The attendance pattern for this course is full time or part time according to candidate choice.

Admission to candidature for the Diploma of Social Sciences requires the applicant to:

be enrolled in an undergraduate degree or combined degree program at the University of Sydney, excluding undergraduate degrees offered by the Faculty of Arts (which includes combined degree courses with a Bachelor of Arts component and the Bachelor of Liberal Studies); or

be enrolled in an undergraduate degree or combined degree program at another recognised tertiary institution; or

have been awarded, or be eligible for the award of, an undergraduate degree from a recognised tertiary institution.

A student may not enrol concurrently in two diploma courses unless, due to exceptional circumstances, permission has been granted by the Dean.

The units of study that may be taken for the course are set out in Table A of the Faculty of Arts Table of units of study.

To qualify for the award of the Diploma of Social Sciences, a candidate must successfully complete 48 credit points, including a major from a single subject area listed under Majors.

Completion of a major is a requirement of the course. Requirements for the completion of a major are listed in the Resolutions of the Faculty of Arts. The majors available are:

Government and International Relations

Political Economy

Anthropology

Sociology

Sociology and Social Policy*

Honours is available to meritorious students who complete an additional year of full-time study. Part-time study is permitted if approved by the administering department or program.

To qualify to enrol in the honours course a candidate must hold, or have completed, a bachelor's degree.

To qualify for the award of the honours diploma, a candidate must complete 48 credit points of honours units of study in the subject area in which the candidate has completed their major.

Admission and award requirements for honours are listed in the resolutions of the Faculty of Arts.

The Diploma of Social Sciences is awarded in two grades: Pass or Honours. The Honours diploma is awarded in classes ranging from First Class to Third Class according to the rules specified in the Resolutions of the Faculty of Arts.

Candidates for the award of the Honours diploma who do not meet the requirements, and who have not already graduated, will be awarded the pass diploma.

These resolutions apply to students who commenced their candidature after 1 January, 2011.

Candidates who commenced prior to 1 January, 2011 will complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement, provided that requirements are completed by 1 January, 2016. The Faculty may specify a later date for completion or specify alternative requirements for completion of candidatures that extend beyond this time.