Web Science (Social Science)

Web Science (Social Science) at the University of Southampton offers a comprehensive interdisciplinary program that explores the impact of digital technologies on society, economy, and culture. This innovative degree combines insights from social sciences, computer science, and information technology to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and analyze the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Through a curriculum that covers topics such as human-computer interaction, online communities, digital policy, data ethics, and the social implications of emerging technologies, students gain a holistic perspective on the ways digital innovations influence societal structures and individual behaviors. The program emphasizes practical experience alongside theoretical learning, providing opportunities for internships, collaborative projects, and research initiatives that deepen understanding and foster real-world skills. Students are encouraged to critically evaluate the role of digital media, social networks, and information systems in shaping modern life, preparing them for careers in academia, industry, government, or non-profit organizations working at the intersection of technology and society. The university’s strong connections with industry partners and research centers ensure access to cutting-edge developments and networking opportunities. With a focus on critical thinking, data analysis, and effective communication, graduates from this program are well-positioned to contribute to the development of digital policies, enhance online community engagement, and promote ethical practices in technology use. The multidisciplinary approach, combined with a vibrant academic community and state-of-the-art facilities, makes the Southampton Web Science (Social Science) program an excellent choice for students passionate about understanding and shaping the digital future of society.

Detailed Course Facts

• GBP 16320 Year (EEA)
• GBP 9000 Year (Non-EEA)

• English

Course Content

Students undertake three years of study. Each year there are compulsory Web Science modules and pathway specific Web Science modules. The compulsory modules shown below are common to both pathways, and the optional modules are specific to the Social Science pathway.

This list will give you a very good idea of what you will learn on this course, but the details will change and some modules will be restructured each year.

Year 1

Semester One

Optional:

• COMP1202 Programming 1
• COMP1215 Foundations of Computer Science
• CRIM1003 Introduction to Criminology
• DEMO1001 Introduction to Demographic Methods
• DEMO1003 Population and Society
• ECON1001 Foundations of Microeconomics
• ECON1003 Principles of Microeconomics
• LAWS1012 Legal System and Reasoning
• MANG1003 Introduction to Management
• MANG1005 The Individual and the Organisation
• PAIR1002 Political Systems
• SOCI1003 Social Problems and Social Policy

Core:

• PAIR1001 Introduction to International Relations
• SOCI1001 Understanding Everyday Life
• WEBS1001 Information, Technology and Social Change

Semester Two

Core:

• COMP1056 Web Design
• SOCI1002 Transformations of the Modern World
• SOCI1014 Foundations in Social Theory: Traditions of Thought and Argument
• STAT1003 Introduction to Quantitative Methods

Year 2

Semester One

Compulsory:

• SOCI2031 Social Theory

Optional:

• CRIM2001 Perspectives in Criminology
• CRIM2002 Crime and Criminal Justice: Historical Perspectives
• CRIM2003 Youth, Crime and Society
• DEMO2004 Migration
• GEOG2010 Introductory Geographic Information Systems
• LAWS3001 Industrial Law 1
• PAIR2002 Political Theory A
• SOCI2017 Class Structure and Social Inequality

Core:

• WEBS2001 Web agents, actors and agency
• WEBS2002 Interdisciplinary Group Project

Semester Two

Compulsory:

• COMP2213 Interaction Design
• SOCI2020 Research Skills
• UOSM2008 Living and Working on the Web

Optional:

• MATH2012 Stochastic Processes
• MATH2014 Algorithms
• LAWS3002 Industrial Law 2
• PAIR2005 Issues in Third World Politics
• SOCI2002 Education and Society
• SOCI2003 Gender and Society
• SOCI2008 Race and Ethnicity in Society
• UOSM2007 Interdisciplinary: Critical Thinking in the Information Age: Method and Practice in the Digital Humanities

Year 3

Semester One

Compulsory:

• COMP3016 Hypertext and Web Technologies
• SOCI3073 Cyberlives: New Technologies and Social Change
• WEBS3001 Dissertation

Optional:

• CRIM3002 Issues in Law Enforcement and Social Control
• DEMO3003 Migration
• ENTR3005 International Entrepreneurship
• GEOG3008 Remote Sensing the Terrestrial Environment
• GEOG3032 Remote Sensing for Earth Observation
• INFO3004 eLearning and Learning Tech
• LAWS3063 Information Technology Law
• LAWS3064 Intellectual Property Law
• MANG3054 Marketing in the Digital Age
• MATH3033 Graph Theory
• PAIR3006 Global Justice: Theories and Debates
• PAIR3014 Globalisation and World Politics
• SOCI3010 Crime, Space and Social Control

Semester Two

Compulsory:

• UOSM2012 Interdisciplinary: Online Social Networks

Optional:

• CRIM3006 Issues in Global Crime and Justice
• DEMO3008 Population and The Environment
• ENTR3002 New Venture Development
• GEOG3006 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
• MANG3052 Digital Marketing: Engaging with the Customer
• SOCI3008 Sociology of Youth

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 580

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

GCSEs:

GCSE Mathematics and English at grade C or above

A Levels:

AAB, (including Mathematics for the Computer Science pathway)
General Studies is not accepted as one of the three A levels.

English Language Requirements:

If English is not your first language, you will be required to pass an approved English test. We normally ask for a score of IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 580.

Alternative Qualifications:

We welcome applications from candidates offering qualifications other than A and AS levels (including BTEC Higher National Diploma, European Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate, Irish Leaving Certificate and Scottish Highers). You will be expected to attain an equivalent standard (or higher) to an A level applicant.

International Qualifications:

We welcome applications from international students.

Mature Applicants:

We welcome applications from mature students. If you will be over 21 at the start of your proposed degree programme, you are may be eligible for exemption from our normal entry requirements. However, you will be required to provide evidence of having completed recent study (eg Access, Return to Study, Open University foundation courses) and of your capacity to pursue the course.

Selection Process:

We select students on the basis of a UCAS application.
UCAS code:I200 Course title: BSc Web Science (Social Science) Course duration: 3 years
UCAS code:I201 Course title: BSc Web Science (Computer Science) Course duration: 3 years

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Southampton.

Web Science (Social Science) at the University of Southampton offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the complex digital world. The programme combines insights from social science, computer science, and digital media to explore how the internet and digital technologies influence society, culture, and individual behaviour. Students will examine topics such as online communities, social media, digital governance, privacy, data ethics, and the impact of technology on social inclusion and inequality. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking and analytical skills, enabling students to assess digital phenomena from multiple perspectives. Through a blend of lectures, seminars, projects, and practical exercises, learners gain both theoretical knowledge and practical expertise in examining digital society issues.

The programme is designed for students interested in understanding how digital technologies shape societal trends and influence policy-making. It provides the opportunity to develop skills necessary for careers in digital consultancy, research, policy analysis, or technology development within sectors such as government, media, and non-profit organizations. Students will also learn about data analysis, social research methods, and digital literacy, preparing them for a broad range of roles in the evolving digital landscape.

The programme benefits from the university's strong links with industry and research communities, offering students exposure to cutting-edge developments and collaborative projects. It may include optional modules or specialisations that enable students to tailor their studies to their interests, such as data-driven social research, digital innovation, or policy analysis. Graduation from this programme equips students with a solid understanding of the social implications of technology, empowering them to contribute to the development of socially responsible digital innovations.

The course typically involves a combination of assessments, including essays, presentations, reports, and research projects. It encourages autonomous learning and critical inquiry, drawing on real-world data and case studies. With a focus on current digital challenges, the programme aims to produce graduates who are well-informed, ethically-minded, and capable of addressing the societal impacts of web-based technologies in diverse professional settings.