Sociology (BSc)

Got a question?

Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000

Sociology at Southampton offers core modules on classical and contemporary social theory, research methods, and research skills. Your wide range of optional modules are designed to support your career plans and areas of interest, including education, health, migration and the internet.

Each year you’ll also have the chance to choose modules from other courses at the University. This will give you valuable opportunities to expand your knowledge and create an impressive CV.

Year 1 overview

Your core modules will introduce you to the basics of sociology, including:

• Social Problems and Social Policy

• Foundations in Social and Anthropological Theory

• Transformations of the Modern World

• Understanding Everyday Life

• Introduction to Quantitative Methods

You’ll also choose more modules from options like:

• Criminology: Policy and Practice

• Exploring Other Cultures

• Criminal Justice Studies

Year 2 overview

Next, you’ll take 3 more compulsory modules to advance your skills:

• Social Theory

• Research Methods in the Social Sciences

• Qualitative Research: Foundations, Principles and Skills

You’ll also take 5 optional modules from a broad range of disciplines, including:

• Race and Ethnicity

• Gender and Society

• Class Structure and Social Inequality

• Globalisation, Inequalities and Power

• Cosmology, Ritual and Belief

Year 3 overview

You’ll put your research skills into practice by investigating and writing a 10,000-word dissertation on a subject of your choice. You’ll also consider the most important processes of social change taking place today in a core module in comparative sociology.

Finally, you’ll select 5 more modules from a wide range of options, many of which will be taught in student-led seminars. These include:

• The Sociology of Youth

• Sexuality and Intimacy

• Collective Action and Social Change

• Comparing Welfare States: Evolution, Politics and Impact

• Anthropology, Film and Representations of the Other

Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.

The learning activities for this course include the following:

• lectures
• classes and tutorials
• coursework
• individual and group projects
• independent learning (studying on your own)

Course time

How you'll spend your course time:

Course leader

Traute Meyer is the course leader.

Sociological analysis is increasingly valued in the workplace, so the skills you acquire during your studies will be in high demand. You’ll also have practical, transferable skills that will be valued across a wide range of roles and sectors.

Our graduates have established careers in:

• business

• industry

• government

• management

• counselling

• human resources

• voluntary sectors

• NHS

• education

• social work

Careers services at Southampton

We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. This support includes:

• work experience schemes

• CV and interview skills and workshops

• networking events

• careers fairs attended by top employers

• a wealth of volunteering opportunities

• study abroad and summer school opportunities

We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.

Work in industry

You’ll have the opportunity to take a Year in Employment, which is a paid work placement between your second and third year.

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

• UK students pay £9,250.
• EU and international students pay £19,300.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and all examinations.

Find out how to:

• pay your tuition fees

• calculate your student finances

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. Explore:

• accommodation costs

• living costs

• budgeting advice

Bursaries, scholarships and other funding

If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £25,000 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.

If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.

Get in touch for advice about student money matters.

Scholarships and grants

You may be able to get a scholarship or grant to help fund your studies.

We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from under-represented backgrounds.

Support during your course

The Student Services Centre offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.

Funding for EU and international students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.

When you apply use:

• UCAS course code: L300
• UCAS institution code: S27

Apply for 2023 entry

What happens after you apply?

We will assess your application on the strength of your:

• predicted grades
• academic achievements
• personal statement
• academic reference

We'll aim to process your application within two to six weeks, but this will depend on when it is submitted. Applications submitted in January, particularly near to the UCAS equal consideration deadline, might take substantially longer to be processed due to the high volume received at that time.

Equality and diversity

We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.

Got a question?

Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000