You don't have to look far to find successful people who have studied a social science at higher-degree level. From Labour leader Ed Miliband, who graduated with a master's in economics, to BBC news anchor Mishal Husain, who holds a master's degree in law, it's a field of study that has fuelled many ambitious minds.

The social sciences – including subjects such as psychology, law, economics, politics, sociology and anthropology – appeal to people's desire to understand the world, says Dr Gavin Weston, anthropology lecturer at Goldsmiths University of London.

"Postgraduate degrees," he adds, "offer students a chance to specialise in a particular area of study. They are an opportunity to delve deeper and focus on something new."

The number of people undertaking postgraduate study has increased in recent years and the social sciences have proved popular. Since 2009-10, increasing numbers of students have gained postgraduate qualifications in psychology (+22.1%), economics (+36.8%), politics (+16.2%), sociology (+11.8%) and anthropology (+24.8%),though universities fear that cuts to postgraduate funding may cause numbers to fall.

Broadening your options

There are plenty of reasons why people choose to study beyond undergraduate level, says Ruth Cain, lecturer in law at the University of Kent. "Some students take a master's because they want to go on and do a PhD; others do so because they want to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive job market. They may want to specialise in a particular area of law, such as medical law."

A master's programme can also help students to boost their employability by allowing them to gain extra work experience, says Dr Weston. "If you study our [Goldsmiths'] rights and development anthropology programme, for example, you don't just get a master's qualification, you also complete work placements in the field. People often get work as a result of this, so by the time they are finished, they're funnelled off into a career.

"Similarly, if you do applied anthropology, community and youth work, you'll get a national youth work agency qualification as well as a master's degree to put on your CV."

Emily Clews, who is studying for a master's in international relations at Loughborough University, says her degree has helped her to develop a clear idea of what she wants to do in the future. "I did my undergraduate degree in history and international relations, and found that – although I came to university primarily to study history – I enjoyed international relations a lot more. I knew I wanted to do a master's because I felt I hadn't yet finished studying.

"Now I know that I want to work in a related area – hopefully for a charity or an NGO. There are loads of opportunities out there for social scientists, especially analyst roles that require graduates who can look at evidence and who have a critical way of thinking."

But a master's isn't something students should rush into, adds Clews, who says teaching styles on postgraduate programmes are very different to those seen on undergraduate ones, as is the quality of work expected.

"I'm quite a conscientious student and I've always done lots of reading, but you need to do more than that when you're doing a postgrad," she says. "At undergrad level, you get a lot more marks for knowledge – if you're doing a master's, you need to be able to create a well-formed argument as well."

Postgraduate students also spend more time learning independently, says Cains. "You wont be like a PhD student, left on your own to study and find your own topic, but you will be expected to do more reading and work to a higher level."

Changing tack

Not all social science postgraduate courses require students to have studied an undergraduate degree in the same field, says Dr Weston. "This means that we introduce students gradually to the subject area. The understanding is that we can push you further as you progress – you'll be expected to go that bit deeper and read that bit more."

If you do decide to apply for a postgraduate course, it's wise to research the programmes available in your field, says Sarah Burton. She has just finished a master of research in sociology and helps to run the British Sociological Association postgraduate forum, which offers advice about funding and job opportunities.

"Because I wanted to go on to do a PhD, and get funding, my master's included the study of research methods such as qualitative and quantitative analysis," she says. "If you want to just do a stand-alone master's, you can do a basic one that includes modules on different sociological concepts."

Think about what it is you want to get out of the degree, says Dr Weston. "What will you exit the degree with? Consider how attractive it will make you to employers – if that's your main concern. If, really, you just want to learn about a particular area, make sure the institution you're going to is best placed to teach you."