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| Application Deadline: | 12 March | ||
| Annual Tuition Fee: | ≈ € 7,164 - ≈ € 15,440 (non-EEA) | ||
| Location: | Oxford / United Kingdom / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 12 months | Start Date: | October |
| Educational Form: |
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| Languages: | English | ||
Location of University of Oxford
The study of social policy is by definition interdisciplinary and students will be introduced to sociological, political, economic and historical perspectives. Social policies are often the issues on which elections are won and lost: the major social services, that is health, education, housing and social care; and the tax/benefit system, for example, welfare-to-work policies, pensions and family policies such as parental leave.
The course addresses these substantive issues in the field, looking at who pays, who provides and who regulates, and examining the part played by the non-profit sector, the market and the family as well as the state. It also looks at winners and losers - the outcomes for elderly people, disabled people, lone parents, rich and poor, black and white.
Developed countries have all made `social provision´ for their populations, often using similar `welfare mechanisms´. However, principles, policy logics and outcomes differ considerably. The course aims to provide students with an understanding of how and why this is.
A sound and practical research training is also provided in the quantitative and qualitative methods needed to analyse social policies, as well as in the kind of questions and explanatory frameworks social policy analysts use
Contents
There are two compulsory papers: one in Methods of Social Research and one in Comparative Social Policy/Welfare States.
1. Research Methods
This course is particularly strong on quantitative methods and statistical modelling; it also covers a variety of approaches to data collection, including qualitative methods. Students work in groups to acquire new skills and techniques which they then apply to tailor-made social policy examples. Assessment is by course work.
2. Comparative Social Policy/Welfare States
This course focuses on issues, explanatory frameworks, and explanatory tools and techniques of analysis. In the first term students discuss major debates in the literature and explore a variety of approaches to the subject. In the second term, they move to analysis of substantive policy areas in a comparative framework. Assessment is by examination.
In addition to the two compulsory papers, students write a dissertation of up to 10,000 words and take a third paper from a list of options which may include Poverty and Social Exclusion, Health and Health Care, Gender and Social Policy, Comparative Educational Policy, Demography, Criminology, Advanced Social Statistics. Teaching in some options may not be available every year. Assessment of the `option´ paper is by examination.
IELTS
You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test.
Most European Universities recognise the IELTS test.
Take testRequirements
Higher level of academic capability from first degree/Master's, evidence of a high level of academic capability from first degree/Master's, strong motivation towards social policy.
English language test - IELTS 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component and Written English score of 4.5. Applicants who have taken the computer-based TOEFL test must achieve an overall score of 250 with an essay-writing score of 4.5.
Language Proficiency
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): | Grade A (Score: 80) |
Ask a Question
You can contact Bryony Groves to ask a question about Comparative Social Policy at University of Oxford.
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