Social Sciences (with a foundation year) BA (Hons)

Key information

Duration:
4 years full time
Typical A-level offer:
CCC
View full entry requirements
UCAS code:
Y002
Start date:
September 2025

By starting your degree studies at Sussex with our Foundation Year, you develop a wide-ranging understanding of the social sciences, from current issues affecting the globe to the structures that shape our societies.

You experience a range of subjects in the Social Sciences through modules in geography, anthropology, international relations, development, law, politics and sociology. Successfully completing your Foundation Year guarantees that you'll be able to continue studying your choice of degree from a wide range of subjects in the Social Sciences at Sussex.

You'll build essential skills in critical analysis, developing arguments and self-expression through a dedicated programme of support and development. No matter which social sciences subject you go on to study, our experienced staff will help you develop the academic knowledge and practical skills you’ll need to succeed throughout your degree and in your future career.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

The Foundation Year gave me the chance to get comfortable with university life and learn a wide range of multidisciplinary subjects.”Katie Savage
Social Sciences (with a foundation year) BA, now on the Geography BA

Entry requirements

Is a Foundation Year for you?

We welcome students with a broad range of backgrounds and experiences, including:

  • those who aren’t sure which subject, or branch of a subject, they’d like to specialise in
  • those who don’t have the right combination of subjects for direct entry into Year 1
  • those who don’t meet the expected requirements for direct entry into Year 1
  • those who are returning to education after some time away.

You will need to demonstrate your potential to do well on a demanding degree, including the potential to succeed in your chosen discipline.

The following sets out some of the most common academic qualifications. However, each application is reviewed on its individual strengths and merits.

A-level

Typical offer

CCC

Contextual offerView contextual offer

Not everyone has the same support to get to higher education – we help you reach your potential. When we receive applications through UCAS, we consider all factors and will sometimes make contextual offers as part of our Access and Participation Plan

GCSEs

You will need evidence of a broad range of GCSEs (or equivalent) at grade 4 or above (or grade C).

Extended Project Qualification

We take the EPQ into account when considering your application and it can be useful in the summer when your results are released if you have narrowly missed the conditions of your offer.  We do not routinely include the EPQ in the conditions of your offer but we sometimes offer alternative conditions that include the EPQ. If you wish to discuss this further please contact us

Other UK qualifications

International Baccalaureate

Typical offer

27 points overall from the full IB Diploma.

European Baccalaureate

Typical offer

70%

Other international qualifications

English language requirements

IELTS (Academic)

6.0 overall, including at least 5.5 in each component

Check your IELTS qualification meets all of our language requirements

Find out more about IELTS

IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course.

We accept IELTS One Skills Retake.

We do not accept IELTS Online.

Other English language requirements

Proficiency tests

English language qualifications

Country exceptions

If your qualifications aren’t listed or you have a question about entry requirements, contact us

For details on any additional costs, check out the Fees and scholarships section.

Modules

Find out about our types of undergraduate degrees, their structure, modules and credits

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Options

Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

Check back in January 2025 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2025/26.

TEF 2023 silver

Silver

The student experience and student outcomes are typically very high quality.
This rating was awarded in 2023, for four years.
(Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)

Find out more about our approach to teaching and supporting you to thrive

Fees

Home students:
£5,760 per year
Channel Islands and Isle of Man students:
£5,760 per year
International students:
£22,575 per year

Note that your fees, once they’re set, may be subject to an increase on an annual basis. Find details on our Tuition fees page.

If you’re an international student, note that fees for the foundation year are at standard lower rate but fees for courses you can choose to continue your studies can be at the lower or higher level. This means your fees could rise from lower to higher level after the foundation year, depending on your choice of course.

Find out about typical living costs for studying at Sussex

Find out about our terms and conditions

Scholarships

Our goal is to ensure that every student who wants to study with us is able to regardless of financial barriers, so that we continue to attract talented and unique people.

Please note: Foundation Year courses are not eligible for USA federal Direct Loan funds. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid

Next steps

Successfully completing your Foundation Year means you’re able to take a range of degrees at Sussex. The current list of courses available is:

Return to top of page

Contact us

Ask a student

Chat to Sussex students online via the UniBuddy chat platform.

Enquiries

Contact us with any questions about your course.

+44 (0)1273 876787
Ask us a question

Explore our campus

Experience Sussex life in our virtual tour.

Start your virtual tour