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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DRPS : DPTs :  School of Social and Political Science DPTs
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

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

Social Policy Pre-Honours

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
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

Introduction to Statistics for Social Science

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Students should discuss with their Cohort Lead whether to take Introduction to Statistics for social Science or another 20 credit optional course.
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.

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.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 20 credits in this group.

Understanding Public Policy

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
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.

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 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.

The Sociology Project Preparation 0 credit course is only compulsory for students who are taking the Sociology Project in 4th year.

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.

Junior Year Abroad Students will be expected to find suitable equivalent courses for Doing Survey Research, or Social Theory that have been approved and signed by the Sociology Exchange Co-ordinator on their Learning Agreements. In cases where students have been unable to find equivalent courses, they must take at least ONE of these in year 4.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

Social Policy Honours Electives

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
AND

Sociology Honours Electives

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses

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

Notes:
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 SOCIOLOGY- Social Policy and Sociology (MA)- Level 10

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
If taking the Sociology Project, students may choose to use part of their third-year summer vacation for research
AND

Social Policy Honours Electives

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses
AND

Sociology Honours Electives

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses

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