Bachelor of Science in Sociology with Quantitative Research Methods with Study Abroad

at University of Bristol - Clifton Campus United Kingdom

If you love the challenge of thinking through a maths question and the satisfaction of having solved a difficult problem, but also appreciate the applications of mathematics in areas of physics and want access to the exciting and specialised subjects offered by the School of Physics, then this joint honours course can offer you both.

Your mathematics study will focus on the areas of applied mathematics that are most linked to physics, such as the mathematical modelling of physical problems, quantum mechanics and random matrix theory. You will also cover a range of topics in physics, such as special relativity, electromagnetism and superconductors.

In the first and second years of this course the units are fixed so as to provide a balanced exploration of mathematics and physics and the connection between them.

In your third year you will have freedom to select from a wide variety of relevant units to focus your studies on what interests you most. You can also choose from a physics project or dissertation in one of our cutting-edge research areas, a group project with an industrial partner, or an educational project with a local school.

Our BSc Finance will equip you with the skills necessary for a successful career in the financial services industry as well as in economic consultancy, in government departments or in regulatory agencies. You will also be well placed to pursue specialist postgraduate studies.

The course offers rigorous training in all areas of finance with a focus on the quantitative skills that are required in every aspect of financial decision making today. Through a choice of core and optional units, you will gain exposure to the related fields of economics, accounting, management and business law.

The course is designed by researchers who have industry or regulatory experience. It is among the first courses in the UK to contain coverage of new and disruptive forms of finance at the undergraduate level, including cryptocurrencies, FinTech, digital finance (Big Data), smart beta investing, peer-to-peer lending, and high-frequency trading.

You will learn to relate concepts and theories to financial practice through the use of specialist industry newspapers, including the Dow Jones Financial News and data vendors, such as Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters Eikon as well as Refinitiv.

This course is ideal for students interested in learning more about how to use numbers and data within politics. It provides training in practical and analytical skills, which will enhance your career prospects and provide you with a strong platform for postgraduate study. No prior knowledge of statistical techniques is required.

About two thirds of your studies will follow the single honours BSc Politics and International Relations. You will study the politics of individual countries and governments and the relationships between countries, communities and individuals. You will become familiar with different views and methods of analysis, learning to apply and evaluate them.

The remaining third of your course will provide interdisciplinary training in quantitative methods. In year one of the quantitative pathway we discuss how numbers and data are used to tell convincing stories in the media and social research. We consider what is meant by segregation and how it can be mapped and measured. Year two offers practical classes in social statistics and applied data analysis, which will develop your skills in numeracy and analysis.

Your third year abroad is an exciting opportunity to experience and study a different society and culture. Visit Global Opportunities to find out more about where you can study abroad.

You will undertake your own individual research project in an area of quantitative social science during your fourth year back in Bristol.

This joint honours degree combines a rigorous training in mathematics and computer science and its applications.

Mathematics is the language of the sciences and is of core value in an advanced understanding of computer science.

Computer science provides many of the key tools needed to solve the most important and pressing problems of the modern age.

The degree is ideal for someone looking to apply themselves in fields as varied as high finance, cryptography, quantum computing, algorithm design, machine learning and data science.

In your first year you will study essential, core components of mathematics and computer science, giving you a rigorous foundation for future years. Subsequently, you will have the opportunity to tailor your mathematics and computer science options so that you graduate with a balance of theoretical and practical skills that reflects your interests.

This course takes advantage of the expertise of our staff in the School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies. You will study a range of theoretical and practical problems that affect the social world.

You will study the politics of and relationships between countries, communities and individuals, becoming familiar with different views and methods of analysis and how to apply and evaluate them.

Sociology provides expertise in the study of the social world including actions, structures, beliefs, power and representation. By focusing on theoretical ideas and research skills you will be uniquely placed to understand the fast-moving changes of social life.

In year three you can choose to write a research dissertation in either discipline.

Our school encourages synergy between new research and teaching, resulting in a vibrant learning environment. This course combination offers an enriching experience with exciting intellectual challenges.

Criminology is a multidisciplinary subject comprising elements of sociology, law, social and public policy, history, psychology and philosophy. BSc Criminology with Study Abroad is an exciting course that gives you the opportunity to study criminology within a broader framework of policy studies. You will also have the opportunity to study at a partner overseas university in your third year.

The course will provide you with an understanding of crime and justice and related social harms and an analysis of public policy interventions that contribute towards a fairer, safer and harm-free society.

The course follows a similar structure to the three-year BSc Criminology. In your first and second years you will take a range of mandatory and optional units that introduce you to the interdisciplinary study of criminology and justice.

You will spend your third year at one of our partner institutions overseas, where you can take criminology or broader social sciences, arts and humanities subjects. For more information about studying overseas see Global Opportunities.

You will return to Bristol for the final year of the course, which is identical to the third year of the BSc Criminology, and will complete a dissertation and further criminology-related units.

Digital technologies drive economic growth, yet create new cyber risks demanding ever more sophisticated solutions. There is worldwide demand for new and innovative approaches to tackle global cyber-threats specific to large-scale infrastructures, from energy production to finance through to healthcare and smart transportation. The cyber security of such infrastructures is paramount – their disruption can have large-scale impacts on society as well as massive business losses. There is a major shortage of cyber security professionals globally, and the specialist nature of critical infrastructures makes the problem even more acute.

A strong ethos of rigorous experimental and empirical cyber security research underpins the MSc, facilitated by a state-of-the-art testbed for studying critical National Infrastructure (CNI) and Internet of Things (IoT) security, and bespoke teaching equipment. You’ll learn to apply foundational cyber security techniques to infrastructure and will develop the skills for engineering scalable solutions. You'll be exposed to real-world problems that are practical and challenge-oriented, but underpinned by rigorous research.

This MSc aims to:

• Enable a deep understanding of fundamental concepts, design principles, building blocks and methods to understand and mitigate against cyber security threats;
• Give you hands-on experience of working with devices, systems and networks utilised in realistic infrastructure environments;
• Equip you with the ability to apply security principles and technical knowledge to analyse complex real-world infrastructures systems (including software systems, networks, control systems and IoT) to identify potential security issues and solutions;
• Provide you with the skills to reason critically about complex problems that require evaluation and analysis from a multi-dimensional perspective including technical, human and organisational aspects.

The first two years of this course provide a background in mathematical analysis, modelling and scientific computation and their application to engineering. These core topics underpin the advanced material that follows.

As well as gaining first-hand exposure to pioneering research, after your first two years you will have a wide choice of options from across engineering and mathematics to fit your interests.

A major focus of the course and a key strand throughout the curriculum is real-world problem solving, spanning many different application areas from robotics and social media to medicine and environmental modelling. Problems come from our industrial collaborators or address challenges in current research. Working on these case studies, using theory and techniques from your other units, you will develop your mathematical modelling, collaboration and communication skills.

A highlight is your final year project – a highly creative, challenging and enjoyable experience that is excellent preparation for your future career.