IPHP10001 20 credits
Global Politics of Public Health
IPHP10002 20 credits
Europe and International Migration
PLIT10068 20 credits
Gender, Power and Representation
PLIT10113 20 credits
The Politics of the UK Constitution
PLIT10119 20 credits
Democracy and contemporary capitalism
PLIT10139 20 credits
Politics and communication of environmental risks
PLIT10175 20 credits
The Politics of Economic Expertise
PLIT10179 20 credits
Doing Survey Research
SCIL10063 20 credits
Social Demography
SCIL10097 20 credits
Population Health and Health Policy
SCPL10029 20 credits
Health Systems: Strengthening and Reform
SCPL10030 20 credits
Health Systems Analysis
SCPL10034 20 credits
Qualitative Research: Principles and Practicalities for Social Policy
SCPL10040 20 credits
Screening Social Policy
SCPL10042 20 credits
Race, Power, and Social Policy
SCPL10043 20 credits
Understanding sustainable welfare and eco-social policy
SCPL10044 20 credits
Domestic Violence: Concepts, Research and Policy
SCPL10046 20 credits
Advocacy, Lobbying and the Politics of Planetary Health
SCPL10047 20 credits
Drug Policy and the Public Good
SHSS10011 20 credits
Contemporary Feminist Debates
SSPS10001 20 credits
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