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POL36280

Academic Year 2025/2026

Politics of EU Social Policy (POL36280)

Subject:
Politics
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Politics & Int Relations
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Professor Karen Anderson
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module explores the origins, development, and consequences of EU social policy. The
EU now shares decision-making authority with the member states in many fields of social
policy, including workplace health and safety, pensions, employment and health care. The
module examines these developments by focusing on the impact of judicial policy-making,
the constraints of the EU's Internal Market, and the expansion of 'soft coordination' in several
social policy areas. Among the issues and themes the module we will address are: the legal
bases of EU social policy; social policy in the context of EMU and the single market; and the
impact of crises (the Euro-crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and climate change ) on the
prospects for further social policy development at the EU level.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, students should be able to:
*demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the origins, development, and consequences of EU
social policy;
*demonstrate understanding of crucial concepts, basic theories, and current academic
research around the politics of EU social policy, including judicial policy-making and
multilevel governance;
*understand the political and economic dilemmas associated with recent developments in the
field of EU social policy;
*develop transferable skills, including independent research ability and written
communication.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Autonomous Student Learning

176
Total

200

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures
Group discussions
Peer-to-peer learning through discussion groups
Critical reflection and writing through extended essays
Autonomous student learning

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): 2-hour final exam at end of semester containing multiple-choice, short answer and brief essay questions. Content for the exam will be drawn from lectures, discussions, and the required readings. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No
50
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: In-class multiple choice quiz with 25 to 30 questions. Content for the quiz will come from lectures, discussions, and the required readings. Week 6 Graded No
25
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Students will submit a response essay (1,000 to 1,500 words) for one required reading. Week 9 Graded No
25
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

In line with university policy, students will be provided with feedback within 20 working days of the deadline for submitting the assignment.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Thurs 16:00 - 16:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Wed 13:00 - 13:50
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