This degree is ideal for students who want to challenge the status quo - those with a keen interest in current affairs and tackling contemporary issues which cause injustice. When you study for this degree at Birmingham, you will be equipped with the theoretical knowledge and research skills to tackle social problems. From poverty to homelessness, and from health care to criminal justice systems, social policy engages in a range of contemporary social problems to find new ways of securing people’s welfare. It is essentially about changing the present and creating a new future. On this 4-year Year Abroad programme, you can spend a year abroad in your third year at a partner institution. This will give you the opportunity to experience a different academic environment and way of teaching (and even different approaches to the subject). The Social Policy degree at Birmingham enables you to understand the nature of social issues in the UK and beyond. It encourages you to not only develop an understanding of contemporary social issues, but investigate potential solutions and how to promote change to tackle social problems. Our unique careers guidance service is tailored to your academic subject area, offering a specialised team (in each of the five academic colleges) who can give you expert advice. Our team source exclusive work experience opportunities to help you stand out amongst the competition, with mentoring, global internships and placements available to you. Once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CV’s and job applications will help give you the edge. In addition, our employer-endorsed award-winning Personal Skills Award (PSA) recognises your extra-curricular activities, and provides an accredited employability programme designed to improve your career prospects. We also offer voluntary work which complements your studies by helping you gain practical experiences in occupational settings while contributing back to society. This can bring new skills that will be useful throughout your future and can make a positive impact on your learning whilst at university. Volunteering enables you to develop skills such as communication, interpersonal skills, teamwork, self-confidence and self-discipline, all of which can be transferred into your studies. There are a number of job paths for you to take after graduating. There are graduate schemes in managing welfare services in health care, the third sector and local government which can be popular choices with our graduates. Since a degree in Social Policy is based upon how policy is made it is a great degree for working in the civil service, local government or for think tanks.