Comparative Social Policy

You will study a core paper in comparative social policy. This paper covers the theories, principles, history and institutions of social policy, and is taught via a closely-linked package of lectures, seminars, small working seminars or classes and individual tutorials. You will also engage in more detailed work on social policy analysis.

• analyse, interpret and review the major concepts, theoretical approaches and historical and contemporary issues in social policy and welfare state development in a range of countries or systems;
• analyse and compare specific areas of social policy (eg health, education) in different countries or systems, drawing on both empirical data and broader theoretical literature; and
• undertake both quantitative and qualitative research studies, and to understand the major issues involved in research design and technical analysis in social policy related research.

The research methods skills, covering both quantitative and qualitative methods, are taught in a mix of lectures, classes, workshops and ‘hands-on’ computer lab based weekly training sessions. In addition, there is a course on the principles of comparative research design. You will also take two specialist courses from a list of options focusing on a particular social policy area or the application of evidence-based intervention. Recent options offered include demography, education policies, family policies, healthcare, labour market policies and poverty.

Your performance will be assessed through formative and summative assignments/papers. Knowledge of the substantive areas of social policy is assessed by two three hour papers at the end of the third term. One covers comparative social policy/welfare states in general; the other focuses on the student’s chosen area of specialism. The research method skills are assessed by means of formal course assignments and ‘methods essays’ on published research papers. In addition, you will be required to provide a 30,000-word dissertation.

Recent graduates from the MPhil in Comparative Social Policy have gone on to study for doctorates in a range of high quality universities. Many of graduates go on to pursue academic careers in world-leading research universities, while others hold influential positions in government, non-governmental and international organisations, such as the World Bank, the World Health Organisation and the UN.