This BSc focuses on understanding the social and economic forces that shape our world. Crucially, it combines this with a rigorous training in the highly valued quantitative techniques and data analysis skills needed to examine them. You will study at least three social science disciplines including sociology and economics.
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
In addition to A level and International Baccalaureate, UCL considers a wide range of international qualifications for entry to its undergraduate degree programmes.
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency. Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
The English language level for this programme is: Good
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
The UCL Institute of Education (IOE) is a world-leading centre for education and social science, ranked as the world number one for Education for the sixth year running (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019).
A multidisciplinary programme (drawing on different social science subjects) which allows you to choose from a wide range of modules and tailor the programme to your own interests.
Part of the UCL Q-Step Centre - a new and advanced training centre offering students unique opportunities for interdisciplinary learning. There are also opportunities for summer school short courses and paid internships.
You will be trained in specialist quantitative skills, which are in short supply in the labour market, particularly in the social sciences, and are valued in a range of professions including government, academia, journalism, financial analysis and marketing.
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Year one provides a firm foundation in the core disciplines of sociology, economics, psychology. It also covers the principles and practice of social inquiry, and the basics of data analysis.
In all years you can choose optional modules from other social science subjects across UCL.
In years two and three you continue with advanced modules in quantitative data analysis, study subjects across the social sciences, and undertake a dissertation. You may also opt to spend your third year abroad, returning to UCL for your final year of study.
An indicative guide to the structure of this programme, year by year.
Introduction to Economics 1
Introduction to Economics 2
Introduction to Sociology
Social Change in Contemporary Society
Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods
Principles of Social Science Research
You will choose 1.0 credit of optional modules, including but not restricted to the following:
Foundations of Psychology 1
Foundations of Psychology 2
Understanding Social Policy
Families in Society
Epidemiological Transition (or other Population Health module)
Data Analysis (double module)
You will choose 3.0 credits of optional modules, including but not restricted to the following:
Social Inequality and Mobility
Demography and the Life Course
Economics of Public Policy
Economics of Education
Economics of Children and Families
Health and Social Epidemiology
Work and Employment Relations
Sociology of Childhood
Social Psychology
Dissertation (double module)
Causal Analysis
Advanced Topics in Quantitative Data Analysis
You will choose 2.0 credits of optional modules. The list of optional modules are to be confirmed, but they are likely to include the following:
Political Sociology
Economic Sociology
Sociology of Religion
Game Theory for the Social Sciences
Environment and Climate Change
Economics of Developing Countries
Social Networks
Social Movements
Teaching will be delivered through lectures, seminars allowing in-depth discussion, computer laboratory classes analysing a range of different social science data, group work, and UCL's virtual learning environment.
As part of the UCL Q-Step Centre, this degree includes the possibility of a six-week paid internship in the summer vacation between years two and three.
UCL Q-Step aims to place as many students as possible, given available funding, and the number of paid internships available may vary year on year. Internships are competitive and not all students will receive a paid internship. The Q-Step Centre currently has funds to cover internship provision through summer 2019; however, additional funding may become available.
Assessment is through a mix of examinations, practical exercises, essays, individual and group presentations and a dissertation in the final year of study. The weight given to each assessment method will vary across modules to ensure manageable workloads throughout the programme.
Detailed module descriptions are available on the department website: Social Sciences with Quantitative Methods BSc.
The UCL Q-Step Centre was set up in the UK as part of a £19.5 million programme to combat the shortage of quantitative skills in the social sciences. You will have access to summer courses, specialist training, workshops and conferences, and personal tutoring throughout the programme.
Having a quantitative degree will increase your job opportunities as graduates with strong quantitative skills and social science insights are in short supply. Professions include government departments, academia, journalism, financial analysis and marketing. The breadth and depth of the social science subjects and the methodological training provided by this degree will also equip students for Master's or PhD study.
UCL is commited to helping you get the best start after graduation. Read more about how UCL Careers and UCL Innovation and Enterprise can help you find employment or learn about entrepreneurship.
“I really like the Quantitative Methods aspect of my degree. It helps you understand how actual social science studies are made and you gain an understanding of how people conduct analysis. Overcoming the challenge of data is hard but when you actually do it and you know you did it yourself, that is the most rewarding feeling I have ever had!”Marie Legrain - Social Sciences with Quantitative Methods BSc Third Year
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2019/20 academic year. The UK/EU fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2019/20 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc. on this programme, please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.
Funding opportunities relevant to the department may appear in this section when they are available. Please check carefully or confirm with the programme contact to ensure they apply to this degree programme.
The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.
In your personal statement you should demonstrate a genuine interest in social science issues. These might include education, inequality, health and illness, poverty, social mobility, environment, development, social welfare, and so on. A preference for a multidisciplinary approach rather than limiting yourself to one discipline will also be an advantage.
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Application deadline: 15 January 2019
For further information on UCL's selection process see: Selection of students.