Human, Social and Political Sciences

Human, Social, and Political Sciences at Cambridge offers an innovative and comprehensive opportunity to investigate modern humanity from many perspectives.

The course includes politics and international relations, social anthropology, and sociology. All applications for HSPS are treated equally, regardless of preferred specialisation in the second and third years. After the first year, students choose to focus on a particular single track, or combination of two tracks. Within the HSPS degree, it is also possible to take papers in Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Psychology, Criminology, Religious Studies, or the History and Philosophy of Science.

We have a lively community of HSPS students at Magdalene, from a diverse range of backgrounds. We aim to admit five to six students in HSPS each year.

The HSPS team at Magdalene responsible for directing studies and teaching includes Dr Niamh Bridson Hubbard (Director of Studies Part I), Dr Banu Turnaoğlu (Director of Studies Part II Politics), Dr Nicholas James (Director of Studies Part II Social Anthropology), and Dr Alex Wood (Director of Studies Part II Sociology). They are supported by Dr Jostein Hauge (Fellow and College Lecturer), Prof. Simon Stoddart (Archaeology and Biological Anthropology), and Dr Catherine O'Brien (Psychology).

Magdalene College co-operates with many of the other colleges to ensure that, where desirable, students are supervised by specialists in their chosen options. The friendly reputation of Magdalene College is evident among the students. 

More details of the course and the optional papers available can be found on the University’s Undergraduate Study pages and the Human, Social, and Political Sciences website.

HSPS allows students to study society in innovative ways, to interrogate social and political systems, and to analyse cultural systems across the world. We are looking for students who demonstrate the analytical capabilities to engage in such work, while having a creative imagination to bring new ideas and theories to the table.

We do not necessarily require candidates to have extensive, developed knowledge in politics, sociology, or anthropology at application or interview. Rather, we look for students who are able to bring a critical perspective and draw intelligently upon examples from their existing knowledge.

There are no set requirements for HSPS. A broad range of A-level subjects can be beneficial. Competitive applicants normally have at least one essay subject.

Minimum Offer 

A-level: A*AA 

IB: 41-42 points overall, with 7,7,6 at Higher Level. 

Other qualifications: Check which other qualifications we accept 

Candidates will normally have two interviews of around 20-25 minutes each.

The interview process aims to assess your intellectual ability, potential, and commitment to the subject. 

We also usually ask for two samples of written work (such as school essays) to be submitted with the application.

There is no admissions assessment for HSPS at Magdalene.

More information is available on the Interviews, Written Work and Assessments page.