Social sciences study people and societies: psychology, sociology, economics, politics and international relations. Humanities explore culture and ideas through history, philosophy, languages and literature. Both develop research, writing and argument skills that transfer to many careers.
Psychology and international relations are particularly popular among Indian students. Note that becoming a practising psychologist abroad usually needs an accredited degree followed by further professional training.
Graduates work in policy, NGOs, research, consulting, the media and the public sector, and many go on to law or further study.
Popular specialisations
- Psychology
- Economics
- International Relations
- Sociology
- Development Studies
- History
Careers it can lead to
- Policy analyst
- Research associate
- Economist
- NGO programme manager
- Counselling assistant
- Diplomatic or public service officer
Where to study it
- Canada: Canada offers strong public universities and job-focused colleges, generous off-campus work rules and a post-graduation work permit. Since 2024 the government has capped new study permits and tightened work-permit rules, so course choice matters more than ever.
- United Kingdom: The UK offers one-year master's degrees and three-year bachelor's degrees that save time and money. The Graduate Route allows two years of post-study work for applications made up to 31 December 2026, dropping to 18 months from January 2027.
- United States: The United States has thousands of accredited colleges, flexible degrees and deep research funding. STEM graduates can work for up to three years on OPT, but visa policy is shifting in 2025–26, so students need careful, current advice.
- Ireland: Ireland combines English-medium teaching, one-year master's degrees and the European headquarters of many global technology and pharmaceutical firms. Graduates can stay for up to two years on Stamp 1G to look for work.
- New Zealand: New Zealand's eight public universities all rank in the global top tier, class sizes are small and cities are safe. Degree and master's graduates can receive an open post-study work visa of up to three years, and students can now work 25 hours a week.
Social Sciences & Humanities courses to explore
MPhil/PhD EconomicsUniversity College London (UCL) · United Kingdom · DoctorateMS Public Policy and ManagementCarnegie Mellon University · United States · PostgraduateMaster of International RelationsVictoria University of Wellington · New Zealand · PostgraduateM.A. Transcultural StudiesHeidelberg University · Germany · Postgraduate
See all social Sciences & Humanities courses →