Is BA Social Research Studies more quantitative or qualitative?

Both, in roughly equal proportions through years one and two. Year three allows specialisation toward whichever methods strand your dissertation requires. A mixed-methods foundation is the UK applied research standard and the course reflects that.

Does BA Social Research Studies prepare me for Government Social Research?

It builds the methods, ethics and report-writing foundations GSR assesses for. The GSR entry route is competitive and typically tests applied skills directly. Several BA Social Research Studies graduates have moved into GSR analyst posts or related council research roles after the degree.

Will I learn statistical software on BA Social Research Studies?

Yes — SPSS as core, R basics, and Excel to commissioning-team standard. Qualitative software (NVivo or equivalent) is taught alongside thematic coding workflows. Software literacy is one of the things UK research recruiters specifically test for.

Can I study BA Social Research Studies online?

Yes. The online route uses live cohort seminars, asynchronous methods labs and supervised fieldwork in your own local area. Distance learners attend two intensive on-campus weeks per year for software training and fieldwork supervision.

Is BA Social Research Studies the same as a sociology degree?

No. A sociology degree focuses on sociological theory and the substantive study of society. BA Social Research Studies focuses on the applied methods used in commissioned research and evaluation. They share some foundations; their professional destinations are different.

BA Social Research Studies in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The BA Social Research Studies at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a three-year UK honours degree for students who want to produce the evidence that local authorities, charities, regulators and policy teams actually use. You will train across the full toolkit of UK applied social research — quantitative analysis, qualitative interviewing, ethnographic observation, evaluation methods and the writing-up disciplines that turn data into a decision document.

This degree is built for the UK applied research market — Social Research Association standards, the kind of fieldwork local authorities commission, and the evaluation frameworks the National Lottery Community Fund and the NHS now expect. You leave able to design, run and write up a piece of social research that holds up to commissioning review.

Key Features

Applied research methods training across quantitative (descriptive and inferential statistics, regression), qualitative (interview, focus group, ethnographic) and mixed methods.
Fieldwork project in each of years two and three with structured ethics review.
Evaluation methods strand covering theory of change, contribution analysis, Most Significant Change and AMEC-style impact measurement.
Statistical software training — SPSS, R basics, descriptive Excel competence to commissioning-team standard.
Final-year dissertation (8,000–10,000 words) on an applied research question, supervised across the year.
SRA-aligned ethics and standards training across the degree.

What You Will Learn

The BA Social Research Studies is structured around three years of moving from method training to confident applied practice. You graduate able to scope a piece of social research, choose appropriate methods, run fieldwork ethically, analyse the data and write a report a commissioning team can act on.

Research design — research question construction, sampling, mixed-methods design.
Quantitative methods — survey design, descriptive and inferential statistics, regression basics.
Qualitative methods — semi-structured interviewing, focus groups, narrative analysis.
Ethnographic methods — participant observation, reflexivity, fieldnote discipline.
Statistical software — SPSS, R basics, Excel to commissioning-team standard.
Qualitative analysis software — NVivo or equivalent, thematic coding workflows.
Evaluation methods — theory of change, contribution analysis, Most Significant Change, AMEC-style impact measurement.
Research ethics — SRA Ethics Guidelines, informed consent, vulnerable populations, safeguarding.
Writing up — commissioned report structure, executive summary, evidence-based recommendations.
Sector landscape — UK government social research, council research, NHS service evaluation, third-sector evaluation.

Who This Course Is For

School leavers planning a career in applied social research, evaluation or policy analysis in the UK.
International students seeking a UK social research degree taught alongside the substantial London public-sector and third-sector research community.
Career-changers from community work, the civil service or the third sector wanting structured research-methods training.
Mature students moving toward a council research, evaluation consultancy or charity programme role.

Career Pathways

UK applied social research is a stable employer across local and central government, NHS service evaluation, third-sector research and consultancy. BA Social Research Studies graduates typically progress into research officer or evaluation roles, often combined with a postgraduate research methods qualification. Typical first or next roles include:

Community Development Officer (London borough, county council)
Social Researcher (Government Social Research entry, council research function)
Local Authority Officer (regeneration, public health, equalities)
Charity Programme Manager (national or local charity, programme delivery)
Public Engagement Lead (NHS trust, housing association)
Evaluation Consultant (independent consultancy, in-house evaluation team)

Graduates progress to an MA in Social Research Methods, Public Policy or Evaluation, or directly into Government Social Research and related applied roles.

Entry Requirements

Three A-Levels at BBC or above (or international equivalent — IB 28 points, BTEC DMM, or accepted national qualification).
GCSE English Language at grade 5 or equivalent English proficiency test.
IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
A short personal statement; a short written sample may be requested.
Mature applicants (21+) without standard qualifications may apply with a portfolio and short interview.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.