Disability and Social Policy

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MA Disability and Social Policy provides a firm foundation for you to consider, and critically analyse, specific disability-related issues within the context of current welfare policies, practices and research. The programme examines the various intellectual paths and strategies available for investigating key concepts and debates within Disability and Social Policy.

We examine current and future developments in institutional and community-based care and support services for disabled people and their families. You will also explore the recent trend towards 'independent living', and greater user autonomy and control within welfare policy.

The MA in Disability and Social Policy draws on the expertise of scholars and researchers from the internationally-renowned Centre for Disability Studies in the School of Sociology and Social Policy. It is the first postgraduate programme that focuses exclusively on the relationship between these two areas of social investigation in the UK.

If you want to... * examine recent developments in disability and social policy
* analyse and investigate key debates, concepts and practices
* work in the public or private spheres of healthcare or social care
* examine developments in institutional and community-based care

then MA Disability and Social Policy is the programme for you.

Compulsory ModulesDebates on Disability Theory and Research gives you the opportunity to critically evaluate recent debates and developments within social research on disability. Not only will you discuss positivist, interpretative and 'emancipatory' methodologies, alongside associated data collection and analytical strategies, you will also examine their significance for disability research.

Through the module, you will investigate theoretical perspectives, the various definitions and approaches to impairment and disability, and disability as an equal opportunities and policy issue. You will explore the impact of myths and prejudices, industrialisation and the welfare state upon cultural representations of disability.

Issues in Social Policy Analysis and Research explores the intellectual paths and means available for analysing and investigating policies and practices, taking recent developments in welfare arrangements and social policy institutions as material.

The module will introduce you to a range of analytical starting points and theoretical perspectives; it will ask you to consider views about causation, the problem of 'proof' and the kinds of enquiries that arise through particular positions, values and settings.

Disability and Social Policy Dissertation allows you to tailor your own programme of training and research in consultation with a member of staff drawn from the department's MA/PhD supervisory panel. Through the dissertation, you demonstrate your ability to develop and complete an in-depth analysis, select and use appropriate research methods, deploy advanced theoretical concepts and relate a focused study to broader Disability and Social Policy debates and concerns.

Optional modulesIn addition to the compulsory modules, you also choose two modules from the following list.

* Research Strategy and Design
* Quantitative Research Methods
* Qualitative Research Methods
* Contemporary Social Thought
* Researching Care in Comparative Perspective
* Social Policy, Politics and Disabled People
* Disability and Development
* Negotiated Study in Disability Studies
* 'Race', Identity and Culture in the Black Atlantic
* Evaluation Research

Postgraduate Diploma in Disability and Social PolicyAvailable on a 12-month full-time or 24-month part-time basis, the Postgraduate Diploma in Disability and Social Policy covers similar ground to the MA, but does not include the dissertation module.

On the basis of a good performance in a full-time student's first semester, or a part-timer's first year, students initially registered for the diploma may be transferred onto the corresponding MA.

If you wish to apply for our postgraduate taught programmes, you should normally hold a good honours degree (upper second class or first class) in a Social Science discipline, or an equivalent professional qualification. Relevant experience will be taken into account where appropriate.Candidates who have narrowly missed securing an upper second result may be considered on their merits. We also welcome applications for the Social and Public Policy programme from good candidates from the Humanities that are keen to enter the public or voluntary sectors, or who work in these fields already.Postgraduate diploma routes are available for candidates that do not wish to take the full MA programme. It is also possible to consider candidates for the Diploma who are not appropriately qualified for immediate MA study. Such candidates may be considered for subsequent transfer to an MA programme, depending on performance.Successful completion of a postgraduate degree demands facility in English. It is a requirement that essays and dissertations are well-written.Prospective and intending students whose first language is not English will need to ensure that their linguistic proficiency is adequate. They may need to undertake some language training in the University or elsewhere.Minimum requirements * Internet Based TOEFL: 92 with not less than 23 in speaking, 21 in reading, 22 in writing and 21 in listening * A minimum IELTS (academic) score of 6.5 with at least 6.0 in all components.The School keeps its requirements under review and may request a higher level of proficiency. The University of Leeds Language Centre can provide more details on your English requirements. The Language Centre also provides the Academic English for Postgraduate Studies pre-sessional course which is designed to help international students develop the necessary language and academic study skills required for successful study on a taught postgraduate degree programme.Pre-sessional courses start in September, January, April, July or August. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 60 (Grade C) TOEFL iBT® test: 92 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.