Over the years we have had many learners based within Nigeria and South Africa ask for a course in Social Science or Sociology. This is so that they can secure a place onto a bachelor degree at university.
In this article we will explain the term Social Science and let you know what your course options would be through International Home Study.
What is Social Science?
First, let’s look at what social science is as a subject. Social science covers the study of people but in a variety of ways. It considers people as individuals, communities and societies. It also considers their behaviours and interactions with each other and their environments.
Popular Social Science subjects
There are five main subjects relating to Social Sciences. These are:
- Business
- Economics
- Geography
- Psychology
- Sociology
Here are the subjects in a bit more detail and why they are relevant to the term ‘social science’.
Why is Business classed as a Social Science?
Businesses across all sectors rely on social science skills and knowledge to run their day-to-day business activities. Skills are required for:
- Departments such as finance, law, management and human resources
- Understanding of markets, clients and consumers
- Analysing and managing risk and long-term strategies
- Developing new products or services
- Research.
Why is Economics classed as a Social Science?
Economics compliments Business and here is why it is classed as a social science:
- It analyses how people make decisions on allocating resources.
- It analyses how individuals interact within markets and how governments / large corporations influence economic outcomes. It considers patterns such as inflations, economic growth and unemployment.
- Economics will consider social concerns such as fairness, welfare and justice.
Why is Geography classed as a Social Science?
Geography concerns itself with the Earth’s atmosphere and physical surface, however it also considers how humans effect these things and how in turn they are affected by them.
The social science behind Geography considers how humans and human society relate to the natural landscape and atmosphere. This is normally covered under a topic called ‘human geography’ and includes:
- Behaviours and traditions of a group of people from different cultures
- How the physical environment interacts with the traditions of people
- How political, social and economic systems are organised across the world.
Why is Psychology classed as a Social Science?
Psychology as a social science analyses how people think and behave. It considers how behaviour is influenced by a person’s motives and their reactions to other people and situations. Points to consider within Psychology include:
- Experiences that shape a person’s thoughts and behaviour
- How conflict is dealt with by people from different cultures
- The impact on behaviour caused by the presence of other people
- Peer pressure and the influence on adolescent behaviour
- Our roles in society and the way we treat other people.
Why is Sociology classed as a Social Science?
Sociology is also classed as a social science for many reasons. Here are some explanations below:
The subject focuses on social structures which include communities, families and social networks. It also considers how social structures impact society, social behaviour and social movements.
Research carried out in Sociology helps us understand human behaviour. Evidence gathered through interviews, case studies, surveys and experiments allows us to analyse human society better.
Social Science generally allows you to apply a situation to a real-world problem and carrying out research through any of the subjects above can lead to solving real issues within our world.
What is the difference between Science and Social Science?
When we look at subjects such as Biology, Chemistry and Physics, these are theories about the world including the universe. These subjects are considered fundamental to human understanding. Social Science however is about understanding human behaviours, communities and societies.
What kind of career could I apply for with a Social Science qualification?
- Police
- Rehabilitation worker
- Psychologist / Counsellor
- Social / Youth worker
- Local Government
- Charity
- Researcher
Social Science Bachelor Degree
A degree involving Social Science can be taken all over the world including in Nigeria and South Africa. You will normally be able to specialise in topics such as Economics, Geography, History, Psychology and Sociology.
Requirements for a Social Science Degree
Universities within South Africa and Nigeria will normally ask for a certain amount of APS points. APS stands for Academic Performance Score. Below is a conversion table provided by Cambridge. It is best to check with the individual University to see what their entry requirements are and how they convert foreign qualifications, however the table below provides a rough guide.
| APS | IGCSE/BGCSE/L GCSE/NSSC O- level/GCSE/Zim Sec O-level | Cambridge AS-level / NSSC AS- level | Cambridge A-level |
| 10 | A | ||
| 9 | B | ||
| 8 | C | ||
| 7 | A | D | |
| 6 | B | E | |
| 5 | A | C | Ungraded |
| 4 | B | D | |
| 3 | C | E | |
| 2 | D | Ungraded | |
| 1 | |||
- APS – Academic Performance Score
- SA NSC – South African National Senior Certificate (from 2008)
- IGCSE – International General Certificate of Secondary Education
- BGCSE – Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education
- LGCSE – Lesotho General Certificate of Secondary Education
- NSSC O-Level – Namibian Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary level
- GCSE – General Certificate of Secondary Education
- ZimSec O-Level – Zimbabwe Secondary Education Ordinary level
- Cambridge AS-level – Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary level
- NSSC AS- level – Namibian Senior Secondary Certificate Higher level / Namibian Senior Secondary Certificate Advanced Subsidiary level
- Cambridge A-level – Cambridge International Advanced level
International GCSE / O Level and International A Level – South Africa
Cambridge IGCSEs / O Levels and A Levels are widely accepted in South Africa and Nigeria. Cambridge work with over 100 independent schools in South Africa and over 800 schools across Sub-Saharan Africa.
You can see a range of our Social Science courses as follows:
- IGCSE Business
- IGCSE Economics
- IGCSE Geography
- IGCSE Sociology
- International A Level Business
- International A Level Economics
- International A Level Geography
- International A Level Psychology
- International A Level Sociology
Students who have obtained International A Levels and want to apply to a South African University, will need to qualify for a certificate of complete or conditional exemption issued by Universities South Africa (USAf).
International Learners studying within South Africa
In order to apply to a South African University, you will need to meet certain criteria. This includes the following:
- Entry Requirements – You will need to check the entry requirements for your chosen University / Institution and ensure that you have the required qualifications and criteria.
- Admissions Test – You might be asked to take a National Benchmark Test (NBT). You will need to check with the institutions to see if this is required or not.
- Study Visa – In order to apply for a student visa, you must have a provisional place on a course. You can check visa information here.
- Ensure you meet the APS score for your course.
- Ensure you meet the institutions English Language requirements.
Public Universities in South Africa recognising Cambridge International A Levels for entry to Bachelor Degrees:
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Western Cape
Central University of Technology
Free State
Durban University of Technology
KwaZulu-Natal
Nelson Mandela University
Eastern Cape and Western Cape
North-West University
North-West and Gauteng
Rhodes University
Eastern Cape
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Gauteng
Stellenbosch University
Western Cape
Tshwane University of Technology
Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North-West
University of Cape Town
Western Cape
University of Fort Hare
Eastern Cape
University of the Free State
Free State
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Durban, Pinetown and Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, Gauteng
University of Limpopo
Limpopo and Gauteng
University of Pretoria
Gauteng
University of South Africa
All provinces
University of Venda for Science and Technology
Limpopo
University of the Western Cape
Bellville, Western Cape
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, Gauteng
University of Zululand
KwaZulu-Natal
Vaal University of Technology
Gauteng, North-West, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape
Walter Sisulu University
Eastern Cape
Mangosuthu University of Technology
KwaZulu-Natal
University of Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga
Sol Plaatje University
Northern Cape
Here we have touched on education within Nigeria and South Africa, however if you feel you still have questions and would like to speak with an advisor, please get in touch!