Become the change you want to see
Explore our Humanities and Social Sciences Degrees
From Ideas to Impact
Whatever degree our students choose, they learn from lecturers whose diverse research is united by fundamental questions - how should we live? How can we live better? And how can we change things so everyone, around the world, can live life to the full?
Learning in a Supportive Community
Our class sizes create a supportive environment for learning, so diverse voices are heard and each course becomes a community. Every course starts with an induction that puts making friends at its heart. Our students can build peer groups who support them throughout their degree journeys and beyond.
Career-Focused Learning
We include projects and simulated experiences during our courses that enable our students to graduate ready for rewarding work. The opportunities are as diverse as our courses. For example, students can practise forensic analysis in a simulated crime scene, curate a new literary prize or submit a winning pitch, get their voices heard at the Model United Nations, or develop professional skills in our Conference Interpreter Training Suite.
Industry Insights and Professional Connections
Guest lecturers and visiting speakers from industry also give our students fresh perspectives on their career options, as well as the chance to start building a network of professional contacts who could help them achieve their future ambitions.
Welcome to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
From politics and international relations, to criminology, education, literature and languages, our Humanities and Social Sciences courses will empower you to shape the change you want to see in the world.
Ed Stoddard
Portsmouth is a really exciting and vibrant city, and the university is literally at the heart of the city.
Lucy Jones
When I visited the University of Portsmouth, it just clicked for me.
Prof Anne Murphy
Humanities and Social Sciences really fit students for the 21st century world. We react to the way that the world is. We also help our students learn to understand how they might change the world, how they might shape the world to be a better place.
Alexandra Hemingway
All of our courses are fantastic at preparing students with a really fantastic range of durable skills because they really are the ones that you can take with you wherever you go.
Grahame Luff
The skills that students will learn will be analytical skills, the ability to take new ideas and concepts and apply them to different situations.
Alex Chandok
I learnt about what links I could use and what other contacts I could go to in order to find those particular jobs and places. Also, what skills employers are looking for generally on a day to day basis.
Prof Becky Milne
We have psychologists, we have criminologists, we have lawyers and we have ex police officers who are now retired.
Dr Nick Pamment
We've got amazing facilities.
Ed Stoddard
I think the university has a really strong focus on student support.
Nels Hylton
The counselling service, which I used, pastoral care and chaplaincy really helped me hang in there and fight to finish.
Aleksandra
The university is all about planning. If you've got the schedule and if you give yourself some time for your activities that will enrich you beyond the university, beyond the assessments you're doing, beyond the lectures you're going to and the seminars you’re attending, this is what helps you to develop yourself, your professional skills and knowledge as well.
Prof Becky Milne
There's lots going on. There seems to be something for everyone, whether you're a student straight from school or whether perhaps you're a more mature student, there are great opportunities.
Ellen Braddick
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity where you get to meet loads of people in the exact same position as you. You're all in it together and you’re supporting one another and I think just give it a go. Just try your hardest and you could surprise yourself like me.
Nels Hylton
It taught me that I can juggle a degree and juggle interning and sport and radio. I felt a real sense of accomplishment. The opportunity to prove myself and do whatever I put my mind to, that's the impact that Portsmouth had on me.
Explore the faculty
Our students discover:
- how to be open to new ideas, perspectives and ways of thinking, embracing different viewpoints and adapting confidently in an ever-changing world
- how to step outside their comfort zone, challenge themselves and build the confidence to try new experiences and take calculated risks
- how to gain any new skills they need, fast, developing the adaptability and resilience required to thrive in dynamic and evolving environments
- how to grow, personally and professionally, gaining self-awareness, independence and a strong sense of purpose
- how to think globally, critically and differently, analysing complex issues, questioning assumptions and approaching problems with creativity and insight
They graduate with the tools they need to:
- assess their options with clarity and confidence, making informed decisions about their future
- identify fresh opportunities, recognising potential paths and creating their own possibilities in competitive landscapes
- connect with employers, building meaningful networks and communicating their value effectively
- always find their place, adapting to change and shaping a career that reflects their ambitions, values and strengths
Careers in Humanities and Social Sciences
When you study a course in Humanities and Social Sciences with us, you'll open yourself up to a wide range of careers, learn how to thrive in a world that's always changing, and become empowered to shape the change you want to see in the world.
Alexandra Hemingway: The kinds of subjects that we have in our faculty actually have a brilliant relationship to a whole range of careers. That's the beauty of studying humanities and social sciences.
Anne Murphy: This is a world in which the nature of employment will constantly be changing and shifting. What employers are looking for is people who can adapt to those circumstances. People who understand the nature of communications. People who are really good researchers. People who are able to think critically about the information they're given and analyse that well. That's what you learn when you study humanities and social sciences.
André Buller: The career I'm currently in today is rights and permissions with Springer Nature Publishing Company. The courses that I was fortunate enough to study had a lot of areas, but I think the big part is research, and there's a specific type of research which I think is integral to the study of humanities, or specifically, in my experience, history in English.
Anne Murphy: My students do all sorts of jobs. For example, our students who study education often will go on to be teachers, but our students go into management in a whole variety of different environments. They go into work in heritage, and the tourism industry. They often go into the civil service. They go into a wide variety of different places that are about communications, those sorts of things that are around kind of storytelling and engaging people so public relations and those kinds of industries.
Alexandra Hemingway: It's not always really obvious exactly what kind of job you might want to do when you study humanities and social sciences. A lot of students do need some help or inspiration, and a lot of that comes from directly inside their course. In the first year, second year, and third year, there are various different activities which help you understand what kinds of jobs there are for you when you leave.
Victoria Yates: There's that career professional development module at Portsmouth that really helped me to come out of my shell. You really find out exactly what is expected of you in the interview process, how to write a good, sufficient cover letter and how to stand out and be different, if it's a video interview. All of these skills are really important.
Anne Murphy: We find that their understanding of the process really increases and their confidence really increases, so we have the assurance that we're teaching them the right things for them to take out to employers later.
Discover your course
General information and FAQs
Everything you need to know
You can find all the information about applying to us on our ‘How to apply’ pages. You’ll need to visit the UCAS website and submit an application online. You can find information about filling in the application on the UCAS website. You can also apply to us directly from the application link at the bottom of our course pages.
Several of our courses offer an integrated foundation year delivered on campus through ICP. During our foundation year degrees, you'll get all the background knowledge and skills you'll need to move on to a full Bachelor's degree. So, it's ideal if you don't yet meet the entry requirements, if you've taken a break from study, or if you need a bit of extra support to get uni-ready.
You'll get the knowledge and academic skills needed to take on a bachelor's degree, learning how to analyse information, do research, and improve your academic writing. Please visit our ICP Foundation Year page for a full list of courses offered.
Most of our full-time undergraduate courses offer you the flexibility to choose when to take your placement: either before your final year or after you’ve completed your degree. Known as Connected Degrees, this unique option puts you in control of your university experience.
Visit our Connected Degrees page to find out more.
You can access the Careers and Employability Service at any stage of your studies for advice on part-time work, placements, volunteering, work experience, or graduate jobs. Our careers advisers have an excellent track record.
As you approach graduation and beyond, you can also use our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy, or get support with applications for postgraduate study or setting up your own business. You can receive information and support about job searching for part-time, volunteering, and graduate opportunities for up to 5 years after graduation.
You can access Wellbeing and Mental Health Support, including counselling, workshops, and drop-in sessions.
If you have a disability or learning difference, Disability Advice provides tailored advice and support.
Your personal tutor and the Student Support team are also available to help with academic or personal concerns.
You can get advice on budgeting, funding, and managing your money from the Student Money Team
The University also offers scholarships, bursaries, and hardship funding to eligible students. For guidance on course-related costs, including equipment or materials, check your course information or speak to the Student Money Team
Whether you're looking for halls of residence, private rentals, or help finding housemates, the University of Portsmouth offers a range of accommodation options to suit different needs and budgets. You'll also find information about what’s included, application deadlines, and support services available. Visit our Accommodation pages to explore your options and get advice on making Portsmouth your home.