Social Sciences

Scottish Highers

• Standard Entry Requirements: BBCC (96 UCAS Tariff points)
• Minimum Entry Requirements: CCC (63 UCAS Tariff points)
• Alternative Minimum Entry Requirements: CC (42 UCAS Tariff points) PLUS successful completion of one of the following:
  • UWS Foundation Academy
  • Foundation Apprenticeship
  • UWS Next Steps to University module
  • Top-Up
  • LEAPS

A Levels

• CCC (96 UCAS Tariff points) 

Irish Leaving Certificate

• H3 H3 H3 H3

International Baccalaureate

• 27 points

Scottish Wider Access Programme

• Access to Humanities
• Access to Languages, Arts & Social Sciences
• Access to Law, Criminal Justice & Social Sciences
• Access to Primary Education 
• Access to Social Sciences
• Access to Social Work

All with Grades BBB.  

Glasgow University Access Course

• BB 

SQA HNC / BTEC Level 4 HNC

• Applied Science
• Counselling
• Legal Services
• Police Studies
• Social Care/Services
• Social Sciences
• Social Studies
• Working with Communities

SQA HND / BTEC Level 5 HND

• Childhood Practice

T Level

• Pass with Grade A*-C (96 UCAS Tariff points)

SQA HNC / BTEC Level 4 HNC

• Social Sciences
• Social Studies

With Grade B in Graded Unit.

SQA HND / BTEC Level 5 HND

• Social Sciences
• Social Studies

SQA HND/BTEC Level 5 HND

• Social Sciences
• Social Studies

With Grades BB in Graded Units.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS OVERVIEW

All academic degrees/awards at UWS are taught in English. For applicants whose first language is not English*, the University sets a minimum English language proficiency level. All English language qualifications must have been gained within two years of the start of your UWS course.

* applicants who are exempt from English language requirements include:

• native speakers of English
• Erasmus students (unless advised otherwise)
• non-Erasmus students from EU partner institutions (your institution must provide confirmation of your English language ability in the absence of a formal qualification)
• students whose previous degree-level study has been taught and assessed in English in what UK Visas and Imigration (UKVI) define as a majority English speaking country

In general terms, if you are applying to study a course at, or above, Year 1 (SCQF Level 7) bachelor’s degree level, then the UKVI’s minimum level of English proficiency is Common European Framework for References of Languages (CEFR) at B2 (Upper Intermediate).

UWS & INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST SYSTEM (IELTS)

At UWS, we define our general English language requirements using the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training) as follows:

Undergraduate (bachelor's - BA, BAcc, BEng, BSc etc.) degrees and postgraduate (master's - MA, MBA, MSc etc.) taught degrees

• the CEFR equivalent requirement is normally an overall IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent), with a score of no lower than 5.5 in any of the four elements (listening, speaking, reading and writing)

Postgraduate research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA etc.)

• the CEFR equivalent requirement is an overall IELTS score of 6.5 (or equivalent), with a score of no lower than 6.0 in any of the four elements (listening, speaking, reading and writing)

These are minimum requirements and some courses may require a higher standard for admission†.

† Exceptions to this level of IELTS scoring exist for some accredited or professionally-recognised courses (see IELTS Score Exceptions section below for more information). 

IELTS SCORE EXCEPTIONS (RESEARCH DEGREES, BIOMEDICAL & PARAMEDIC SCIENCE DEGREES, MIDWIFERY DEGREES WITH NMC REGISTRATION, SOCIAL WORK DEGREES, CERTIFICATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION, ETC.)

RESEARCH DEGREES

For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf) applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

• overall score of 6.5
• no sub-test score of less than 6.0

MIDWIFERY AWARDS

For Midwifery courses that lead to professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (BSc Midwifery), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

• overall score of 7.0
• score of at least 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking and
• score of at least 6.5 in writing

PARAMEDIC SCIENCE DEGREE

Our BSc Paramedic Science degree leads to professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC); it has different IELTS requirements than other Health-related courses. Although it is not possible to apply for this degree directly as an international student, for applicants who meet SAAS residency requirements and for whom English is not their first language, then the following IELTS scores are required:

• overall score of 7.0
• no sub-test score of less than 6.5

BIOMEDICAL DEGREES

For our BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science and MSc Advanced Biomedical Science degrees, which may lead to professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

• overall score of 7.0
• no sub-test score of less than 6.5

SOCIAL WORK DEGREES

Our BA (Hons) Social Work and MSc Social Work degrees are professionally recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council and applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

• overall score of 7.0
• no sub-test score of less than 7.0

CERTIFICATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION

For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

• overall score of 5.0
• no sub-test less than 4.5

OTHER IELTS EQUIVALENT ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTS

In additional to IELTS, we also accept a number of alternative English language for application and admission to our courses for both home/EU and international students at bachelor's degree study at Year 3 (SCQF Level 9), and above. From Cambridge to TOFEL iBT qualifications the number of these qualifications is extensive.

Find out about non-IELTS English Language Tests

ENGLISH LANGUAGE HIGH SCHOOL QUALIFACTIONS ACCEPTED FOR NON-EU APPLICANTS

UWS has also reviewed a range of High / Secondary School qualifications studied by non-EU applicants that can be used as a basis of entry to a UWS. These range from Botswana GCSEs to USA High School Graduation Diplomas, the number of these qualifications is extensive.

Find out more about international English Language high-hchool qualifications

PRE-SESSIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COURSES AT UWS

Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:

• 10-week pre-sessional - entry criteria UKVI IELTS 5.0 with no element below 4.5.
• 5-week pre-sessional - entry criteria UKVI IELTS 5.5 with no element below 5.5.
• English Language for University Study - entry criteria UKVI IELTS with an overall score of 4.0, plus a score of 4.0 in all sub-tests (10-month course), or an overall score of 4.5, plus no score below 4.0 in all sub-tests (7-month course).

Find out more about our English language Courses.

Term 1

You will be introduced to the key social science discipline of sociology and develop your ‘sociological imagination’ to grasp the key issues in modern society. This learning will be embedded in furthering your understanding of how the world as we see it today emerged.

You will also be introduced to research and academic skills and competences. Your modules will include:

• ASPIRE
• Introducing Sociology
• Introduction to Social Research
• Making the Modern World

Term 2

You will continue learning about how to do social sciences research. Furthermore, you will learn about government, the state, and the politics of policy-making. Lastly, a key policy area – that of social policy – will be introduced to you.

Your modules will include:

• ASPIRE
• Introduction to Politics
• Development of Social Policy

Term 1

In Year 2, you will deepen your engagement with the key debates in the social sciences. Core modules will equip you with knowledge of comparative politics and the classical works of social and political thought. You will also develop your qualitative research skills and knowledge. Your modules will include:

• Foundations of Qualitative Research
• Comparative Politics
• Foundations of Social and Political Thought

Term 2

You will study questions concerning global politics and society and focus on how the state and others address social problems. You will also further develop your research skills by studying how to undertake quantitative research. 

Your modules will include:

• Global Society
• Social Policy and Social Change
• Foundations of Quantitative Research

Starting from Year 3, you can choose a specialist pathway in: Sociology; Politics and Policy; or Sociology and Policy.

You will develop your research skills and knowledge to hone your research practice ahead of your final year dissertation.

Term 1 

You will choose three modules from the following:

• Data Analysis for Social Science 
• Contemporary Issues and Policy Responses 
• Gender in Society 
• Capitalism Culture and Celebrity 
• Scottish Society 
• American Politics and Policy 

Term 2

• Designing Your Dissertation Project (core module)
• Ethnicity, Racism and Social Relations 
• Art, Culture and Society 
• Environmental Damage, Policy and Justice
• Democracy and European Political Parties 
• Contemporary German Politics 
• Drugs and Culture 

*Please note that the selection of modules may change

In your final year, you will undertake an independent research project – your dissertation. Expert academics will guide you in your topic choice and in the making of this project. In addition, you will further develop your specialist knowledge by choosing from a variety of elective modules.

Term 1

• Social Sciences Dissertation module (core module)
• Making Sustainable Cities 
• Education Politics and Policy 
• Participation and Democracy 
• News and Politics 

Term 2

• Social Sciences Dissertation module (core module)
• The Embodiment of Social Inequality 
• British and Irish Political History 
• Migration, State and Society 
• Nationalism 
  
  *Please note that the selection of modules may change

Modules are taught through lectures and seminars – in both, students are welcome and expected to engage with each other and with their lecturers. Students will be taught by academic staff with recognised expertise in politics, sociology and policy studies. Seminars and lectures are all on campus, allowing students and academics to fully engage with each other.

The University’s virtual learning platform and video conferencing software will be used to enhance the learning experience and to facilitate contact between students and academic staff. 

The modules are assessed through a variety of formative and summative assessments. These range from traditional essays to presentations, from case studies to policy evaluations. 

These assessments allow you to demonstrate your development of the following:

• subject knowledge and understanding in politics
• policy and sociology
• applied knowledge, skills and understanding
• generic cognitive skills
• communication, ICT and numeracy skills
• autonomy, accountability and skills in working with others

UWS Programme Specifications and Module Descriptors

Programme Specification and Module Descriptors for Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses are available to download (PDFs). These provide you with core information concerning your chosen subject. 

View our Programme Specifications & Module Descriptors

• Core textbook (also available in the library in print or online) (Optional, Years 1-4): £100
• Notebooks/ Pens (Optional, Years 1-4): £20
• Placement travel costs if optional placement module selected (Optional, Years 1-4): Cost varies
• Study Abroad Opportunities have a student contribution requirement (Optional, Years 1-3): £300
• Protection of Vulnerable Group scheme: Optional placement module requires membership of the Protection of Vulnerable Group scheme. Students who have a current membership will pay the lower fee. (Optional, Years 1-4): £59 or £18