Course summary

As a society, social policies enable us to tackle big global issues such as poverty, welfare, equality and pay. Political thinking and decision-making from government, external agencies and even citizens all have a role to play in policy making. This BSc International Social and Public Policy with Politics programme looks at the principles behind current and past social policies – such as the nature of private-public partnerships in health service provision and social security benefits. You’ll explore how different governments, politicians, organisations and voters propose, implement and sometimes block social policies. Drawing on LSE’s interdisciplinary strengths across the social sciences, you’ll study each topic from social, political demographic and economic perspectives – enabling you to develop a well-rounded understanding of these complex issues. This degree provides you with all the skills you’ll need for many different careers, such as parliamentary researcher, policy advisor, social worker or charity case worker. This is a major/minor degree programme – with the main focus on social policy and politics as the minor component.