BSc Social Sciences (DN700/SBU3)

Why do people behave the way they do? How do social, cultural, political and economic forces shape our lives and the world in which we live?

If these types of questions about society and social relationships spark your interest, prepare to be challenged and fascinated by studying social sciences in UCD. You will examine the nature of our society and the issues confronting humanity, including climate change, crime and violence, social and economic inequality, gender justice, sustainable cities, human development, economic growth and big data. 

As Ireland’s global university, we encourage our students to apply to study for a trimester or a year abroad through UCD’s extensive global network of partner universities. In our BSc four-year progamme, study abroad opportunities are integrated into the third year curriculum. All social sciences students can take language modules as electives in addition to their degree subjects through the UCD Applied Language Centre. Students who take social sciences subjects with a language minor will spend their third year abroad in a partner University

Students will also have the option to apply for an internship or study abroad for a year or a trimester. More information can be found here.

Social sciences graduates are valued by employers for their skills in research, leadership and communication. Graduates of UCD social sciences progress to work in government, NGOs, the media and businesses as economists, policymakers, environmentalists, activists, information managers, HR managers, entrepreneurs, journalists, statisticians, urban planners, archaeologists, librarians, secondary school teachers, social workers, researchers and many more professions across the public and private sectors. BSc Social Sciences students may undertake an internship for a trimester in Year 3.

You may undertake a Master’s related to a discipline you studied in your undergraduate degree, such as international relations, experimental archaeology or behavioural economics. A social sciences degree also allows you to progress to a range of interdisciplinary Master’s degrees in fields such as public policy, cognitive science, criminology, human rights, geopolitics, development studies, equality studies, digital curation, urban environment, world heritage management and more. You may also choose to convert your undergraduate degree with a Master’s in a new discipline such as Law, Business or Computer Science.

Non-EU Undergraduate Fee information can be found here.

UCD offers a number of competitive undergraduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD undergraduate degree programme. For information on Undergraduate Scholarships, please see the UCD International Scholarships webpage.

Special Recommendation - Mathematics/Statistics Option: In order to study Mathematics or Statistics, A Level C or IB HL 6 is recommended.

Special Requirement Economics Option: In order to study Economics in this degree we strongly recommend that you have the equivalent of GCSE Grade A/ IB SL 6/ HL 4.

Special Requirements - Language Options Recommendation: When studying German or Spanish: In First Year two streams are offered, one for absolute beginners and another for non-beginners. For the non-beginners level a minimum of A Level C or IB HL 5 or equivalent is strongly recommended. For French, A Level C or IB HL 5 is required.

The UCD College of Social Sciences and Law is a broad and diverse, but connected community of students and faculty who are committed to creating a more sustainable and equitable future for all. We work together in a culture of collaboration to support each other to thrive and achieve our full potential, in service of broader societal goals. Through our undergraduate and graduate education, research and external engagement, we aim to ensure that our students, faculty and staff thrive and contribute to sustainable well-being on our campus, in Ireland and across the wider world. Our faculty are globally recognized experts in their fields, advancing knowledge through research, engaging with government, business and civil society to enhance our world, and using their knowledge to design and offer cutting-edge education within their disciplines and across the disciplines of Archaeology, Economics, Geography, Information & Communication Studies, Philosophy, Politics & International Relations, Psychology, Social Policy Social Work & Social Justice, and Sociology. Our ambition is that our students will debate and engage with the greatest societal challenges of our time by becoming informed citizens who will play a leading role in shaping societies around the globe toward more sustainable futures.  

The Social Sciences degrees at UCD incorporate a diverse range of formal and informal learning opportunities for students, delivered by excellent researchers who are leading their fields globally, and embedding the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDG’s) in their educational activities where appropriate.

BSc Social Sciences  

Social Sciences students have the opportunity to explore how people engage with the world, through understanding society, group and individual behaviours. Students gain a deep understanding of their chosen subject discipline; develop real-world skills in research, communication and leadership; and develop the critical thinking and analytical skills to affect change across a broad range of the Global Goals including but not limited to those below.​

• Quality Education (SDG 4)
• Gender Equality (SDG 5)
• Reduce Inequalities (SDG 10)
• Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11)
• Climate Action (SDG 13)
• Peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16)