In the second and third year of the HSPS degree (Part II), students choose to specialise in either a single or joint track within the Tripos.
Choosing a 'track' is the main way that students tailor their HSPS degree, as each track determines which papers are available to take from different departments. This decision is made towards the end of the first year (Part I), and students can discuss their options with supervisors, personal tutors and Directors of Studies, as well as with peers in the second and third years.
Track Guides
The following guides provide an overview of the different paper options for second year (Part IIA) and third year (Part IIB) HSPS students, as well as the combinations in which those papers can be taken within the different tracks:
Paper Choices
In Easter term, current students are required to submit their paper choices for the following academic year via an online form.
Paper Options
Use the accordion sections below to see which paper combinations are available to students in 2024-25 within each track. Part IIA and Part IIB students offer four papers, of which at least three shall be assessed by written examination, either in part or whole. Students may not switch subject tracks between Parts IIA and IIB, unless changing from a joint track to one of the single subjects within it.
Please note that paper options change from year to year and restrictions and prerequisites do apply.
Politics and International Relations (Single Track)
All HSPS students take four papers in their second year (Part IIA) and four papers in their third year (Part IIB). For allowable paper combinations please check the Part IIA or Part IIB combination charts for this track.
Descriptions for the Politics and International Studies papers can be found on the POLIS website here (For Part IIB papers, please navigate to the Options Guide under the Student Guides section of the POLIS webpage).
| Part IIA | Part IIB |
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Social Anthropology (Single Track)
All HSPS students take four papers in their second year (Part IIA) and four papers in their third year (Part IIB). For allowable paper combinations please check the Part IIA or Part IIB combination charts for this track.
Descriptions for the Social Anthropology Part II papers can be found on the Social Anthropology webpages here: Part IIA papers Part IIB papers Optional papers
| Part IIA | Part IIB |
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Sociology (Single Track)
All HSPS students take four papers in their second year (Part IIA) and four papers in their third year (Part IIB). For allowable paper combinations please check the Part IIA or Part IIB combination charts for this track.
Descriptions for the Sociology papers can be found on the Sociology website here (For Part IIB papers please navigate to the Part IIB Handbook for 2024-25 under the Key Information section of the Sociology webpage).
| Part IIA | Part IIB |
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Politics and Sociology (Joint Track)
All HSPS students take four papers in their second year (Part IIA) and four papers in their third year (Part IIB). For allowable paper combinations please check the Part IIA or Part IIB combination charts for this track.
Descriptions for the Politics and International Studies papers can be found on the POLIS website here (For Part IIB papers, please navigate to the Options Guide under the Student Guides section of the POLIS webpage).
Descriptions for the Sociology papers can be found on the Sociology website here (For Part IIB papers please navigate to the Part IIB Handbook for 2024-25 under the Key Information section of the Sociology webpage).
| Part IIA | Part IIB |
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Social Anthropology and Politics (Joint Track)
All HSPS students take four papers in their second year (Part IIA) and four papers in their third year (Part IIB). For allowable paper combinations please check the Part IIA or Part IIB combination charts for this track.
Descriptions for the Social Anthropology Part II papers can be found on the Social Anthropology webpages here: Part IIA papers Part IIB papers Optional papers
Descriptions for the Politics and International Studies papers can be found on the POLIS website here (For Part IIB papers, please navigate to the Options Guide under the Student Guides section of the POLIS webpage).
| Part IIA | Part IIB |
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Social Anthropology and Religious Studies: Modern Religion (Joint Track)
All HSPS students take four papers in their second year (Part IIA) and four papers in their third year (Part IIB). For allowable paper combinations please check the Part IIA or Part IIB combination charts for this track.
Descriptions for the Social Anthropology Part II papers can be found on the Social Anthropology webpages here: Part IIA papers Part IIB papers Optional papers
Please see the Divinity website for more information on Religious Studies papers.
| Part IIA | Part IIB |
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Sociology and Social Anthropology (Joint Track)
All HSPS students take four papers in their second year (Part IIA) and four papers in their third year (Part IIB). For allowable paper combinations please check the Part IIA or Part IIB combination charts for this track.
Descriptions for the Sociology papers can be found on the Sociology website here (For Part IIB papers please navigate to the Part IIB Handbook for 2024-25 under the Key Information section of the Sociology webpage).
Descriptions for the Social Anthropology Part II papers can be found on the Social Anthropology webpages here: Part IIA papers Part IIB papers Optional papers
| Part IIA | Part IIB |
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Sociology and Criminology (Joint Track)
All HSPS students take four papers in their second year (Part IIA) and four papers in their third year (Part IIB). For allowable paper combinations please check the Part IIA or Part IIB combination charts for this track.
Descriptions for the Sociology papers can be found on the Sociology website here (For Part IIB papers please navigate to the Part IIB Handbook for 2024-25 under the Key Information section of the Sociology webpage).
| Part IIA | Part IIB |
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