Social Sciences + Global Politics
Module group of: Politics, Culture & Social Sciences Pathway
Key information
If you want to find out how human behaviour can be understood and what makes people behave the way they do, a Social Sciences module will help you with this. You’ll learn how society works, explore identity and society, understand the relationship between media, culture and society and consider social inequalities, amongst other topics.
When you combine this with a Global Politics module, you’ll be able to explore how the interplay between domestic and international politics impacts the lives of people from across the world. You’ll study key concepts related to global politics, examine the development of the international system, critically assess the interplay between domestic and international politics, and look at current affairs, to name just a few of the topics.
Together, these complementary subjects will equip you with the necessary skills to review evidence and understand the impact of actions, critically evaluate and analyse a range of source material, and conduct your own research.
There are a number of careers that value an understanding of global politics with social science skills, and you could explore roles such as a political analyst, intelligence analyst, international aid or development worker or diplomatic service officer.
This module combination will also allow you to apply for degrees in Global Health and Social Science, European Studies or European Politics, Social Sciences and Philosophy, Politics & Economics.
You will study a total of four modules and you will be allocated either one of English for Academic Purposes or Academic Expression & Critical Thinking plus the Society module.
Take a look at the Social Sciences module and Global Politics module to see more details about what you will learn from each foundation module, and view the full list of recommended and eligible undergraduate degrees on the tabs below.
Core modules
- Culture & Society
- English for Academic Purposes - International Foundation
- Academic Expression & Critical Thinking
Pathway modules
- Introduction to Social Sciences - International Foundation
- Global Politics - International Foundation
Recommended degrees
Ancient History BA
Business Management BSc
Culture, Media & Creative Industries BA
Digital Media and Culture BA
English Law & Hong Kong Law LLB and JD
European Politics BA
European Studies (French pathway) with a year abroad BA
European Studies (German pathway) with a year abroad BA
European Studies (Spanish pathway) with a year abroad BA
Global Health & Social Science BA
History BA
History & Modern Languages (French, German, Portuguese or Spanish) with a year abroad BA
History & Political Economy BA/BSc
History and International Relations BA
International Development BA
Eligible degrees
Business Management BSc
Classics and the Ancient World BA
English Law & French Law LLB and Maîtrise en droit (Master 1)
English Law & German Law LLB and LLM or First State Exam (erste juristische Staatsprüfung)
English Law & Spanish Law LLB and Grado en Derecho (Spanish equivalent of LLB)
European Studies (French pathway) with a year abroad BA
European Studies (German pathway) with a year abroad BA
European Studies (Spanish pathway) with a year abroad BA
Film Studies BA
Geography BA
Geography and Environmental Science BSc
International Development BA
Management & Modern Languages (French, German, Portuguese or Spanish) with a year abroad BA
Midwifery with Registration as a Midwife BSc
Nursing with Registration as a Children’s Nurse BSc
Choose the qualification that you were studying from the below to see what you need to achieve in order to receive a conditional offer for your chosen pathway. For example, if you are studying the US qualifications but you live in France, choose the US as your country.
Accepted national school qualifications
Accepted Common International Qualification
- A-levels: grades BBB in three A-Levels excluding General Studies/Critical Thinking. No progression to degrees at the Dickson Poon School of Law.
- AS-levels: grades BBB in three AS-levels excluding Critical Thinking/ English General Paper/ General Studies/ Global Perspectives & Research
- Advanced Placement Tests (College Board) and the ACT: 26 in the ACT and 444 in three College Board AP subjects excluding AP Capstone Research and Seminar. No progression to degrees at the Dickson Poon School of Law.
- Advanced Placement Tests (College Board): 44444 in five AP subjects excluding AP Capstone Research and Seminar. No progression to degrees at the Dickson Poon School of Law.
- International Baccalaureate Certificates: 555 in three International Baccalaureate Certificates
- International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB): 32 points overall or an aggregate score of 15 from three Higher Levels. No progression to degrees at the Dickson Poon School of Law.
- International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP): a grade of ‘Pass’ in the CP core, and two IB Diploma Programme Certificates (taken at standard or higher level) at 5
Students that need a visa
If you need to apply for a Student Visa to study in the UK, we can only accept IELTS and Pearson results that have been provided by test centres approved by UK Visas and Immigration: IELTS for UKVI (Academic) and PTE (Academic) UKVI are only valid if taken within two years before the start date of your chosen programme of study. You can find a list of approved test centres on the UKVI website.
| Test | King's International Foundation | Extended King's International Foundation* |
| IELTS for UKVI (Academic) | 6.0 overall with no skill below 5.5 | From 5.5 overall with no skill below 5.0, to 6.0 overall, with no skill below 5.5 |
| Pearson Test of English (Academic) UKVI | 59 overall with a minimum of 54 in each communicative skill | 54 overall with a minimum of 46 in each communicative skill |
(*please see note below regarding English Language Entry Requirements for the King's International Foundation programme and Extended King's International Foundation programme.)
Students who don't need a visa
Qualification |
King's International Foundation |
Extended King's International Foundation* |
|---|---|---|
Cambridge Advanced Certificate (CAE)/Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)/Cambridge C2 Proficiency |
169 overall with a minimum of 160 in each skill |
162 overall with a minimum of 154 in each skill |
IELTS (Academic) |
Minimum 6.0 overall, with no skill below 5.5 |
Minimum 5.5 overall, with no skill below 5.0 |
IELTS (Online) |
Minimum 6.0 overall, with no skill below 5.5 |
Minimum 5.5 overall, with no skill below 5.0 |
Pearson Test of English (Academic)
|
59 overall with a minimum of 54 in each communicative skill |
54 overall with a minimum of 46 in each communicative skill |
TOEFL iBT Institution code: 0394 OR TOEFL iBT Home Edition OR TOEFL iBT Paper Edition |
80 overall with a minimum of 20 in each skills |
72 overall with a minimum of 17 in writing/speaking and 15 in listening/reading. All TOEFL test results must be provided via King’s Apply. |
Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) |
Level III with pass in each skill |
Level II with pass in each skill |
*Students who exceed this requirement will be transferred to the King's International Foundation Programme, which starts on 29 September 2024. Students who exceed this English language requirement and still want to be considered for the Extended King's International Foundation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Admissions Tutor.
Deposit
Upon accepting an offer for the King’s International Foundation Programme, you are required to pay a deposit of £5,500 to secure your place by the deadline, which will be stated in your offer. If you do not pay the deposit or provide evidence of financial sponsorship by the deadline stated in your offer, your offer will expire, and King’s reserves the right not to reinstate the offer.
This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an offer (unconditional or conditional) to study with us and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King’s.
Payments are made online through the King's Apply portal.
All students need to pay the deposit, with the exception of sponsored students. If you are being sponsored by an employer or your government, for example, you will need to provide a valid Financial Guarantee letter. Please contact our Admissions team if you have any questions.
Application fee: £75
Our King’s International Foundation Programmes require a non-refundable application fee before you can submit your application to be considered. This step is built into the application process. Please note that payment of an application fee does not guarantee that you will receive an offer for your chosen programme, as many of our programmes are competitive.
If you apply for a pathway and receive a rejection your application fee will not be refunded. If you then choose to apply for a different pathway you will need to pay another application fee.
Please ensure that you carefully read the information about your chosen pathway and modules before applying.
Note: if you receive an offer, our King’s International Foundation Programme will also require a deposit to secure your place. This is in addition to the application fee; however, the deposit is used as a partial payment of the tuition fees upon enrolment. Your offer letter will include details of any deposit you must pay, deadlines, and payment methods. You should not make a deposit payment unless instructed to do so as part of an offer.
Find out more about how to apply for the International Foundation Programme.
Additional costs/expenses
In addition to your application and tuition fees, you can also expect to pay for:
- Accommodation and living costs
- Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
- Books if you need your own copy or they are required for your module
- Library fees and fines
- Society membership fees
- Personal photocopies
- Printing course handouts
- Stationery
- Graduation costs
Please see our student Terms and Conditions for further fee details, including our refund policy.
Recommended degrees
Ancient History BA
Business Management BSc
Culture, Media & Creative Industries BA
Digital Media and Culture BA
English Law & Hong Kong Law LLB and JD
European Politics BA
European Studies (French pathway) with a year abroad BA
European Studies (German pathway) with a year abroad BA
European Studies (Spanish pathway) with a year abroad BA
Global Health & Social Science BA
History BA
History & Modern Languages (French, German, Portuguese or Spanish) with a year abroad BA
History & Political Economy BA/BSc
History and International Relations BA
International Development BA
Eligible degrees
Business Management BSc
Classics and the Ancient World BA
English Law & French Law LLB and Maîtrise en droit (Master 1)
English Law & German Law LLB and LLM or First State Exam (erste juristische Staatsprüfung)
English Law & Spanish Law LLB and Grado en Derecho (Spanish equivalent of LLB)
European Studies (French pathway) with a year abroad BA
European Studies (German pathway) with a year abroad BA
European Studies (Spanish pathway) with a year abroad BA
Film Studies BA
Geography BA
Geography and Environmental Science BSc
International Development BA
Management & Modern Languages (French, German, Portuguese or Spanish) with a year abroad BA
Midwifery with Registration as a Midwife BSc
Nursing with Registration as a Children’s Nurse BSc
Choose the qualification that you were studying from the below to see what you need to achieve in order to receive a conditional offer for your chosen pathway. For example, if you are studying the US qualifications but you live in France, choose the US as your country.
Accepted national school qualifications
Accepted Common International Qualification
- A-levels: grades BBB in three A-Levels excluding General Studies/Critical Thinking. No progression to degrees at the Dickson Poon School of Law.
- AS-levels: grades BBB in three AS-levels excluding Critical Thinking/ English General Paper/ General Studies/ Global Perspectives & Research
- Advanced Placement Tests (College Board) and the ACT: 26 in the ACT and 444 in three College Board AP subjects excluding AP Capstone Research and Seminar. No progression to degrees at the Dickson Poon School of Law.
- Advanced Placement Tests (College Board): 44444 in five AP subjects excluding AP Capstone Research and Seminar. No progression to degrees at the Dickson Poon School of Law.
- International Baccalaureate Certificates: 555 in three International Baccalaureate Certificates
- International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB): 32 points overall or an aggregate score of 15 from three Higher Levels. No progression to degrees at the Dickson Poon School of Law.
- International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP): a grade of ‘Pass’ in the CP core, and two IB Diploma Programme Certificates (taken at standard or higher level) at 5
Students that need a visa
If you need to apply for a Student Visa to study in the UK, we can only accept IELTS and Pearson results that have been provided by test centres approved by UK Visas and Immigration: IELTS for UKVI (Academic) and PTE (Academic) UKVI are only valid if taken within two years before the start date of your chosen programme of study. You can find a list of approved test centres on the UKVI website.
| Test | King's International Foundation | Extended King's International Foundation* |
| IELTS for UKVI (Academic) | 6.0 overall with no skill below 5.5 | From 5.5 overall with no skill below 5.0, to 6.0 overall, with no skill below 5.5 |
| Pearson Test of English (Academic) UKVI | 59 overall with a minimum of 54 in each communicative skill | 54 overall with a minimum of 46 in each communicative skill |
(*please see note below regarding English Language Entry Requirements for the King's International Foundation programme and Extended King's International Foundation programme.)
Students who don't need a visa
Qualification |
King's International Foundation |
Extended King's International Foundation* |
|---|---|---|
Cambridge Advanced Certificate (CAE)/Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)/Cambridge C2 Proficiency |
169 overall with a minimum of 160 in each skill |
162 overall with a minimum of 154 in each skill |
IELTS (Academic) |
Minimum 6.0 overall, with no skill below 5.5 |
Minimum 5.5 overall, with no skill below 5.0 |
IELTS (Online) |
Minimum 6.0 overall, with no skill below 5.5 |
Minimum 5.5 overall, with no skill below 5.0 |
Pearson Test of English (Academic)
|
59 overall with a minimum of 54 in each communicative skill |
54 overall with a minimum of 46 in each communicative skill |
TOEFL iBT Institution code: 0394 OR TOEFL iBT Home Edition OR TOEFL iBT Paper Edition |
80 overall with a minimum of 20 in each skills |
72 overall with a minimum of 17 in writing/speaking and 15 in listening/reading. All TOEFL test results must be provided via King’s Apply. |
Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) |
Level III with pass in each skill |
Level II with pass in each skill |
*Students who exceed this requirement will be transferred to the King's International Foundation Programme, which starts on 29 September 2024. Students who exceed this English language requirement and still want to be considered for the Extended King's International Foundation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Admissions Tutor.
Deposit
Upon accepting an offer for the King’s International Foundation Programme, you are required to pay a deposit of £5,500 to secure your place by the deadline, which will be stated in your offer. If you do not pay the deposit or provide evidence of financial sponsorship by the deadline stated in your offer, your offer will expire, and King’s reserves the right not to reinstate the offer.
This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an offer (unconditional or conditional) to study with us and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King’s.
Payments are made online through the King's Apply portal.
All students need to pay the deposit, with the exception of sponsored students. If you are being sponsored by an employer or your government, for example, you will need to provide a valid Financial Guarantee letter. Please contact our Admissions team if you have any questions.
Application fee: £75
Our King’s International Foundation Programmes require a non-refundable application fee before you can submit your application to be considered. This step is built into the application process. Please note that payment of an application fee does not guarantee that you will receive an offer for your chosen programme, as many of our programmes are competitive.
If you apply for a pathway and receive a rejection your application fee will not be refunded. If you then choose to apply for a different pathway you will need to pay another application fee.
Please ensure that you carefully read the information about your chosen pathway and modules before applying.
Note: if you receive an offer, our King’s International Foundation Programme will also require a deposit to secure your place. This is in addition to the application fee; however, the deposit is used as a partial payment of the tuition fees upon enrolment. Your offer letter will include details of any deposit you must pay, deadlines, and payment methods. You should not make a deposit payment unless instructed to do so as part of an offer.
Find out more about how to apply for the International Foundation Programme.
Additional costs/expenses
In addition to your application and tuition fees, you can also expect to pay for:
- Accommodation and living costs
- Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
- Books if you need your own copy or they are required for your module
- Library fees and fines
- Society membership fees
- Personal photocopies
- Printing course handouts
- Stationery
- Graduation costs
Please see our student Terms and Conditions for further fee details, including our refund policy.
Key information
