Sept 2026 Entry
2 years
64 (plus 9 clinical/field credits)
The programme is offered within the BA(Hons) Scheme in Applied Social Sciences.
Credit transfers may be granted to applicants whose prior studies are relevant to the programme.
What's New
- Undergraduate
- Undergraduate
Programme Aims
This programme has two main aims: first, to educate students to become effective, efficient and caring social policy practitioners who are responsible for analysing, formulating and implementing policies for the improvement of social well-being; and second, to enable students to become competent, innovative and ethical social entrepreneurs who can turn social problems into opportunities. Students are also expected to develop their informational literacy, critical thinking and problem-solving skills and to uphold core social values. The programme will also facilitate students to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for lifelong learning.
Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge and skills in social policy analysis and social enterprise operation. Students are also expected to develop social empathy, moral sensibilities and a critical capacity, and a sustained interest in understanding the main issues and challenges faced by social policy practitioners and social entrepreneurs.
Programme Characteristics
This programme is designed to integrate theory and practice. The curriculum is heavily geared towards meeting the growing demands for trained professionals and practitioners in the fields of social policy and social enterprise. Students are expected to be equipped with the theoretical knowledge necessary for working in a wide range of organisations dealing with labour and welfare issues, health care and housing needs, advocacy and cultural and environmental protection, and also to have real-life exposure to these areas through specially designed professional attachments. They will learn to balance and resolve the competing values of bureaucratic versus human concerns and private profit-making versus public good and well-being.
In addition, tremendous overseas opportunities, such as placement, exchange-out and study tours are available.
Career Prospects
The demand for professional personnel with strong backgrounds in policy and social enterprise has been increasing. Graduates can occupy mid-level administrative and managerial posts in various public, quasi-public and non-government organisations, including think-tanks, government departments, social enterprises and other human service organisations. They are also prepared for posts in human resources management, marketing and decision support.
Students are admitted to the senior year of the 4-year programme and they have to complete all of the following subjects to fulfil the credit requirement for graduation.
General University Requirement*
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2 Cluster-Area Requirement (CAR) subjects
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Service Learning
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Essential Components of General Education
*Students not meeting the equivalent standard of the undergraduate degree Language and Communication Requirements (LCR) based on their previous studies in AD/HD programmes and their academic performance will be required to take additional credits (6 in English and 3 in Chinese) on top of the programme's normal credit requirements.
Discipline-Specific Language Requirement
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Chinese Communication for Social Sciences
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Professional English for Social Sciences
Professional Core
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Corporate Social Responsibility
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Government and Public Administration
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Introduction to Social Services in Hong Kong
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Management in Human Services
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Research for Policy and Organizations
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Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprises
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Social Planning and Policy Making Process
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Social Research Methods
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Theories of Social Policy
Stream Electives (choose 5 subjects)
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Civil Society and Governance
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Entrepreneurship for Global and Social Development
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Environmental, Social and Governance Reporting and Strategy
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Financial Planning and Management in Organizations
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Health and Society
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Housing Issues, Challenges and Solutions
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Human Capital Development
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Labour and Welfare
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Legal Aspects of Human Services
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Marketing Strategies and Skills in Human Services
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Media and Social Innovation
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Programme Planning and Evaluation
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Social Capital
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Social Data Analytics
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Social Innovations for Grand Challenges
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Understanding Diversities
Social Science Electives (choose 2 subjects)
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Economics and Social Problems
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Justice and the Modern Social Context
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Media and Society
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Political Economy of Hong Kong
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Self, Culture and Society
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Social Structure and Social Theory
Capstone Project
- Capstone Project for Practicing Social Policy and Social Entrepreneurship
Work-Integrated Education (Clinical/Field Training)
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Attachment Workshop
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Attachment for Social Policy and Social Entrepreneurship
More information on the programme can be obtained here.
(Subject to revision)
64 (plus 9 clinical/field credits)
Dr Tam Kin Yuen, Raymond
BASW, MASW, PhD
An Associate Degree or a Higher Diploma in a relevant discipline from a recognised institution.
Other Information
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In addition to considering academic results, preference will be given to applicants who are able to communicate effectively in English.
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Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview to evaluate their potential for studying and interest in the programme.
For further programme information, please contact:
The General Office (tel: 2766 5746; email: ssba@polyu.edu.hk).
I sincerely believe that studying Social Policy and Social Entrepreneurship (SPSE) was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Throughout the process, I questioned institutional logic, challenged traditional social ideologies, and attempted to redesign the phenomena I observed.
This programme gave me tools such as governance theory, economic theory, social research methods, and policy evaluation skills, but more importantly, it gave me questions that still won’t go away at night.
What is justice, if it cannot be implemented?
What is sustainability, if it serves only the privileged?
What is social entrepreneurship, if it becomes just another disguise for capitalism?
To me, SPSE was never just a curriculum. It was a battlefield. A place that constantly asked me to stand between justice and reality, logic and emotion, dreaming big and burning out.
I believe anyone who chooses this programme as their first choice must have thoughts of changing the world in some way. I left still wanting to, but with a more painful understanding of what society faces.
It was the kindness and generosity of the professors that gave me the courage to try throughout the course. Because they were patient, open-minded, and willing to believe in me and my questions, I started to believe in them too. Their trust allowed me to design, to speak, and to think bravely, even when I felt lost.
I am thankful for the professors, both those who were kind and those who challenged me. Together, they provided an environment where I could reflect on my ideas and interrogate my own ideologies.
If you also dream of creating impact, I strongly recommend studying SPSE.
Not because it will give you answers, but because it will give you motivation and methods to keep changing the world.
Required
To assess applicants' potential for studying and interest in the programme, and to gauge their understanding of the issues involved in social policy, civil society and social entrepreneurship.
About 1 hour
- Suitable applicants will be invited to attend an interview.
