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Social Policy (Research Methods) MSc

London, Bloomsbury

UCL’s Social Policy (Research Methods) MSc explores contemporary social problems, policy intervention, and policymaking processes across different sectors and countries, combined with rigorous training in traditional and innovative research methodologies required in the study of social policy. The relationship between research and policy is a key course theme.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£16,800
£8,400
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£35,400
£17,700
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelors' degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a social science subject, such as sociology, psychology, social policy, economics, or history. If you do not meet these requirements, other considerations, such as relevant work experience, may be taken into account.

The English language level for this course is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The Social Policy (Research Methods) MSc offers you an opportunity to study social policy and the ways in which research, along with other forms of evidence and knowledge, connects with and impacts on policy-making and professional practice. Training is also provided in social research methods relevant to people working in policy or academic contexts.  

The course will equip you with the conceptual tools and empirical evidence necessary for investigating social policy and policymaking, including critical assessment of the role of research evidence in policy development and implementation. The course is structured to allow you to customise your degree according to your preferred area of study and future career plans. There are opportunities to specialise in qualitative or quantitative research and to choose an individual dissertation project or one involving collaboration with an external organisation.

The dissertation component provides an opportunity to design and carry out an empirical research project with the support of an academic supervisor. You develop a topic for the project from your own area of interest or professional expertise, or work with a non-academic partner to produce research that is of practical interest to the organisation.

Who this course is for

The Social Policy (Research Methods) MSc is aimed at recent graduates and early career professionals from around the world who are interested in social policy and policy-orientated research. It is suited to those who want to start a career in social policy analysis, advocacy or research within the public sector or a socially orientated NGO, and those already working in policy environments who want to improve their skills and career prospects. It is also useful preparation for study for a postgraduate research degree, such as a PhD, EdD or MPhil. 

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

The course is located in the UCL Social Research Institute, a research-intensive department with an outstanding international reputation for policy-oriented social science. It is taught by an interdisciplinary team with specialist expertise across a wide range of policy areas. Our central London location and network of partners and alumni gives us access to nationally and internationally prominent guest speakers who give insight into policy as it is formed.

The course provides a gateway to careers in academia, policy, and beyond. It fosters the development of disciplinary knowledge and transferable skills that are in high demand in the labour market and will be competitive in a broad range of occupations.

The course is available full-time (one year), part-time (two years) or via flexible study (taking a maximum of five years to complete). Find out more about each of these ways of studying.

This MSc degree has Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) 1+3 training recognition, meaning it stands alone as an MSc but can also prepare students for doctoral research. Information on ESRC studentships is available here. Prospective candidates can apply to the Knowledge, Evidence and Policy pathway.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Graduates from this MSc course have gained sought-after skills that allowed them to pursue professional careers in academia or policy research, policy analysis, policy development and implementation, programme management, and policy advocacy within the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Employability

As a graduate of this course, you will be equipped to work in a broad range of roles, such as social policy researcher, advisor to government, or as NGO personnel. You will also have the methodological background to move into doctoral research.

Networking

Our students come from a range of backgrounds from all over the world, providing great networking opportunities within the course. You will encounter academics, researchers, alumni, and visiting speakers at seminars, lecture series, career events, workshops, and other department and student- organised events. You will be kept up to date with opportunities to participate in events and apply for internships or jobs.

UCL Careers also offers a range of services, providing access to skills development, recruitment and networking events. 

Teaching and learning

This campus-based course is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical sessions, tutorials and research supervision, and is taught by scholars who have carried out research in the field. You will be expected to take part in both guided and self-guided personal work. You discuss and apply your learning from the lectures and other activities in seminar sessions. In research methods modules, lectures are often mirrored by a practical workshop seminar in a computer lab where you will put the analytical techniques introduced that week to use.

Modules are taught over 10 weeks each term. This is usually in the form of either a one-hour lecture followed by a one-hour seminar or workshop, or a two-hour practical workshop.  

While some modules have two modes of delivery (campus and fully online), distance learning versions of modules are generally unavailable to students who require a student visa. 

Assessment is carried out through a blend of formative and summative assessment methods. Module assessments on the course vary, and may include coursework (for example, essays and written assignments), presentations, or a form of examination. You may be expected to complete both individual and group assessments. UCL’s module catalogue details individual module assessments, but please note these may be subject to change on an annual basis.

Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

For full-time students studying on campus, typical contact hours are around 10 hours per week. In Terms 1 and 2, full-time students can typically expect between 8 and 12 contact hours per teaching week through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. In Term 3 and the summer period, you will complete the dissertation research, keeping regular contact with your supervisor.

Part-time and modular/flexible students will need one day per week for each 15-credit module, plus additional time to prepare for assessments.

Modules

The course consists of four compulsory modules (60 credits), four optional modules (60 credits), and a dissertation (60 credits).

Four 15-credit modules are taken in Term 1 (two compulsory modules and two research methods modules selected from the available options). Another four 15-credit modules are taken in the second term (two compulsory modules and two optional). Where relevant, you will be required to take introductory methods modules before moving on to the more advanced ones. Dissertation teaching commences in Term 1 and includes workshops and individual supervision, with the research and writing conducted in Terms 2 and 3 and the summer.

Over the two years, students take four compulsory modules (60 credits), four optional modules (60 credits) and a dissertation (60 credits).

In Year 1 of the course, you will take Understanding the Policy Process and a further three to five of the 15-credit modules (compulsory and/or optional). Where relevant, you will be required to take introductory research methods modules before moving on to the more advanced ones. The number of modules that you take in each academic year will depend on your commitments outside UCL, such as employment and family responsibilities. In Year 2, you will take the remaining 15-credit modules, bringing the total number to eight, and commence work on the 60-credit research dissertation.

The course consists of four compulsory modules (60 credits), four optional modules (60 credits), and a dissertation (60 credits).

Flexible students have between two and five years in which to complete the course, with Understanding the Policy Process taken in Year 1 and the 60-credit research dissertation taken in the final year of study. The number of modules that you take in each academic year will depend on your commitments outside UCL, such as employment and family responsibilities. Where relevant, you will be required to take introductory modules before moving on to the more advanced ones. You do not have to take modules every year.

Compulsory modules








Optional modules

















Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Fieldwork

You may choose to organise and undertake fieldwork in relation to your research for your dissertation, but this is not a requirement. If undertaken, fieldwork must be self-funded.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £16,800 £8,400
Tuition fees (2026/27) £35,400 £17,700

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

Additional costs

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a £350 deposit will be charged.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a £500 deposit will be charged.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

The purchase of books may constitute an additional cost, but there is no requirement to purchase any book as part of the course.

Students are responsible for covering any travel, accommodation, and other expenses involved in conducting research for their dissertation and should account for these costs when planning their finances. Fieldwork is not compulsory to complete a dissertation. If fieldwork is conducted, this is at the student’s own expense and should be estimated according to the type and length of fieldwork proposed. The exact cost to the student will depend on the location, prevailing exchange rates, and the price of travel and accommodation.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

IOE - Aziz Foundation Scholarships

Value: Full tuition fees (1 year)
Criteria Based on academic merit
Eligibility: UK

IOE-Clarke Scholarships

Deadline: 5 May 2025
Value: Tuition fees, return flights and stipend (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

IOE-ISH Centenary Masters Scholarships

Deadline: 5 May 2025
Value: Tuition fees and accommodation at International Students House (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: Overseas

Next steps

When we assess your application, we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Social Policy and Research Methods at graduate level.
  • why you want to study Social Policy and Research Methods at UCL.
  • what particularly attracts you to the chosen course.
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging course.
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree.

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this course match what the course will deliver.

Any late applications will only be considered after all those received by the closing date.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2026-2027

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Social Research Institute
Social Research Institute

mscsp@ucl.ac.uk

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