Social Sciences
The School of Social Sciences at Manchester is large and distinguished and makes an important contribution to the Combined Studies degree, principally through offerings under Economics, Politics, Social Anthropology, Sociology and Geography. Most of these subjects offer introductory courses in the first year, which are normally considered essential for progression to second and third year options. There is no specific A-level requirement except in the case of some Economics course units where Mathematics may be a requirement. If you do not have a numerical aptitude, you may find Economics courses generally unsuitable.
Course units in Geography are offered since there is a marked social science aspect to the work. Choices in second year are very varied, with follow-up course units and those which move into more specific areas (Anthropology of Religions, Industrial Economics, International Politics, Comparative Societies, etc). You are offered advice towards the end of the first year on which course units to select in the second year to ensure that the relevant preparation has been made for final year. Here again the choice is very wide, with dissertations, essays, and statistical analyses among the different methods of examination employed.