Social Sciences BA (Hons)



Get a good grounding in a broad range of subjects, including geography, history, politics and sociology.

Course overview

We are a top 5 UK modern university for Sociology in the Complete University Guide 2025. 

Gain a comprehensive understanding of society, culture and human interaction and develop relevant skills for employment including the ability to think critically and analytically.

Social sciences offer an insight into many different aspects of our lives as individuals and as part of society.

On this course you have the opportunity to study a range of social science disciplines including criminology, human geography, history, psychology, politics and sociology. Added to this is an extensive range of optional subjects.

With its wide range of subject matter, this course can carry you into areas as diverse as social care, teaching and commercial or public sector management.

Social Science students studying a textbook in the university library

Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

4 years

Start date:

Sep

UCAS code:

LC38

Placement:

Yes

Study Abroad:

Yes

Course details

This course provides you with knowledge and understanding about the social world but also encourages you to develop wider skills relevant to employment.

You'll have the opportunity to learn about social scientific research on a range of subjects including Scottish cultural identity, environmental politics, social inequalities, the sociology of organisations and social change. You'll also learn about doing research and carry out your own research projects.

The most important skill you'll acquire on this course is the ability to think critically and analytically. You'll learn to assimilate and interpret vastly differing viewpoints and information, developing them in the context of social theories and practices.

Your communication and collaborative skills will be enhanced, as will your knowledge of social research methods. 

Edinburgh Napier University’s Social Sciences Subject Group hosts a range of exciting research initiatives, including the On the Margins Collaborative Research Network, the Migration and Mobilities Research Network, the Asian!MacAsian Storytelling Podcast, and the Towards Inclusive Climate Action (TICA) Network. We are also a consortium member of the long-established Centre for Research on Families and Relationships (CRFR).

Additionally our social sciences team (including Criminology, Social Sciences and Policing) have an active Instagram account where we post about our activities in research, teaching, and honours projects. 

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    How you’ll be taught

    The BA (Hons) Social Sciences programme takes an innovative approach to learning and teaching. Your lectures and tutorials will include activities such as debates, group discussions, presentations, and case study analysis. Your lecturers will bring topics to life by drawing on their diverse experiences of conducting research across a wide range of social science disciplines, including sociology, politics, criminology, and human geography. To succeed on this programme, you will need to invest significant time and effort in independent study, but we are here to support and guide you throughout your learning journey.
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    Assessments

     There is a variety of formative and summative assessments in the BA (Hons) Social Sciences programme. You will complete assessed coursework such as essays, reports, reflective portfolios and media analyses. Other assessments will include poster and oral presentations and debates, examinations, multiple choice tests, project work and exercises requiring computing proficiency. Your final year honours project will allow you to demonstrate your research skills to the highest level of this award. You will be assessed on activities that require you to show initiative, critical analysis and research skills.
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    Work placement

    There are options to do work-based learning. A colleague within the department works on employability.

    Placement and Study Abroad opportunities are subject to UK and Scottish Government health and travel advice.
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    Study abroad

    As part of this course, students have the option to apply to Study Abroad in Year 3, either for one term or for the full academic year.

    We have direct partner exchanges with many universities in different parts of the world - universities in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA are particularly popular with our students. Students can also apply to Study Abroad via the ISEP (International Student Exchange Programme). Full information and support for students to apply is provided in Year 2.

    "Studying abroad at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh was one of the best decisions I have made during my degree. I initially thought America would be quite similar to the UK but living there showed me just how different the culture and university experience could be. I got the full American college experience, from living in a shared dorm and experiencing college sports and huge American football stadiums, to meeting people from all over the world and making friends for life. Academically I took five classes compared to three at Napier because of the different credit requirements. Although the workload was greater, I found the individual pieces of work more manageable and really enjoyed experiencing a different style of learning. I solo travelled throughout the semester and thanks-giving break visiting New York, Florida, and the West Coast including San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles as well as taking weekend trips to places such as Ohio and Washington DC.  One of the best things I took away from the experience was the ambition and work ethic I saw around me. Meeting students from a similar cohort and hearing from guest speakers in financial and non-governmental organisations, alongside the strong emphasis on networking and making connections, gave me a new drive for my own career. I came home wanting to travel more, build an international career and eventually work abroad. I would 100% recommend studying abroad to anyone considering it. it is only one or two of the semesters of your degree,  but it will completely change your confidence, ambitions, and outlook. Take the risk and apply!" Loui Johnstone, BA (Hons) Social Sciences
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    Facilities

     This course is taught in person at our Sighthill campus.

Popular modules

 

Year 1

- Understanding Social Science Research 
- Contemporary British History
- Introduction to Sociology 1
- Introduction to Sociology 2
- Contemporary Challenges to Psychology
- Introduction to Criminology

Year 2

- Politics in British Society
- Quantitative Research
- Society, Space & Place
- Sociological Theory

 

Plus two option modules, such as:
- Capitalism in Crisis 
- Interpreting Scottish History
- Volunteering & Employability

Year 3

- Researching the Social Sciences

 

Plus five option modules, such as:
- History of Crime, Correction & Reform
- Sexuality & Gender
- Race & Decolonial Social Theory
- Social & Cultural Landscapes

Year 4

- Preparing for the Honours Project
- The Honours Project

 

Plus three option modules, such as:
- Sociology of Media & Culture
- Science, Technology & Society
- Social Identities

 

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

What are the entry requirements for Social Sciences?

Our entry requirements indicate both Standard and Minimum qualifications with which we normally accept students. Competition for places varies from year to year and you aren't guaranteed a place if you meet the minimum qualifications.

Can you go straight into second year of university?

Advanced entry into Year 2 or Year 3 of this course is possible for students with suitable qualifications. See the individual year tabs for more information.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the undergraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.

Minimum Year 1

Scottish Higher

  • Standard Entry Requirement: BBBC preferablyincluding English or Literary subject*. If no literary subject has been achieved at Higher, we will consider applications where National 5 English has been achieved at grade B or above.
  • Minimum Offer Entry Requirement: BBCC preferablyincluding English or Literary subject*. If no literary subject has been achieved at Higher, we will consider applications where National 5 English has been achieved at grade B or above.  
 You may be given an adjusted offer of entry if you meet our specified minimum entry requirements within our widening participation criteria, and outlined in our Contextual Admissions Policy. Click here for further information about our entry requirements and admissions policies

 

A Level

  • CCC preferablyincluding English or Literary subject*. If no literary subject has been achieved at A level, we will consider applications where GCSE English has been achieved at grade B/5 or above.

Irish Leaving Certificate

  • Grades H2, H3, H3, H3 at Higher Level preferably including English or a Literary subject*. If no literary subject is achieved at Higher Level, English must be achieved at grade O3 or above.

BTEC (QCF) Extended Diploma Level 3

  • Minimum grades MMM (Merit, Merit, Merit) preferably in a related subject. If not in a related subject, we will consider applications where GCSE English has been achieved at grade B/5 or above.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

  • Award of Diploma with 27 points overall with three HL subjects at grades 6, 5, 4 preferably including English or a Literary subject* at minimum grade 5. If no literary subject is achieved at HL, English must be achieved at SL grade 5.  

HNC

  • Pass in preferably Social Sciences/Social Services with grade B in the graded unit.
  • Other literary based HNCs may be considered
  • If the literary criteria has not been achieved at HNC, we will consider applications where National 5 English has been achieved at grade B or above.

T Level

  • Grade M
  • T Level preferably completed in a Literary subject. If not, GCSE English must be achieved at grade B/5 or above. Please contact ugadmissions@napier.ac.uk to check if you meet the subject specific requirements.

 

*Literary subjects accepted: Modern Studies, History, Geography, Psychology, Sociology, Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies, Latin, Theology, Classics, Philosophy, A Level Government and Politics, A Level Classical Civilisation. 

Minimum Year 2

Scottish Advanced Higher

  • BBC to include a Literary subject

A Level

  • BBB to include a Literary subject

HNC

  • Pass in Social Sciences with grade A in the graded unit.

Minimum Year 3

HND

  • Pass in Social Sciences with Grades AB at SCQF Level 8 in the graded units.

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English. Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

If you do not currently meet our minimum English language requirements, we offer a number of pre-sessional English language courses which could help you achieve the required level. 

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • MSc Nursing courses
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students from 2026/27 2027/28
Scotland £1,820 £tba
England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £9,790 tba
Overseas and EU £18,220 tba

Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland will be invoiced the tuition fees for 3 years of their 4 years of study.

Tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other tuition fee matters, please see our Fees and Funding links above.

If additional compulsory costs other than the tuition fees are applicable, these will be detailed in the course details.

Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.


Careers & employability

Facial recognition camera in use in a psychology lab in Napier University

What can you do with a degree in Social Sciences?

By studying for a BA in Social Sciences at Edinburgh Napier University, you will gain strong critical and analytical thinking skills that will equip you for a wide range of careers across criminology, psychology, politics, teaching, marketing/journalism, governmental and non-governmental organisations, business, and more!

Not only will you develop highly transferable skills in collaboration, communication, research, and problem solving, which employers widely value, but upon completion, you will also be well-placed to progress further postgraduate study in areas such as psychology, social work and social care, social research, or teacher training. If you’re ready to join the workforce you would be well placed to seek employment in public services, government, business management, community development, or journalism, to name a few.

What does a Civil Servant do?

A civil servant is a public sector employee who works for government departments or agencies, helping to implement policies and deliver public services.

 Daily tasks and responsibilities in this role may include: 

  • Policy implementation
  • Project management
  • Communication/Public representation
  • Public service delivery
  • Research and analysis

What does a Community Development Worker do?

Community development workers help individuals, families or communities to bring about social change and improve the quality of life in their local area. They act as the link between communities and a wide range of other organisations (e.g., local authority, business and voluntary sector), such as the police, social workers and teachers.

 Daily tasks and responsibilities in this role may include: 

  • Social advocacy
  • Fundraising
  • Project development and management
  • Community service delivery
  • Social research and policy analysis

What does a journalist do?

Journalists gather, verify, and report news and information to the public through different media sources. Although the role is research-intensive, it is a fast-paced environment that allows for networking and speaking with different people and community members.

 Daily tasks and responsibilities in this role may include: 

  • Research and investigation
  • Interviews
  • Verification of information
  • Event coverage
  • Educating and informing

There are many different careers graduates can pursue with this degree and some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience, such as Social Work or a Secondary School Teacher, as an example.

A psychology student at Napier University smiling for the camera