Combined Honours in Social Sciences

BA
3 or 4 years full-time
Durham City
LMV0
Typical offers
A Level | A*AA |
---|---|
BTEC | D*DD |
International Baccalaureate | 38 |
Course details
If you are curious about the big issues that shape our society, this course may be for you. Taking a research-led approach, Combined Honours in Social Sciences explores systems, institutions, cultures and behaviours that shape the lives of people across the world.
A multidisciplinary qualification that sits outside of traditional boundaries, this bespoke, academically ambitious course offers exceptional flexibility.
You can choose to focus on two subjects or spread your learning across three or four to suit your individual interests, strengths and career plans. You can also apply to add a placement year or year abroad to your degree, increasing the course from three years to four.
Learning from academics working at the forefront of their specialisms, our students graduate feeling confident, intellectually engaged and well prepared for employment or further study. As a graduate you will be well placed to take up a career in fields as diverse as teaching, journalism, social work, in financial services or the charity sector.
In the Social Sciences you can choose from:
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Economics
- Education
- Geography
- Management
- Politics and International Relations
- Sociology and Criminology
- Sport
Up to half of your modules can be chosen from subjects in the Arts and Humanities (subject to timetable compatibility and entry requirements):
- Classics and Ancient History
- English Literature
- History
- Music
- Philosophy
- Theology and Religious Studies
- Visual Arts
- Languages, currently Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish
The degree culminates in a dissertation on a relevant topic which draws together the skills developed throughout the course.
Years 1 and 2
The first two years follow a similar structure. In each year you will study 120 credits, chosen from a minimum of two and a maximum of four subjects.
Year 3 (Year 4 if undertaking a placement or year abroad)
In your final year, you will complete a dissertation in one of your subjects, alongside your remaining credits from a total of two or three subjects.
The availability of modules varies from year to year. Below are examples of the possible areas you may cover within the subject.
Social Sciences subjects
Anthropology includes cultural anthropology and physical anthropology, and a range of modules concerned with material culture, the physical and social evolution of humans, and topics such as medical anthropology and development anthropology.
Archaeology focuses on particular periods and places, including prehistoric archaeology, Roman archaeology, mediaeval and post-mediaeval archaeology, and the archaeology of Britain, Europe, Egypt, India and the Near East, as well as study of the employment of scientific methods in archaeology.
Management includes modules in entrepreneurship, management and governance, and some students choose to study additional modules in business management and marketing.
Economics includesmicroeconomics, macroeconomics and topics such as the history of economic thought, environmental economics, development economics, monetary economics and the economics of social policy.
Education includes central issues in school and higher education involving the study of the historical, philosophical, psychological, sociological and political dimensions of educational theory and practice, and the development of the social sciences in the modern and postmodern periods.
Geography includes human geography and a range of modules concerned with geographical theory and methods as well as special topics in urban transformation, environmental change, development, and hazard and risk.
Politics and International Relations includes politics in Europe, the USA, the Middle East and the Far East, as well as the history of political thought and international relations.
Sociology includes theories and methods, social structures, social policy, social exclusion, and the sociology of health, the city, and popular music.
Criminology includes theories and methods, crime and deviance, policing, sociology of punishment and the criminal justice system.
Sport includes modules on the sociology of sport and on sport and social policy.
Arts and Humanities subjects
Classics and Ancient History includes translation, the history, philosophy, literature and culture of the ancient world, and the study of Greek and Latin at several different levels, opening up the literatures of the Greek and Roman worlds in their original languages.
English Literature includes specific literary genres, such as poetry, drama and the novel. Also, the literatures of specific periods, including Medieval, Renaissance, Romantic, Victorian and Modern Literature, as well as studies in the theory and practice of literary criticism.
History includes medieval, early modern and late modern history through a range of modules in economic, social, religious, cultural, political and diplomatic history, focusing on Britain, continental Europe, Africa, China and the USA.
Modern Languages and Cultures includes the principal languages of Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. Each offers core language modules and ‘culture’ modules which cover a broad range of themes in history, politics, literature, film, the media, linguistics, translation and interpreting.
If you are not taking a modern language as one of your main subjects, you can study one of a number of languages, currently including Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish, at various levels, from beginners’ to advanced level, in the School’s Centre for Foreign Language Study (CFLS).
Music includes musicology, including the history of music, music theory and analysis, and ethnomusicology, and, where these are studied alongside musicology, performance, composition and other practice-based disciplines.
Philosophy includes many of the principal philosophical disciplines, including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics and aesthetics, and also the history and philosophy of science and medicine.
Theology and Religion includes biblical studies, Christian theology, including the history of theology, contemporary theology, the philosophy of religion, and ethics and religious studies, including the sociology and anthropology of religion.
Visual Arts combines high-level critical and historical study of visual arts and film with a range of practical skills.
Certain elements of the course are defined by the choice of subject, for example:
- If your principal subjects include a modern language, then your studies will be extended from three years to four. The third year is spent abroad studying at university, teaching English or undertaking internships.
- If your primary interest lies in the Arts and Humanities, you should apply for the Liberal Arts degree instead.
- If you are only interested in modern languages subjects, you should apply for the Modern Languages and Cultures degree instead.
- It is not possible to study Management and Economics alone. For this combination you would need to look at courses offered by the Business School.
- Your choice of modules is subject to availability, timetable compatibility and the approval of the Director of Combined Honours in Social Sciences. You may also be required to meet specific A level or equivalent requirements.
Course structure
Year 1 modules
Core modules:
Dissertation Prerequisites
Each department has required preparatory modules for the completion of a compulsory dissertation in the final year.
Optional modules:
Decolonising Knowledge and Power
We examine the meaning of decolonisation which means different things in different places. Historically, decolonisation referred to the dismantling of various European colonial empires–notably the British, French and Belgian empires–and anticolonial struggles in what was once referred to as the ‘Third World’ in the postwar period.
Year 2 modules
Core modules:
Dissertation Prerequisites
Each department has required preparatory modules for the completion of a compulsory dissertation in the final year.
Additional Pathways
Students can apply to be transferred onto either the with Year Abroad or with Placement pathway during the second year. Places on these pathways are in high demand and if you are chosen your studies will extend from three years to four.
Accreditation
The wide range of subjects available on a multidisciplinary degree like the BA Combined Honours in Social Sciences provide intellectual and transferable skills that are valued across a range of professions. Many subjects, such as Economics, have vocational relevance and this disciplinary knowledge, combined with flexibility and self-motivation make graduates especially attractive to employers.
Our graduates can be found in all roles and areas of a contemporary internationally facing economy. They take positions in government and the civil service, the media, financial services, management consultancy, project management and charities. A few enterprising graduates have set up their own businesses while others have continued into postgraduate education.
Take a look at some of the roles taken up by recent graduates from the course:
- Assistant Economist at The Civil Service, Department for Education
- Trainee Account Executive at Headland Consultancy
- Educator at Herts Young Homeless
- Project Management Consultant at PA Consulting
- Pre-sessional Coordinator at Durham University
- Staff Writer at Future Plc
- Student Social Worker at Oxfordshire County Council
- Geography Teacher at Laurus Trust
Learning
Methods of learning will vary according to subject choice but are likely to include a blend of lectures and small-group seminars alongside tutorials, workshops, fieldwork and practical classes.
Seminars, workshops and practical classes take place in much smaller groups than lectures. In some subjects, practicals provide hands-on experience of the type of work performed by professionals in the various disciplines. Small-group format and support from your academic advisor are embedded into the learning experience to help you get more out of your studies.
In the final year there's an increased focus on self-directed learning and independent research, including a dissertation, as you prepare for professional or postgraduate life.
Assessment
Your choice of subjects/modules will determine the assessment types you encounter, but these are likely to include essays, examinations, presentations, case studies and reflections. Assessment is designed to evaluate your knowledge and understanding, test your critical thinking and your ability to apply your learning to real-world issues.
In your final year, you will complete a dissertation supported by one-on-one supervision. You will be expected to think independently and take greater control of the direction of study.
Entry requirements
A level offer – A*AA
Contextual offer – AAB
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma – D*DD and subject specific A levels (or equivalent) as above
IB Diploma score – 38 with 666 in higher level subjects. Subject requirements as listed above for A level. Students wishing to study the subjects listed above would need to achieve Higher Level grade 6 in the subject. For students wishing to study Economics we are happy to accept Higher Level Maths Analysis 6, Higher Level Maths Applications 6, or Standard Level Maths Analysis 7. Standard Level Maths Applications is not acceptable.
If you apply to us, we'll send you our subject choice guide and you'll update your subject choices on your portal account.
Further information around Subject Choices can be found here: Subject Choices for Combined Honours - Durham University
In addition to satisfying the University’s general entry requirements, please note:
We welcome applications from those with other qualifications equivalent to our standard entry requirements and from mature students with non-standard qualifications or who may have had a break in their study.
- Science A levels: Applicants taking Science A levels that include a practical component will be required to take and pass this as a condition of entry. This applies only to applicants sitting A levels with an English examination board.
- We also consider other level 3 qualifications, including T-levels.
- We are happy to consider applications for deferred entry.
- If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take an International Foundation Year pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre.
Alternative qualifications
International students who do not meet direct entry requirements for this degree might have the option to complete an International Foundation Year.
If you would like to study:
Alternative qualifications
International students who do not meet direct entry requirements for this degree might have the option to complete an International Foundation Year.
Fees and funding
Full Time Fees
Home students | £9,535 per year |
---|---|
EU students | £27,000 per year |
Island students | £9,535 per year |
International students | £27,000 per year |
Full-Time Study
The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of full-time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.
The tuition fees shown for overseas and EU students are for one complete academic year of full-time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and will be subject to an annual inflationary increase expected to rise throughout the programme of study. The fee listed above is for the first year of the course only; fees for subsequent years will be confirmed not less than 3 months before the start of the academic year to which the increase is intended to apply and will be published on the Finance webpages.
In deciding the annual level of increase, the University will take into account inflationary pressures on the costs of delivery. Tuition fees will rise annually by up to the higher of:
- 6%, or
- the latest annual percentage increase in the Consumer Prices Index.
Part-Time Study
The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of part-time study and are charged proportionately to the Full-Time fee. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.
Please also check costs for colleges and accommodation.
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to supporting the best students irrespective of financial circumstances and are delighted to offer a range of funding opportunities.
Find out more about Scholarships and BursariesCareer opportunities
Combined Honours
Combined Honours graduates acquire a range of subject-specific skills coupled with adaptability and the capacity to make creative connections. They are highly employable in a diverse range of careers and sectors.
Combined Honours in Social Sciences graduates have the skills and mindset to progress to roles including banking, management consultancy, marketing, teaching, local government and the charity sector.
Many Combined Honours students undertake postgraduate degrees or professional training while others begin graduate careers.
(Source: (Graduate Outcomes Data 2021-22).)
Department information
Combined Honours
Design your own bespoke qualification with this suite of highly adaptable degrees that allow you to combine subjects beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries.
Real-world challenges often require multidisciplinary solutions. Our Combined Honours degrees transcend traditional subject boundaries, bringing together a range of ideas and disciplinary perspectives. Focus on two subjects from the outset, or choose a broader range of modules across three or four subjects. These highly flexible courses include the opportunity to undertake a year abroad or a placement year, to develop additional skills and enjoy new experiences.
Combined Honours in Social Sciences allows you to combine modules in a multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary way. You will focus primarily on the social sciences with the option to select modules from arts and humanities subjects.
(Choices are subject to eligibility and timetable compatibility).
Rankings
Top 50 Faculty of Arts and Humanities in The QS World University Subject Rankings 2025.
Facilities
Durham University’s departments and services are spread across the historic city. As a Combined Honours student, you will have access to a wide range of facilities across multiple departments. While these will vary according to your choice of subjects, all of our departments are equipped with high-quality teaching and research equipment.
You will also benefit from excellent IT facilities including Learn Ultra, Durham’s virtual learning environment. You will have access to up to 1.6 million printed books, 25,000 eJournals and over 850,000 eBooks in the main library as well as specialist collections and archives that support teaching across the departments.
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