University of Sheffield Sociology with Social Policy Student - Ask Me Anything

Hi there!

My name is Trudie and I'm in my second year of studying BA Sociology with Social Policy at the University of Sheffield.

I moved from Norfolk to Sheffield 2 years ago so I understand it's a big adjustment! I love living in Sheffield because it provides the best of both worlds - countryside and city. I lived in halls last year in Endcliffe houses, and I'm now in a private house with friends, so I can answer any queries about accommodation.

My hobbies include sewing, knitting, playing violin, singing and going to see live music. I am apart of the Music Culture Society here at Sheffield which is great for seeing live music, as well as being a part of the Sociology Society which was particularly useful for making friends in my course.

I struggled due to my invisible disability during A-levels but the University of Sheffield were amazing at supporting me both academically and for my general wellbeing. So if accessing support is one of your concerns I can help you out! :smile:

I will be online every Friday, so please feel free to ask me any questions about the University of Sheffield, whether that be the course, the city, accommodation, whatever it is and I will do my best to help! If your question is more urgent and you would like a quicker response, there a lots of students available to chat via TAP at https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/study/chat

I look forward to answering your queries!

Trudie - BA Sociology with Social Policy :h:

Reply 1

Anonymous #1

Hi im a year 12 considering doing a degree in social policy. Can you tell me what its like so far(e.g what modules youve done how is the course taught and how is it assesed)

Reply 2

University of Sheffield Students

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Original post by Anonymous

Hi im a year 12 considering doing a degree in social policy. Can you tell me what its like so far(e.g what modules youve done how is the course taught and how is it assesed)

Heya! In my first year I mostly looked at different political views and their affect on the welfare state, such as neo-liberal and new Labour, and an overview of the history of past policies. In my second year I'm now going into more detail with social policies and the relationship between economics and the welfare state. I've been looking at topics such as globalisation, austerity, the retrenchment of the welfare state, the golden age of the welfare state, and changing demographics. I'm taught through a mix of lectures and seminars. Lectures are sitting and listening to the information taught by a professor. Seminars are much more like what college classes are. There usually about 20 people in size. You do readings before the seminar, and then strongly encouraged to debate and discuss what you've found with you peers. It's also an opportunity to ask your seminar leader to clarify things that you may not have fully understood in the lecture or readings. It's mostly assessed through essays. You get a number of essay questions and can choose which one to answer. You will be given a deadline but can work on the essay in your own time spending as long on it as you wish. I hope this makes things a little clearer and don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd like anything else clarifying :smile:

Reply 3

educationamirite

8

Original post by University of Sheffield Students

Heya! In my first year I mostly looked at different political views and their affect on the welfare state, such as neo-liberal and new Labour, and an overview of the history of past policies. In my second year I'm now going into more detail with social policies and the relationship between economics and the welfare state. I've been looking at topics such as globalisation, austerity, the retrenchment of the welfare state, the golden age of the welfare state, and changing demographics. I'm taught through a mix of lectures and seminars. Lectures are sitting and listening to the information taught by a professor. Seminars are much more like what college classes are. There usually about 20 people in size. You do readings before the seminar, and then strongly encouraged to debate and discuss what you've found with you peers. It's also an opportunity to ask your seminar leader to clarify things that you may not have fully understood in the lecture or readings. It's mostly assessed through essays. You get a number of essay questions and can choose which one to answer. You will be given a deadline but can work on the essay in your own time spending as long on it as you wish. I hope this makes things a little clearer and don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd like anything else clarifying :smile:

Are you not allowed to take notes during lectures?

Also, what did you write about in your personal statement for social policy, & why did you decide to do it joint w sociology and not just on its own?

Thank you in advance!

Reply 4

University of Sheffield Students

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Original post by educationamirite

Are you not allowed to take notes during lectures?
Also, what did you write about in your personal statement for social policy, & why did you decide to do it joint w sociology and not just on its own?
Thank you in advance!

Heya,

Yes you do take notes in lectures, sorry if there was any confusion there!

In my personal statement I wrote about my personal experiences that gave me a passion for helping vulnerable people, which is why I took this course. I wrote about how when I was in high school I helped organise a walk out to protest the sexism students and teachers were experiencing, which resulted in a female workers party being made for the high school. I also wrote about how that when I was experiencing difficult times during my studies, the organisations that should have been there to support me failed to do so, in my opinion, largely to do with lack of funding. So this was what then made me have an interest in social policy, to try and work through the system, to change the system, if that makes sense. So overall a description of why I was passionate about that topic and why I wanted to study it.

I chose sociology because the first time I studied it was at A-level and I immediately loved it. It went hand in hand with what I've already explained I'm interested in, because it went into more depth about various inequalities and their relationships to structures and institutions, and theoretical underpinnings. I feel at degree level doing social policy alongside social policy gives a good theoretical knowledge on how society works which is useful to understand as social policy has great impacts on society. Also within sociology I have done research modules, where I have been able to conduct my own research and write reports about it. Research is how the government is informed on what social policy action to take, so looking forward to careers as well if that's the route you want to take it's certainly very helpful. Doing social policy alongside sociology also helps to give these big sociological theories practical applications for the real world.

Let me know if you want to know more! :smile:

University of Sheffield Sociology with Social Policy Student - Ask Me Anything

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