Faculty of Human, Social, and Political Science, University of Cambridge facts for kids
The Faculty of Human, Social, and Political Science (often called HSPS) at the University of Cambridge is a special place where students learn about people, societies, and how the world works. It was formed in 2011 by combining two older groups: the Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology, and the Faculty of Politics, Psychology, Sociology and International Studies.
Students who graduate from HSPS can go on to many exciting jobs. They might become researchers, journalists, or work in government, like in the Foreign Office. Some work in museums, help protect nature, or join international groups that help people around the world. Other paths include law, teaching, publishing, health management, or public relations.
The Faculty has four main departments. These are the Department of Archaeology, the Department of Social Anthropology, the Department of Politics and International Studies, and the Department of Sociology. Each of these departments is well-known globally for its excellent teaching and research.
The courses here are designed for students who know exactly what they want to study. But they also help those who want to explore different subjects before choosing a special path. For example, if you love politics, you can also learn about economics and history. If you're interested in sociology, you can also study anthropology and geography. If you dream of becoming an archaeologist, you can focus on that from your very first year or combine it with biological and social anthropology.
Students usually study several subjects in their first year. Then, in their second and third years, they choose to focus on one or two specific areas. These areas include Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Politics, Psychology, Social Anthropology, or Sociology. You can also combine different subjects. This way, students gain the right skills for their future careers. Within Archaeology, you can even specialize in ancient studies like Assyriology (the study of ancient Mesopotamia) and Egyptology (the study of ancient Egypt).
For students who want to study even more after their first degree, there are one-year Master's programs (MPhils). These cover Archaeology (including Assyriology and Egyptology), Biological Anthropology, International Studies, Social Anthropology, and Sociology. There's also a Master's in Politics. If you want to go even further, you can study for a PhD. PhD students do deep research in many areas within these subjects.
The Faculty's buildings are spread out across different parts of Cambridge. The main library for HSPS and the Department of Sociology are on Free School Lane. The Department of Politics and International Studies is in the Alison Richard Building. The Department of Archaeology and Anthropology is located in several places, including the Downing Site and the Henry Wellcome Building.
Contents
Studying at HSPS Cambridge
Undergraduate Courses (BA Degree)
Cambridge has offered courses in Archaeology and Anthropology for over a hundred years. A course called Politics, Psychology, and Sociology (PPS) has also been taught since 1970. In 2013, these two courses were combined into the new Human, Social, and Political Sciences (HSPS) course.
This new HSPS course lets students explore many different subjects before deciding to specialize. They can also choose to focus on one or two subjects from their first year, depending on what interests them most.
Postgraduate Courses (Master's and PhD)
The Faculty offers seven Master's programs. These include Politics, International Studies, Sociology, Social Anthropology, Social and Developmental Psychology, Archaeology (with Assyriology and Egyptology), and Biological Anthropology. There are also about 200 students studying for their doctorates (PhDs) at any time.
Graduates from these programs go into many careers. They become researchers, work for the government, or become journalists. They also work in management, museums, or for international organizations that help people. Other jobs include law, teaching, publishing, and public relations.
Applying to HSPS
Getting a place to study Politics, Psychology, and Sociology at Cambridge has always been very competitive. On average, about six students apply for every place available. Some colleges, like Murray Edwards, might have slightly better chances.
Colleges known for strong teaching in Human, Social, and Political Science include Selwyn, Gonville and Caius, Queens', King's, Sidney Sussex, Corpus Christi, and Trinity. The number of applications for the new HSPS course remains high across all colleges. To get an offer, students typically need top grades, like A*AA in A Levels or 40–42 points in the International Baccalaureate.
Famous People from HSPS
Many well-known people have studied at the Faculty of Human, Social, and Political Science or its earlier forms. Here are a few examples:
- Patrick Barkham, a journalist
- Kari Blackburn, a BBC producer
- Jimmy Carr, a famous comedian
- Jo Cox, a former Member of Parliament (MP)
- Dr Stella Creasy, a Labour MP
- Natalie Evans, a leader in the House of Lords
- Johann Hari, a journalist
- Naomie Harris, an actress nominated for an Academy Award
- Hugh Laurie, a famous actor
- Richard Osman, a television presenter and producer
- Helen Oyeyemi, a novelist and playwright
- Beth Rigby, a political journalist
- Tilda Swinton, an Oscar-winning actress
Images for kids
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'The SPS archway' at the Old Cavendish Laboratory, Free School Lane
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Alison Richard Building
