Human, Social and Political Sciences (HSPS)

Why study HSPS at Emmanuel College?

HSPS allows you to take a broad range of subjects in your first year, including the three core subjects: Politics and International Relations, Sociology and Social Anthropology, along with the option to take a paper in Psychology, Biological Anthropology, or Archaeology. In your second and third years, you can choose to specialise in one  of the core HSPS subjects, or you can combine two of them. Therefore, studying HSPS at Cambridge gives you a broad introduction to the social sciences and allows you to explore a diverse range of topics including the history of political and social thought, human rights, war and peace, sustainable development, financial crises, the environment, cultural diversity, inequality, and power.

What might a typical day/week be like studying HSPS at Emmanuel College?

All days are slightly different, but a typical day would involve one or two lectures in the morning. Many students then return to college for lunch. In the afternoon, students often have a small group supervision with one or two other students and one of the Fellows in college. In between these teaching contact hours, students often go to the library and do some reading and prepare their next supervision essay. In the evenings, many students are involved with clubs or societies before spending another hour or so revising material in preparation for supervisions the next day.

What qualities do successful students have?

Successful students in HSPS are intellectually curious and open-minded. They are able to critically analyse texts and assess different arguments. HSPS students are expected to read widely and understand issues from different perspectives. They can evaluate different forms of evidence and can express themselves clearly. The most important quality is enthusiasm and a desire to read, learn and understand.

Where could/will my degree lead?

HSPS students have gone on to successful careers in a number of different sectors. Many of our students have pursued jobs in research (academic and think tanks), government agencies and the civil service, international non-governmental organisations and development agencies, international organisations such as the United Nations and international financial institutions, law, journalism, finance, publishing, consultancy, teaching.