The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is the sixth oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's ancient universities. The university has a long and rich history, and has produced many notable alumni in a variety of fields, including science, literature, and politics. Today, the University of Edinburgh is a leading research-intensive university, with a global reputation for academic excellence and a strong commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship. It is consistently ranked among the top universities in the UK and the world.

Year 1
Students take the compulsory courses:

Social Policy and Society
Understanding Public Policy
Politics of the Welfare State
Social Policy and Society
In this course we will introduce you to core concepts in the analysis of key government policy areas. We do this by contrasting various lenses through which we can understand social policy. You will explore the consequences of different policy decisions by governments on different parts of society.

Understanding Public Policy
You will develop the skills needed to analyse specific policies created by governments with regards to their goals structures and effectiveness.

You will engage with external practitioners to understand the practical implications of their academic knowledge to the world of real policy making.

Politics of the Welfare State
In this course we introduce you to the politics of the area that in many countries constitutes one of the largest sets of government expenditure. You will be confronted with debates about different ways of delivering welfare and the interplay between the state and the private sector.

Optional courses
You will take further options from across the University to broaden your perspectives.

These options may include courses within social and political science such as:

social anthropology
international relations
sociology
political science
social work
You can also choose options from other disciplines such as:

economics
philosophy
history
Year 2
You will take three compulsory courses:

Evidence Politics and Policy
Comparative Social Policy: Global Perspectives
Research Skills for Social Policy
Evidence Politics and Policy
You will discuss how particular types of research and evidence affect public policies while others do not. This course engages with the making of real politics. We ask how different actors in government media and academia use evidence well to substantiate policy proposals or misuse evidence to manipulate outcomes. We focus on four contemporary hot-topic policy areas.

Comparative Social Policy: Global Perspectives
You will compare different approaches to social policy in European and non-European countries

####Research Skills for Social Policy

In this course you will learn how to create the foundations for high quality social research yourself.

Optional courses
You will take further options from across the University to broaden your perspectives. These options may include courses within social and political science such as:

social anthropology
international relations
sociology
political science
social work
You can also choose options from other disciplines such as:

economics
philosophy
history
Year 3
You will take three compulsory courses that help you sharpen your analytical abilities and develop transferable research skills with applications in many professional areas:

Qualitative Research: Principles and Practicalities for Social Policy
Doing Survey Research
Analytical Perspectives in Social Policy
Qualitative Research: Principles and Practicalities for Social Policy
This course will introduce you to a wide range of qualitative research techniques and teach you how to carry out high quality research yourself.

Doing Survey Research
You will be equipped to work with large scale quantitative datasets. You will analyse information from surveys of any unit ranging from people to countries and firms. Using real-life data you will develop skills useful for many career paths.

Analytical Perspectives in Social Policy
This course provides a forum for you to discuss specific policies in great depth. You will take a variety of perspectives (such as sociological and economic ones) to understand that there is usually more than one plausible way of framing policy.

You will also choose seven specialisation courses from a wide range of options falling into two categories:

Policy-oriented courses focusing on the specific areas of policy your area of specialisation (for example policy on labour markets health education poverty amongst others)
Process-oriented courses focusing specifically on political decision making and perspectives on government (such as government budgetary politics practical political work the governing of social affairs and many others)
Dissertation
You will also undertake a major project and write a 10000-15000 word dissertation. This is a genuine original piece of research that you will conduct over the course of a year.

With guidance and mentoring from a member of staff you will choose whether to work with quantitative and/or qualitative skills. You will analyse existing data or conduct your own primary research either in the UK or as many of our international students do in your home country.

There is also the possibility to combine your dissertation research with external work in placement or volunteering contexts. Past students have combined practical interests with their research work to make their dissertation useful beyond the University. Where appropriate we will help you find ways to share your findings with the appropriate audiences.

Year 4
You will continue to take social policy courses and will complete an individual research project.

This may involve collecting and analysing data and information from sources such as:

the European Commission
UK Government
Scottish Government
local authorities
voluntary organisations

The University of Edinburgh is a world-class research-intensive university that has been shaping the minds of students for over four centuries. Founded in 1583, it is one of Scotland's ancient universities and the sixth oldest university in the English-speaking world. The university is located in the beautiful and historic city of Edinburgh, which is known for its rich cultural heritage, stunning architecture, and lively atmosphere.

The University of Edinburgh offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines, including arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences, engineering, medicine, business, and law. The university has a strong reputation for academic excellence, and its graduates are known for their high level of education and employability. The university is home to some of the world's most respected research centers and institutes, including the Edinburgh College of Art, the Royal Observatory, and the Human Communication Research Centre.

Throughout its history, the University of Edinburgh has produced many notable alumni, including economist Adam Smith, philosopher David Hume, and Sir Walter Scott, one of Scotland's most famous writers. The university has also produced seven Nobel Prize winners, including Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin, and Peter Higgs, who proposed the Higgs boson particle.

The University of Edinburgh is also known for its commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship. It is home to several leading research centers and institutes that specialize in areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and sustainable energy. The university also has a strong emphasis on student engagement, and it encourages students to participate in extracurricular activities, clubs and societies, and volunteer work.

The University of Edinburgh is a diverse and inclusive community, with students and staff from all over the world. The university provides students with a supportive and challenging environment, where they can develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their chosen fields. The University of Edinburgh is consistently ranked among the top universities in the UK and the world, making it an excellent choice for students who are looking for a high-quality education and a great student experience.

You will need to book the accommodation after you have been accepted.

You can choose to live on campus or off campus in private accommodation.

• Make a booking online after you have been accepted (in this case please let us know your choice when you apply).
• Register when you arrive - its not possible to reserve a room before arriving. You can arrive a few days before and book it