Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Social and Political Sciences (Plus Optional Placement Year)

at University of York United Kingdom

Education affects us all, but few people ever question the systems and structures which seem so familiar.

Delve into a wide range of disciplines and fields, including psychology, sociology, social policy, politics, literature and history. You'll study how people learn; how education interacts with wider society; how politics affects what we learn and how we learn it. You'll explore how education is organised in different countries; and how modern education has been shaped by its historical roots.

Alongside rigorous academic study, you'll gain valuable skills and experience with a range of opportunities for placements and volunteering. Your studies will inform and guide you, giving you practice applying educational theory to real-world situations.

This course will not qualify you as a teacher. However, it is good preparation for a range of postgraduate initial teacher training courses.

This innovative degree builds on our reputation as one of the UK's leading art history departments.

You'll study the history of art, which will be invaluable as you develop skills in curating galleries and art museums. You’ll go on a number of field trips to encounter objects in their various institutional settings.
You can also study a language in your first year, with options specially tailored for art historians.

As part of the degree, you'll study a range of art history and curatorial modules. Some of these will take place in a seminar room and others in museums and galleries.

A BA in Social Policy will enable you to understand the causes of social problems and how societies attempt to solve them, both nationally and internationally. You'll receive a thorough grounding in core social sciences, including sociology, social psychology, politics and economics and use what you learn to explore why making successful policies is so complex, why patterns of inequality persist and what more can be done to address social problems.

Social policy is concerned with promoting the welfare of citizens. Traditionally the subject focused on the ‘big five’ areas of: poverty, health, housing, education and unemployment, but has expanded in recent years to broader social issues and international contexts. Often social policy questions the ways in which services do or do not meet the needs of specific groups, such as children, people with disabilities, women, older people, or members of minority ethnic groups.

On our BA Social Policy course you will receive a broad and balanced introduction to a range of social sciences and training in social research methods. This degree is suited to you if you are interested in the welfare state, the impact of globalisation, social inequalities, the complexities of making successful policies, and what more can be done to solve social problems at home and abroad.

As part of this innovative course, you'll study the electrical, electronic and mechanical aspects of healthcare in the context of a wider education in engineering.

You'll develop a specialist knowledge of medical engineering concepts and learn how to create technology that could have a huge impact on clinical systems, diagnosis and care.

We build employability into every aspect of our courses, meaning that alongside developing an in-depth understanding of your subject, you'll gain a range of transferable skills that will allow you to take on a career in a number of sectors and thrive in management roles.

Micro-mechanical technology is the driving force behind hundreds of devices we use everyday.

Fitness trackers, airbags and smartphones all rely on a combination of electronic and mechanical devices and systems to carry out some of their key functions.

In this innovative course, you'll be at the cutting edge of research into micro-electronic and micro-mechanical technology, manipulating materials to devise new solutions to real-world engineering challenges.

We build employability into every aspect of our courses. Alongside developing an in-depth understanding of your subject, you'll gain a range of transferable skills that will allow you to take on a career in a number of sectors and thrive in management roles.

Debate the principles that govern a prosperous society and hone your analytical skills against pressing political crises.

From tax on tea to the global distribution of wealth, everything economic is also political. By studying these subjects together you will gain a broader appreciation for the intersections of wealth and power, poverty and political unrest. You'll be challenged by world-class academics to critically assess both fundamental political structures and economic theories and to analyse what happens where these meet.

You'll learn with a diverse and international student body and with opportunities to study abroad you can develop a truly global perspective. Our active Club of Politics, Economics and Philosophy (PEP) encourages debate beyond the classroom, and employers value the skills you will develop in thinking across boundaries and engaging critically with a range of material.

Our BSc Mathematics and Physics programme gives you access to the combined expertise of the Departments of Physics and Mathematics. Our specialist teaching emphasises the mathematical structure of physical theory, providing a strong basis on which to build a comprehensive understanding of modern physics.

You'll work with dedicated staff, all of whom are engaged in current research and many are world leaders in their field. You will benefit from training in cutting-edge mathematical and theoretical physics techniques, and use these to probe the nature of physical reality and push the boundaries of research.

Gain unique global experiences spending a year at one of our partner universities. Boost your confidence by immersing yourself in a different culture and gain valuable language skills for your CV.

Develop your knowledge of electronic, electrical, mechanical and mechatronic principles as you learn how to design solutions to today's biggest engineering challenges. You'll work on group engineering design and project work at every stage, incorporating real-world examples with societal impact. This course gives you the flexibility to choose where you want to focus your studies, meaning you can make your degree your own.

We build employability into every aspect of our courses. Alongside developing an in-depth understanding of your subject, you'll gain a range of transferable skills that will allow you to take on a career in a number of sectors and thrive in management roles.

Archaeology is the gateway to our past. By studying material remains throughout history, we can explore what it means to be human.

We cover the whole of the human past, from human origins to contemporary archaeology. Our courses will develop your skills in a broad range of archaeological methods across the arts and sciences, through a combination of hands-on learning and small group teaching.

Our department is renowned for being friendly and welcoming, meaning you'll get to know your lecturers and they'll get to know you. You'll have endless opportunities to get involved, from joining the Archaeology Society to working abroad on a research project. We're based in the King's Manor in the city centre - a beautiful and truly unique Medieval building, with additional state-of-the-art facilities on the main campus.

Theoretical physics provides the tools for constructing the mathematical framework of the physical world.

On a foundation of advanced physics, you'll build your understanding of theoretical techniques. You'll use mathematical analysis and an array of computational methods to address complex problems. You'll learn key skills of analysis and research, write scientific reports to industry standards, and simulate huge physical systems using our supercomputers.

Work with world-renowned physicists using sophisticated equipment to probe the nature of existence and push the boundaries of research. You will learn to utilise supercomputers like York's own Viking cluster, developing parallel code to model complex physical systems.

Gain unique global experiences spending a year at one of our partner universities. Boost your confidence by immersing yourself in a different culture and gain valuable language skills for your CV.