Over 2000 local adult return learners have graduated on our 2+2 programme.

The degree takes four years to complete. The first two years are at one of our partner colleges, enabling you to gain confidence in coping with academic study, presentation skills and study skills in a local environment. You will then study years three and four at the University of Warwick.

The BA (Hons) Social Studies Degree is designed to give a broad understanding of some of the key academic subjects which are normally grouped together under the general term of social studies or social sciences.

These subjects include:

• sociology
• health and social policy
• business studies
• lifelong learning
• gender studies
• politics

When starting a social studies degree, you might be uncertain which area to specialise in. However, you will not need to make this decision immediately. As this is a flexible degree, you spend the first two years on the social studies pathway and then make a decision about which subjects you would like to pursue at the end of year two. You will also have the opportunity to transfer to the BA (Hons) Health and Social Policy Degree at this point.

You can find further information on the CLL modules you can study here: Undergraduate Modules

Flexible entry requirements, formal qualifications are not required, just evidence of work and life experience and motivation to study. Applicants are interviewed by the course selector. Applications from access students will be welcomed.

Over 2,000 local people have studied on this programme, many without any qualifications, and have gone on to further study or careers in areas such as social work, teaching, local government, the community and voluntary sectors and research.

Your course and university experience will give you skills which can be transferred to a wide variety of careers. Such skills include communication, persuasion, analytical and problem-solving skills, time management and working under pressure. All these are very desirable to employers. As many graduate jobs are open to students from all degree subjects, there is a huge range of career possibilities. For example, jobs in marketing, finance and HR. You could also work in a range of sectors such as arts, culture and recreation, energy and utilities, public services and transport.

Here are just some of the new careers our graduates have chosen to pursue in the Centre across our undergraduate courses:
-Teacher: primary and secondary
-Lecturer: FE and HE
-Community worker
-Social researcher
-Youth worker
-Manager of early years settings
-Management trainee
-Team leader
-Counsellor
- Local government officer
-Caseworker (MP)

Some students choose to stay with us for further study, on courses such as MSc Psychotherapy and Counselling

This degree enables learners to develop in-depth understanding of contemporary social life.

It is divided into two stages: Level 4 and Honours Level. Level 4 consists of 120 credits and is studied over the first two years at a partner college. Honours Level (years three and four) consists of 240 credits and is studied over the final two years of the degree at Warwick.

In the first two years you will study four core modules at a partner college:

Sociological Perspectives - this introduces a range of concepts and issues that help you to question and understand not only why things in society are the way they are but what might be done to change them

Health, Welfare and Social Policy - this develops your understanding of the foundations of contemporary social welfare issues such as poverty, inequality and the welfare state

Political Ideas and World Politics - this provides knowledge of structures and issues in British and global politics and key concepts in the study of these such as power, globalisation and democracy

Researching Society an Culture - this develops your academic research skills and how to successfully apply these to a research project of your design, with support from your tutor. It asks questions such as: does society shape us or do we have a role in shaping it?

You do not need to have any prior knowledge of these subjects to join this course. It is designed for learners who have not studied these subjects before and who may have been out of education for some time. The degree starts gradually, and you are supported throughout. 

At Warwick in years three and four of your degree you will have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of modules in subjects as varied as counselling, social work, mindfulness, coaching, social policy, and lifelong learning. You will also have the opportunity to take modules in a range of departments at Warwick including Sociology, Politics and International Studies, Warwick Business School, and Philosophy among others. The core (i.e., compulsory) modules are listed below:

Year three - Research Methods in the Social Sciences. This module is worth 30 credits and develops a detailed understanding of the nature and principles of methods that are applied to research projects.

Year four - Dissertation (usually in Lifelong Learning). Here you will directly apply understanding gained in Research Methods to an in-depth research project designed by you and supervised by a member of the teaching staff. This module is worth 30 credits.

 You can find further information on the CLL modules you can study here: Undergraduate Modules

Applications for 2020/21 are now closed.

If you are still considering returning to study, have a look at our FREE Gateway to HE starting this November.

Tuition fees for Home/EU Students in 2020-21 are as follows:

£6,750

See our finance information page for more information regarding financing your studies and have a look at our funding scenarios to see what support might be available for prospective students. View potential additional fees here.

Times of classes will depend on the college attended and modules taken at the University, please contact the relevant college for teaching days and times in years one and two.

• Coventry College
• North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College - Nuneaton Campus

Students enrol on the BA (Hons) Social Studies for two years, and then have the opportunity to transfer to BA (Hons) Health and Social Policy, a more specialised degree, at the beginning of year three.