Social policy

A degree in social policy gives you the knowledge and understanding to influence and address core challenges facing society

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Charity officer
• Civil Service administrator
• Community development worker
• Community education officer
• Government social research officer
• Health service manager
• Housing manager/officer
• Local government officer
• Policy officer
• Politician's assistant
• Social researcher

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Chaplain
• Data analyst
• Data scientist
• Detective
• Education administrator
• Human resources officer
• International aid/development worker
• Paralegal
• Police officer
• Public affairs consultant
• Youth worker

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

Work experience opportunities may come in the form of an internship, summer placement, part-time job or voluntary role. Some opportunities will be formally advertised on websites and job search platforms, while others may require a speculative application.

Start by looking for opportunities linked to your field of interest. If you are interested in criminal justice, for example, search for charities and public sector organisations working in this area. If you would like to work in health service management, approach local NHS authorities and trusts.

Any experience that involves supporting or helping members of the public or in local communities is also useful. Many public sector, volunteering and charitable organisations offer opportunities to gain relevant experience and develop your skills. These types of opportunities can help develop your understanding of how the policies you learn about during your degree are implemented in practice.

Some government departments and local councils offer sandwich course placements, internships, vacation visits and work experience. These can be a useful way to gain relevant skills and try out working in the Civil Service or local government.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

Many social policy graduates find employment in public sector organisations such as:

• NHS authorities and trusts
• the criminal justice system (including the police)
• local or central government
• the Civil Service.

Opportunities are also available with charities and voluntary organisations, social work, social and political research organisations, and further and higher education institutions.

You could apply for a place on a graduate management training scheme in health, housing, the police, think tanks or other public sector related organisations.

In the private sector you could find work within a broad range of areas such as:

• HR
• marketing
• retail
• banking.

Find information on employers in public services and administration, charity and voluntary work, social care and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

Social policy courses teach a range of skills that are essential for a career in public service, policy or government. You look at the problems that societies face and evaluate the policies and systems designed to address them. You also learn to research, interpret and evaluate data from a range of sources and make connections between social policy and the real world.

Social policy draws on ideas from a range of disciplines and may also explore topics from an international and global perspective. These approaches can help you develop a sensitivity to the values and interests of others.

You also develop other skills that can be used in many careers. These include:

• problem solving using a methodical and organised approach
• data collection, analysis and research
• communication and presentation, both written and verbal
• teamwork
• planning and time-management
• the ability to handle numerical data
• proficiency in the use of information technology.

Further study

When deciding whether to undertake further study, consider your career goals and the knowledge and skills required to progress in your chosen field. For example, you could go on to further professional and vocational training in areas such as teaching, law, housing management, health and social care services, advocacy or voluntary work. Further study is also possible in areas such as marketing, finance, IT and business.

Alternatively, you could delve deeper into social policy by specialising in an area that you were interested in during your undergraduate degree, such as housing or urban regeneration. Other areas of study could include social diversity, criminal justice, youth and community work, and politics.

For more information, see social policy courses and search for postgraduate courses in social policy.

What do social policy graduates do?

The top five jobs held by social policy graduates include police officers (sergeant and below) (9%), welfare and housing associate professionals (7%), care workers and home carers (5%), national government administrative occupations (3%) and advertising and marketing associate professionals (3%).

Find out what other graduates are doing after finishing their degrees in What do graduates do?

Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.