Study Social Sciences in the United Kingdom
DURHAM UNIVERSITY
School of Applied Social Sciences
We are a multidisciplinary School, with
highly-ranked subject specialisms in
Sociology,
Criminology,
Sport,
Social Work, and
Community and Youth Work. Our
undergraduate programmes in Sociology,
Criminology and Sport are among the most
popular in the UK.
Recent university guides rate the School
at outstanding levels. The Complete
University Guide for 1012 lists the
School as 2nd in the UK for sport
studies, out of 74 institutions, while
we are rated as 3rd in the UK for
Sociology (which includes Criminology)
out of 89 institutions.
The quality of our research in the
School of Applied Social Sciences has
been formally recognised by the Research
Assessment Exercise 2008 - a rigorous
procedure designed to assess research
activities at every UK university.
In the recent exercise, 90% of research
in the School was rated as of
international significance with 60%
being internationally excellent or of
world leading originality, significance
and rigour in its Unit of Assessment
(Social Policy and Social Work). The
School's "excellent active and vital
research culture" was highlighted, along
with our outstanding international
collaborations, interdisciplinarity and
impact on policy and practice.
Thirty per cent of our students are
postgraduates, either training for a
professional qualification or
undertaking research for a Masters
degree or
PhD. We have three ESRC-recognised
taught Masters programmes in
Sociology, Social Policy and Social
Work, and a large group of research
students attracted by working with our
world-class academics, either
self-funded or supported by bursaries.
We offer the opportunity to study in the
outstandingly beautiful city of Durham
and at one of the country's top
universities, the third oldest in
England. Our ethos, however, is
contemporary and applied. Our aim is to
enable every one of our students to
fulfill their potential: many are now in
key positions in government, public
services, business, universities and the
media. There is a highly developed
research culture, with a large group of
postgraduate students studying for
Masters degrees and doctorates. Our
research is interdisciplinary and often
informs policy and practice. Our new
Masters in Professional Practice, for
example, is specially designed for
professionals to undertake work-based
projects for a research dissertation,
and a new taught Masters in Managing
Community Practice has been developed
for those working to improve the welfare
of local communities.
About the School
Our degree programmes provide an
exciting range of opportunities for
students from across the UK and abroad,
with further opportunities for
postgraduate study. The School's
research training programme is
recognised by the UK Economic and Social
Research Council, and we have a high
success rate in securing ESRC research
studentships.
We offer three undergraduate degree
programmes in Sociology, Criminology and
Sport. Possible combinations with
Sociology include Law, Politics and
Anthropology. Sociology and the related
field of Social Policy are
well-established academic disciplines at
Durham while the Sport and Criminology
programmes are newer developments. The
Sport programme is a unique combination
of sport science and sport performance
together with sociological and policy
perspectives on sport as a global
phenomenon. Durham is one of the UK's
top sporting universities, and
recreational sport is an important part
of the university's college life.
The School is an international leader in
the education and development of social
workers, youth workers and community
workers. Postgraduate programmes in
social work include
professionally-accredited Masters
degrees in social work and community and
youth work, with opportunities for
non-UK students to study similar
programmes designed from an
international perspective.
The School also offers first-class
training in research methods and
techniques, Masters degrees in research
in sociology, social policy and social
work share a common modular framework
offering flexibility of study. Many
students take these courses to prepare
for a doctorate and our PhD students are
an important and valued part of life in
the School. There are also opportunities
to study for a Masters degree by
research, with a route specially
designed for public services
professionals wanting to undertake a
work-based project.
The School offers a cosmopolitan and
informal environment for scholarship of
the highest academic standard. Our
programmes attract well-qualified
candidates from across the world,
wanting to study with leading experts in
their fields in the unparalleled setting
of Durham's World Heritage Site.
| | |
