Master of Science in Sociology and Social Policy

at University of Southampton - Highfield Campus United Kingdom

Become a clear, confident and comprehensive educational leader with our Masters in Education Management and Leadership pathway. Learn about professional development with strategies to overcome challenges faced by leaders in education all over the world.

This educational leadership course is for teachers and those working in administrative positions in education who are looking for the leadership and research skills to make a positive change. Learn about professional development with strategies to overcome challenges faced by leaders in education all over the world. You’ll learn how to identify opportunities for improvement within an educational institution, making decisions based on research and with a focus on outcomes.  

Leaders in education are expected to introduce continuous change within their organisation, you’ll understand how this impacts an academic institution or school and the people within it. To give you versatility in the profession, we look at a variety of learning environments within the public and private sector, as well as how educational leadership theories can be used by both teachers and leaders in schools, and educational practitioners outside of schools.   During this MSc educational leadership course, you’ll learn how to:

• Examine different teaching and learning methods
• Conduct reliable education research and reflect upon emerging research
• Apply your learning of leadership theories to your practice  
• Assess contemporary issues in the area of educational leadership
• Examine core management practices to educational institutions

You’ll learn about policies and research on a national and international level. During the course, you'll collate and evaluate the research you’ve found in order to communicate outcomes in a clear and convincing way.

We offer 3 pathways on our MSc Education degree.

Your other MSc Education pathway options are:

• Education - you'll learn teaching & learning methods, and how to conduct & analyse educational research.
• Education (Practice and Innovation) - study different teaching and learning methods and learn how to conduct and analyse educational research in the fields of innovation and inclusive practice.

This BSc Podiatry degree will give you the knowledge and hands-on skills you need to make a positive impact on people’s lives as a podiatrist. As the only Russell Group university in the UK to teach podiatry, we offer a course that is both research-led and student-focused.

As you train to become a podiatrist you'll attend 1,000 hours in placement settings, ranging from the community and acute care to the private and commercial sectors. You'll benefit from the experience of treating real patients under close supervision, and with individual feedback.

Along with learning to diagnose and treat foot and lower limb disorders, you'll be taught about medication and local anaesthesia. You'll also learn to apply research to your clinical practice and undertake a research project in collaboration with research-active supervisors.

All our health science courses have a patient-centred approach. Your training will include ethics and an exploration of how social issues and mental health can influence physical wellbeing.

This course has a strong focus on employability and leadership. You’ll learn how to influence and effect change and develop your innovation and business skills. You'll be eligible to apply for registration as a podiatrist when you graduate.

Fuel your fascination for space and the technologies used to investigate it. On this MPhys Physics with Space Science degree you’ll explore a wide range of subjects, from the essentials of astronomy through to satellite design and space weather. You’ll also benefit from the latest research.

With the global space market set to almost double by 2030, your skills will be in high demand. This degree will also prepare you for further study at PhD level.

You’ll examine phenomena that can only be monitored from space, such as geomagnetic storms and solar wind, and combine your physics knowledge with space engineering principles to learn about spacecraft design.

A Tenerife study trip is another high point. Working as part of an international and interdisciplinary team, you’ll design a space-based telescope and its instrumentation, and plan its launch.

Throughout your degree you’ll study the core physics subjects of the Masters degree course, but with an emphasis on space science.

Our MMus Musicology degree gives you the opportunity to specialise in various elements of musicology. On this course, you’ll study:

• Current trends in musicological method and critical practice
• Key research skills in musicology
• Methodologies of advanced musical analysis

Our academic staff are internationally noted performers with active solo and ensemble careers, and established composers of contemporary art music, electronic music, media music (for example, in film, TV and videogames), and jazz. These world-leading experts can offer you intensive one-to-one tuition in music history, culture and performance.

We offer a broad-based MMus programme with 4 specialist pathways:

• Musicology
• Performance
• Music Education
• Composition

On the Musicology pathway, you’ll work towards the final goal of a professional research project and dissertation. We’ll work with you to create a portfolio of work that’s relevant to your career aspirations. On completion of the course, you’ll be ready to:

• Continue your research at a doctoral level
• Work in the music industry or wider cultural sector
• Become a teacher
• Work as a freelance musician

Study the design, engineering and operation of land transport systems, with our MSc Transportation Planning and Engineering: Infrastructure. With a focus on transport infrastructure, this course looks in detail at traffic engineering, and railway engineering and operations. You can study this course on a full-time, part-time or distance-learning basis.

If you want a career in the transport industry or you're an experienced transport professional interested in enhancing your skills, this degree is ideal. 

This course covers everything from the fundamentals of modelling and economics through to the application of software and planning tools using real life examples from around the world. It’s the perfect way to improve your knowledge and employability in the transport sector.

Your course highlights include field trips and a mock public inquiry, where you'll learn about  public engagement and the role of public opinion in the transport planning process.

You taught learning includes modules on:

• Transport economics
• Transport data analysis and techniques
• Transport planning: policy and governance
• Transport modelling
• Highway and traffic engineering  
• Railway engineering and operations 

You’ll also have the chance to choose from a range of modules including:

• Transport, energy and the environment
• Human factors in engineering
• Transport management and safety
• Logistics systems operations

You’ll gain experience using a range of transport-related software and you’ll be able to hear directly from a range of industry guest speakers. You’ll also carry out an individual research project on a topic of your choice.

Psychology is an important resource for educators and policy makers. This course is for those interested in how education evolves, how people learn and how they behave in educational settings. Like a single-honours psychology degree, this course will prepare you for a wide range of psychology careers, as well as education-related jobs and further study.

Our course focuses on the rigorous, scientific study of education alongside the core topics of a psychology degree. You’ll also examine how psychology research applies to education.

You’ll study topics such as:

• Curriculum design
• Behavioural neuroscience
• Developmental psychology
• Special educational needs

As part of your degree you can:

• Study UK and international systems, from primary to post-compulsory education
• Explore key topics like social justice, inclusion and digital literacy
• Use our custom observation rooms, eye-movement recording facilities and virtual reality labs
• Access our Institute for Equity and Effectiveness in Education (IE3), one of the country’s leading institutes for education research
• Study abroad at one of our exchange partner universities

This programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society. It can lead onto Chartered Membership.

Explore the key strategic and tactical challenges faced by managers at all levels with our full-time MSc Accounting and Management degree. You’ll develop your financial management practice to understand the risks and uncertainties impacting modern business.

On this course, you’ll focus on accounting and financial management as you learn how to measure and assess organisational performance. This will give you the skills to pursue careers in finance, accounting or consultancy.

Our master's in accounting and management is a great way to advance to higher-level strategic management roles. You don’t need training or experience in accounting to apply, and we consider applicants from a range of backgrounds.

During the course, you’ll gain a solid foundation in management and accounting concepts, along with related topics including:

• Managing in a global context
• Accounting for corporate performance
• Marketing in the digital age

You can personalise your learning to suit your professional needs. For example, you can choose to focus on:

• Corporate finance
• International logistics  
• Risk taking and decision making
• Entrepreneurial governance
• Project management

Our academic team will enrich your learning through their research and industry insights.

BSc Business Entrepreneurship with placement will give you a business management education, with a focus on entrepreneurship and its role in the economy and society. Your year-long paid work placement will give you valuable real-world experience. You'll gain the practical skills to plan, promote, finance and grow your business venture. You'll graduate with the ability to start your own business or bring entrepreneurial thinking to an established organisation.

Your A level results will determine which core or compulsory modules you'll need to take.

On this BSc Business Entrepreneurship course with placement you can:

• pend your third year on an approved industry placement in a business organisation
• learn about digital business models, technological innovation or digital marketing
• understand business fundamentals such as financial and management accounting
• benefit from hands-on experience of preparing business plans and presenting pitches to industry experts
• choose optional modules to help you develop your business management skills in areas such as strategic marketing, project management, finance and accounting, or operational management
• study interdisciplinary modules to learn practical skills such as programming and web design

Our expert research-led academics are well connected. Through them you'll gain insights from the best and most innovative London-based companies, as well as Southampton's entrepreneurial community.

You'll graduate with a business and entrepreneurship degree accredited by:

• CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants)
• AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)

Graduates have started their own businesses, and worked for consultancies such as PwC and Deloitte.

Gerontology examines ageing and its impact. On this MSc Gerontology: Research you’ll learn about the effects of ageing populations on social institutions, labour markets, welfare systems, families and individuals. The course also places a strong emphasis on qualitative and quantitative research methods.

You’ll graduate in an ideal position to pursue doctoral level studies or for a career in local or national government.

Understanding the process of population ageing can benefit areas such as health and social care, research, local and national policy. On this course, you'll study a range of perspectives, including policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics.

This UK master’s in gerontology research is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP). The ESRC DTP can offer funding if you're interested in progressing to PhD training.

If you already have research methods skills you may be able to study more advanced modules in quantitative or qualitative research methods.

You’ll develop:

• Understanding of key theories in gerontology and how they apply to the analysis of ageing and life course issues
• Knowledge of global debates around the lives of older people, their families and societies
• The ability to assess policies and initiatives about population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life of older people, their families and carers
• Competence in qualitative and quantitative research methods and how they apply to key research in gerontology questions
• The ability to design and conduct independent research in gerontology using appropriate research methods
• Skills for a career in the field of gerontology and applied health and social sciences

Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionise work, leisure and travel in ways we can only imagine. It has the potential to solve global health, social and environmental challenges. On this computer science with artificial intelligence course, you’ll learn to design and build the AI programs and systems behind these exciting developments.

As a highly respected hub for AI research, you'll benefit from a range of specialist modules that few UK universities can match. You’ll also be taught by academics actively involved in the latest advances in AI.

Areas you’ll study include machine learning, computer vision, intelligent agents, game theory and robotics.

You’ll graduate with outstanding career prospects in one of today’s most exciting and rapidly evolving fields of computer science.

As part of your master's you will:

• Learn how to design, build and deliver software programs and systems
• Study AI principles and practice at an advanced level
• Be taught by academic staff at the forefront of research
• Do an individual special project in year 3
• Take part in a group design project in year 4, working with an academic or industry customer

This MEng Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence degree is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of:

• Fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer