Requirements

Social and humanities scientist - requirements

Social and humanities scientists design, manage and carry out research projects on social issues, with a focus on human behaviour. Find out how to get a job in this area and the type of research you could be doing.

Know what you'll need to land a job below.

What qualifications do you need to be a social and humanities scientist?

You’ll usually need a degree to work as a social or humanities scientist. Subjects to consider are:

While you could get into this work with an undergraduate degree in any subject, one that focuses on social research or analytics is preferred by employers.

Please note this is a beta version. We'll continue to improve our suggestions here so that we show you the most relevant subjects.

Do you need a postgraduate qualification to be a social and humanities scientist?

A postgraduate qualification will definitely help you get a job in this area, especially if your first degree doesn’t involve in-depth social research. A postgraduate degree can also help you specialise in the area you want to work in.

Examples of taught master's and research degrees at postgraduate level include:

Criminological research
Digital society
Geographical and environmental research
Philanthropic studies
Psychology and health inequalities
Social policy
Social research

What skills do you need to be a social and humanities scientist?

To work as a social and humanities scientist, you’ll need a good understanding of different research methods, as well as an accurate and methodological approach to working.

Hard skills usually include:

Evaluation
IT
Quantitative and qualitative methodologies
Research
Report writing

Soft skills include:

Accuracy
Organisation
Planning
Problem solving
Project management

Do you need work experience to be a social and humanities scientist?

Work experience in market research, interviewing, methodology or other research will be helpful for getting a job. You can find temporary roles with the Market Research Society (MRS). They often have opportunities for students and recent graduates.