Number 1 in the UK for Anthropology and Archaeology, and Sociology and Social Policy (The Guardian University Guide 2025)
Number 1 in the UK for Politics and International Relations (The Complete University Guide, 2025)
Human, Social, and Political Sciences at Cambridge
You can tailor this course from the very start and study specific subjects that interest you.
You’ll study 3 core disciplines, taught by globally respected departments:
- Politics and International Relations, where you explore politics within and between countries, covering issues from human rights and democracy to financial crises and international conflict
- Social anthropology, where you investigate ‘what it is to be human’ by studying social and cultural diversity – how people live, think and relate to each other around the world
- Sociology, where you analyse multiple forms of power and inequality, and how they impact on the social, cultural, political and economic dimensions of people’s lives
You may also be able to choose other Human, Social, and Political Sciences subjects, or subjects from other courses.
Teaching and facilities
Teaching
You’ll be taught by experts with a worldwide reputation for teaching and research.
Facilities
The Faculty of Human, Social, and Political Science facilities include:
- 2 faculty libraries
- Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
- computing facilities
- multimedia-equipped teaching rooms
- rare collection of ethnographic films
You'll also have access to the impressive Cambridge University Library, one of the world’s oldest university libraries.
Watch the video to find out what a day in the life of a Cambridge HSPS student is like:
Course costs
When you go to university, you’ll need to consider two main costs – your tuition fees and your living costs (sometimes referred to as maintenance costs).
Your living costs will include costs related to your studies that are not covered by your tuition fees. There are some general study costs that will apply for all students.
Find out more about general study costs.
There are no compulsory additional course costs for Human, Social, and Political Sciences. If you have any queries about resources/materials, please contact the Department.
Your future career
You’ll graduate with analytical and critical skills, intellectual versatility, multicultural sensitivity and an international outlook. These skills are widely sought after by employers.
Recent graduates have gone onto careers in:
- research, both academic and policy research
- Civil Service, including the Foreign Office
- journalism
- management consultancy
- national and international non-governmental organisations and development agencies
- law
- teaching
- publishing
- health management
- public relations
