Undergraduate Quantitative Research Methods with:

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1 Undergraduate Quantitative Research Methods with: Childhood Studies Geography Politics Social Policy Sociology Faculties of Social Sciences and Law, and Science

2 Why enhance your degree with quantitative research methods at Bristol? The University of Bristol is introducing a new quantitative research methods pathway to a range of social science courses. We are offering a unique opportunity for you to study alongside students from different degree subjects on a shared pathway that approaches quantitative methods from an applied and cross-disciplinary perspective, complementing your subject-specific learning. Quantitative methods the ways of collecting numeric data, making sense of it and using it to answer questions relevant to social and public debate have a long and important history in the social sciences. These degrees offer enhanced quantitative skills training in conjunction with core disciplinary learning. They are part of a national initiative Q-Step designed to provide social science students with the skills they need to enhance their subject-specific studies, for research and for work after graduating. The 19.5 million Q-step programme is designed to promote a step change in quantitative social science training. Over a five-year period from 2013, fifteen universities across the UK are delivering specialist undergraduate programmes, including new courses, work placements and pathways to postgraduate study. Expertise and resources will be shared across the higher education sector through an accompanying support programme, which will also forge links with schools and employers. The UK currently has a shortage of social science graduates with the quantitative skills needed to evaluate evidence, analyse data, and to design and commission research. However, these skills are in demand from employers across all sectors academia, government, business and charities. We aim to nurture enhanced quantitative skills that will support your subject-specific learning and assist you to get a job or go on to further study or research. Q-Step is funded by the Nuffield Foundation, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). For more information please visit

3 What will I study? Single Honours courses BSc Childhood Studies with Quantitative MSci Childhood Studies with Quantitative BSc Geography with Quantitative MSci Geography with Quantitative BSc Politics with Quantitative Research Methods, three years MSci Politics with Quantitative Research Methods, four years BSc Social Policy with Quantitative MSci Social Policy with Quantitative BSc Sociology with Quantitative MSci Sociology with Quantitative L522 L523 F802 F804 L202 L203 L402 L403 L302 L303 Course structure and unit choices What is the point of asking a question if you can t make sense of the results? These degrees will teach you how to ask the right questions and find the answers based on quantitative evidence and analysis. You will spend one third of your time on the new cross-disciplinary quantitative research methods pathway in all years of the three-year BSc courses. If you take a four-year MSci course, two thirds of your fourth year will be devoted to more advanced quantitative research methods. The rest of your studies will follow the Single Honours course in your chosen subject, gaining core knowledge in your discipline. The quantitative research methods pathway includes: Year one Convincing Stories? Numbers as evidence in the social sciences Segregation and inequality in the UK (measurement and debate). Year two Principles of Quantitative Social Science (except geography students) Spatial Modelling (geography students only) Conducting a Research Project using secondary data. Year three Dissertation (a subject-specific project involving quantitative research methods). Year four (for MSci students) In your final year, one third of your time is spent studying subject-specific units, one third is spent studying more advanced quantitative research methods (with the potential for doctoral research), and the final third is an extended research project applying those methods to a topic of relevance to your discipline. Examples of fourth-year units include: Explanation, Causation and Longitudinal Analysis Big Data and Society Spatial data analysis, spatial regression modelling and GIS Advanced Quantitative Methods for Social and Policy Research. Members of the Bristol Q-Step team have considerable expertise in teaching quantitative social science from introductory to postgraduate level. The first-year unit Convincing Stories? Numbers as Evidence in the Social Sciences introduces you to how numbers are used (and abused) in the media, public policy and in social and scientific debate. The School of Geographical Sciences is a world leader in quantitative human geography, while the School for Policy Studies hosts the internationally respected Townsend Centre for International Poverty Research. It s important to note that quantitative research methods are not about learning maths; they are about learning how to apply analytical methods to questions of interest to the social sciences. If you re not sure whether to choose a BSc or MSci qualification, you can transfer from one to the other during the first two years.

4 What are my career prospects? Graduating with the words... with Quantitative Research Methods in your degree title will give a clear signal to employers about the training you have received, enhancing your employability in many sectors such as policy making, business and commerce where the ability to produce and analyse data is crucial. Many standard social science degrees don t include these skills, certainly not to this level. Our integrated four-year Masters (MSci) degree is a particularly good opportunity if you wish to continue to postgraduate study or are looking to further enhance the attractiveness of your skills training to potential employers million national programme promoting quantitative social science training in the UK Making your application A-level or equivalent entry requirements will vary depending on which subject you choose to study. To find the entry requirements for your chosen discipline with quantitative research methods, visit: Childhood Studies bristol.ac.uk/ug15-childhood Geography bristol.ac.uk/ug15-geography Politics bristol.ac.uk/ug15-politics Social Policy bristol.ac.uk/ug15-socpol Sociology bristol.ac.uk/ug15-sociology Although familiarity with higher-level maths may be helpful, those without A or AS-level maths should not be put off from applying. The level of maths required and taught on these degrees should be accessible to a student with grade C in GCSE Mathematics. Learning how to undertake quantitative data analysis is not the same as learning maths. We are looking for students who are willing to approach quantitative methods with a critical and enquiring mind, and a willingness to learn. We will also be looking at your personal statement and reference with regards to your chosen subject. Your personal statement should show why you re interested in studying this degree, and include any extracurricular activities or achievements you have to support your application. Further information Further information about the degrees, pathways and units can be found at: bristol.ac.uk/qstep.

5 Contacts Undergraduate Admissions Office Tel +44 (0) (0) (for geography only) Fax +44 (0) (for geography only) Accommodation Office Tel +44 (0) bristol.ac.uk/accommodation Disability Services Tel +44 (0) bristol.ac.uk/disability-services International Advice and Support Tel +44 (0) bristol.ac.uk/international-office Student Funding Office Tel +44 (0) bristol.ac.uk/studentfunding If you need all or part of this publication in an alternative format please contact Customer Relations and Student Marketing: Tel +44 (0) University guide to the city of Bristol bristol.ac.uk/citybristol Undergraduate study website bristol.ac.uk/ug-study Follow us on Become a Bristol VIP to receive information tailored to your interests: bristol.ac.uk/vip Photography: University of Bristol The information contained in this leaflet is correct at the time of printing (June 2014). Courses and facilities are liable to alter or be withdrawn at the University s discretion.