Subject Area
From sociology and anthropology to international relations, development studies, and public policy — explore the disciplines that analyse how societies work and where their study leads to influential careers.
About the subject
What is Social Sciences?
Social Sciences study human societies, institutions, and relationships — spanning sociology, anthropology, political science, international relations, human geography, development studies, and policy studies. The field combines qualitative research (interviews, ethnography, archival work) with increasingly sophisticated quantitative methods (statistics, econometrics, computational analysis).
Social sciences graduates work in policy, international organisations (UN, World Bank, OECD), NGOs, research institutes, government, journalism, consulting, and increasingly in tech companies (trust and safety, policy, research). It's a versatile field, though career paths are less linear than in professional disciplines like medicine or law — success typically requires combining academic credentials with practical experience through internships, research, and specialised skills.
Current trends
What's shaping social sciences right now.
- Computational and quantitative methods — social sciences is undergoing a data revolution. Top programmes now require fluency in R, Python, and statistical modelling alongside traditional qualitative training.
- Climate and environmental social science — understanding how societies adapt to climate change is a major funding priority at top research universities and international bodies.
- Migration and development studies — sustained demand for researchers and practitioners who can work on migration, inequality, and development at international organisations.
- Technology and society — the intersection of social science and tech (AI ethics, platform governance, digital inequality) is a major growth area, with roles in both academia and big tech.
- Policy and evaluation — evidence-based policymaking has driven demand for graduates trained in impact evaluation, randomised trials, and implementation science.
Programme options
Best Social Sciences degrees to study.
The most widely offered and highly ranked bachelor's and master's specialisations in Social Sciences, with a short note on what each one focuses on.
Top bachelor's degrees
BA Sociology
Social structures, inequality, institutions
BA Anthropology
Cultural, linguistic, biological anthropology
BA International Relations
Global politics, foreign policy, diplomacy
BA Political Science
Government, comparative politics, theory
BA Development Studies
Poverty, inequality, global south
BA Human Geography
Place, urbanisation, migration
BA Public Policy
Policy analysis and governance
BA Global Studies
Interdisciplinary global focus
BA Peace & Conflict Studies
Conflict resolution and security
BA Social Work
Applied social practice (professional pathway)
Top master's degrees
MA International Relations
Foreign policy, diplomacy, security
MA Public Policy (MPP)
Policy analysis and implementation
MA Development Studies
International development theory and practice
MA Sociology
Advanced sociological research
MA Anthropology
Cultural and social anthropology
MSc Social Research Methods
Mixed-methods social research
MA Human Rights
Rights-based approaches and advocacy
MA Global Affairs / Global Policy
Cross-border policy and governance
MSc Environmental Policy
Climate and environmental governance
MPA — Master of Public Administration
Public sector leadership
Where to study
Best countries to study Social Sciences.
Each country brings a different combination of programme strength, industry access, work rights, and cost. Here's what stands out for Social Sciences in each of the leading destinations.
United Kingdom
LSE, Oxford, Cambridge, SOAS, UCL — arguably the world's strongest concentration of top social science departments. Strong in IR, development, sociology.
Best for: Global leader in social sciences.
United States
Harvard Kennedy School, Princeton SPIA, Columbia SIPA, Johns Hopkins SAIS — strongest policy schools globally. Deep research funding.
Best for: Best for policy and international affairs.
Netherlands
Leiden, ISS (The Hague), Amsterdam — The Hague houses major international organisations; strong English-taught programmes in IR and development.
Best for: Best for international organisations careers.
Switzerland
Graduate Institute Geneva (IHEID), ETH, Geneva — physically located next to the UN, WTO, and WHO. Ideal for international practice.
Best for: Best physical proximity to UN system.
Australia
ANU, Melbourne, Sydney — strong Asia-Pacific focus, good programmes in international relations and public policy.
Best for: Strong Asia-Pacific and indigenous studies focus.
Germany
Hertie School, FU Berlin, Heidelberg — low tuition, increasingly strong English-taught programmes, strong in European studies and political science.
Best for: Best value for European studies.
Careers & salaries
Top careers after a Social Sciences degree.
Indicative annual salary ranges for the most common career paths, by country. All figures in local currency unless marked; USD unless otherwise noted.
| Role | USA (USD) | UK (GBP) | Australia (AUD) | Canada (CAD) | Germany (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Policy Analyst / Government Researcher | 70–130K | 35–70K | 75–125K | 70–115K (CAD) | 50–85K (EUR) |
| Research Associate / Social Researcher | 60–110K | 30–60K | 70–110K | 65–100K (CAD) | 45–75K (EUR) |
| International Development Practitioner | 60–110K (NGO) / 80–150K (UN-system, tax-privileged) | varies | varies | varies | varies |
| Management Consultant (policy) | 120–200K | 60–110K | 100–160K | 95–140K (CAD) | 75–120K (EUR) |
| Trust & Safety / Policy (Tech) | 110–200K | 60–120K | 100–160K | 90–150K (CAD) | 70–110K (EUR) |
| Journalism / Communications | 50–95K | 28–60K | 60–100K | 55–95K (CAD) | 40–70K (EUR) |
Salary ranges are indicative and vary by employer, city, and experience. Always confirm current market rates before making career decisions.
The next decade
Scope of Social Sciences over the next 10 years.
What the structural shifts in the field mean for graduates entering the field now.
- Climate migration and adaptation policy will be one of the largest emerging policy challenges, with sustained demand for researchers and practitioners.
- Data-driven policy and impact evaluation — governments and NGOs increasingly require evidence-based policy, driving demand for social scientists with strong quantitative skills.
- Tech policy and platform governance — AI regulation, content moderation, digital rights, and platform accountability are major growth areas with strong demand in both tech and government.
- Inequality and distributional research — a major research priority globally, with sustained funding at leading universities and think tanks.
Frequently asked
Questions students ask about Social Sciences.
Is a social sciences degree practical for jobs?
Yes, but less linearly than professional degrees. Policy, research, NGO, international organisations, journalism, consulting, and tech policy roles all hire social science graduates. Success typically requires combining your degree with internships, research experience, and applied skills (especially quantitative methods).
Which is better for international careers — MA IR or MPP?
MA International Relations is stronger for diplomacy, foreign policy, and international organisations. MPP (Master of Public Policy) is stronger for domestic or comparative policy analysis and policy evaluation. MPA (Master of Public Administration) is stronger for public sector leadership. All three are valuable; choose based on the specific career you target.
Do I need quantitative skills for social sciences?
Increasingly, yes. Top policy and research roles now require strong statistical methods, R or Python, and comfort with large datasets. Even traditionally qualitative fields (sociology, anthropology) are integrating quantitative training. Graduates without these skills are at a substantial disadvantage.
How do I get into UN or World Bank careers?
Through a combination of: (1) a top-tier masters in policy, development, IR, or economics, (2) fluency in at least one UN official language beyond English, (3) field experience in low or middle-income countries, and (4) the Young Professionals Programme (YPP) or Junior Professional Officer (JPO) schemes that recruit early-career talent.
Are social sciences salaries competitive?
Policy consulting, tech policy, and senior UN-system roles are well-paid and competitive with business careers. Traditional academic, NGO, and government research roles are moderately paid but stable and often offer strong non-monetary benefits (intellectual autonomy, international mobility, tax-privileged status in UN system).
Ready to find your Social Sciences programme?
Search thousands of Social Sciences programmes across top study destinations. Compare fees, entry requirements, scholarships, and intake dates in one place.
Search Social Sciences programmes