Studying Social Policy at Strathclyde Dr Nasar Meer RSE-YAS School of Social Work & Social Policy

What is Social Policy? 2 “Social policy is an applied discipline which is concerned with analysing the distribution and delivery of resources in response to social need.” Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (2007)

3 The School of Social Work and Social Policy We are an interdisciplinary group of researchers and teachers The focus is international and comparative in scope Our teaching programs are research led Cover a range of fields: – Children, Young People and Families – Health and Wellbeing – Criminal and Social Justice – Citizenship and Communities

Social Policy at Strathclyde Social Policy as part of the BA (Humanities and Social Sciences) 40 credits Year 1Social Policy2 nd subject3 rd subject 60 credits Year 2Social Policy2 nd subject Year 3Social Policy2 nd subject Year 4Social Policy2 nd subject 4 Note. Social Policy is studied alongside a range of other Humanities and Social Science disciplines as part of the BA (HaSS). Students can choose to study Social Policy alongside Education, English, French, History, Italian, Journalism & Creative Writing, Law, Politics, Psychology, Spanish, Economics, or Human Resource Management. Social Policy students study three disciplines in year 1, and two in each of years 2, 3 and 4.

Social Policy at Strathclyde BA HaSS (Social Policy) 20 credits Year 1Social policy and society in contemporary Scotland Private issues and public problems 20 credits Year 2Scottish social policy since 1845 Key concepts in social welfare The making of social policy Year 3Scottish social welfare in a UK context Research skillsSocial Policy option Year 4The welfare state in comparative public policy DissertationSocial Policy option 5

The application process UCAS form Gathered field application process Applications for Social Policy considered within the general frame of applications for the BA HaSS Grades Personal Statements References 6

Admissions requirements QualificationRequired grades Highers (first sitting)AAAB Highers (second sitting)AAABB A levelsABB International Baccalaureate34 Irish Leaving CertificateSee Highers HNC Social SciencesA in the Graded Unit may enable first-year entry; a Pass in Maths at Standard Grade, Intermediate 2 or National 5 is also required HND Social SciencesABB in the Graded Units may enable entry to Year 2 from 2016/17 onwards 7

Personal statements What am I interested in? Why do I think this is relevant to Social Policy? What are the features of a Social Policy degree which I find particularly attractive? How will this degree help me to achieve my longer-term ambitions? 8

Teachers’ references What is the candidate’s capacity for academic study? What is the candidate’s motivation for studying this subject? How strong is the candidate’s academic record? What are the grades which they are expected to achieve? Why is this the right subject for them? What are the benefits they can expect to derive from it? 9

Employability 10