Sociology BA(Hons)

Course in brief

Sociology is the study of society, culture and institutions, and is central to making sense of global and social change.

It enables you to study new and interesting aspects of contemporary society alongside more familiar concerns such as class, gender, sexuality and ethnicity, not to mention environmentalism, death, virtuality, pleasure and violence to name a few.

From the traditional canon to radical new perspectives, we offer a stimulating and demanding academic programme designed to bring the best out in our students. Over three years of study, you will be introduced to a broad range of sociological theories, research and applications, and develop a progressively more complex understanding of key debates and critical thinking. Specialist options in the final year allow you to expand this understanding in areas that particularly interest you.

There is a strong emphasis throughout on developing the skills necessary to understand and evaluate social theory and to undertake research that will enable you to transfer your university experience to the world of work.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer

UCAS code L300

Full-time 3 years

Book your open day place

Applying for 2018: read our guide

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level BBC–CCC (112–96 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DMM–MMM. Our conditional offers typically fall within this range.

We will generally make you an offer if your predicted grades are at the top of this range. If your predicted grades are towards the lower end of this range we may still make you an offer if you have a good GCSE (or equivalent) profile or relevant non-academic achievements.

International Baccalaureate
28 points.

Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. Level 3 units in sociology preferred. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 18 credits at merit or above.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
At least three subjects including English language and maths or science, social science or humanities. Functional Skills will not be usually be accepted but may be considered where the applicant has an otherwise good spread of GCSEs.

Foundation degree/HND/HNC
May enable you to start the course in year 2.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3. Ask our enquiries team for more information. Contact them through the Find out more tab below.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.0 overall, with 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements.

International equivalencies

International equivalencies by country

Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language institute

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For academic preparation courses.

Course in detail

Course structure

The Sociology BA(Hons) is designed to cover three main areas: theory, research skills and specialist knowledge. You learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops, and receive tutorial support in person and by email.

Assessment varies according to module, but it variously takes the form of coursework essays, examinations, literature reviews and seminar presentations. You also have to complete a dissertation in your third year.

You have the opportunity to do a voluntary work placement in year 2 and also to enrol on our international exchange programme, which allows you to study in Spain or Sweden for a part of your degree.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up-to-date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you will be told about any new developments through our applicant portal.

Year 1

Your first year will introduce you to the theories and debates which underpin sociology as a discipline. You will also learn about social inequality, globalisation and the research methods necessary to investigate such issues.

Modules

Contemporary Social Inequalities
Foundations of Sociology
Introduction to Research Methods
Sociological Imaginations
Sociology Live: Interrogating Current Social Problems

Options*

Developmental Psychology
Theories of Crime
Social Policy: Needs and Problems
Comparative European Political Systems

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Year 2

In the second year, you will critically engage with contemporary sociological theories and gain practical research experience in project management, fieldwork and data analysis. This will help you to prepare for your independent project in third year.

Community Engagement: Theory into Practice gives you the chance to do a voluntary work placement with a local organisation. It is an opportunity to put your knowledge and skills into practice and to gain insight into working life.

Modules

Mobilisation, Movements and Protest
Researching Social and Cultural Life
Sociology and the Life Course
Theorising the Social World

Options*

Culture, Media and Identities
Global Cultures
Community Engagement: Theory into Practice
Critical Analysis

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Final year

The final year of the course allows you to specialise, helping you to create your own employment pathway and to develop as a social researcher.

Modules

Dissertation
Sociology Topic 1
Sociology Topic 2
Sociology Topic 3
Sociology Topic 4

Volunteering

Volunteering is a great opportunity to develop your vocational skills and gain practical work experience while contributing to the wider community. Our award-winning Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP) can pair you up with a local organisation and find a volunteering placement that is right for you.

The optional Community Engagement module in year 2 allows you to incorporate volunteering in your degree programme. It involves 30 to 50 hours of work with a not-for-profit or community organisation that reflects your academic interests and career aspirations.

Previous students have had volunteering roles including:

activity volunteer for CCHF All About Kids
centre volunteer for the Centre for Ecotherapy
communication supporter for Connect
listening and support volunteer for the Samaritans
support volunteer for the MS Society
volunteer for Fresh Start
volunteer befriender for the Alzheimer's Society.

CUPP is an award-winning project that aims to tackle disadvantage and promote sustainable development through partnership with local organisations

Staff profile

Natalie Pitimson Course leader

"Sociology can be broadly understood as the study of how society is organised and how we experience life within it. I teach across a broad range of the modules in the undergraduate programme and my own areas of research cover issues related to the sociology of the internet and the sociology of death and dying."

Course statistics

Unistats and key information sets

Unistats enable you to compare information when choosing a UK university course. All UK universities publish Unistats data on their website.

Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They are updated following course changes, and give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course.

Programme specification

These charts give an indication of how much time you will spend on different activities at each level of the course, and an indication of the balance of assessment by coursework, and written and practical exams. For courses with option modules, actual proportions will depend on the modules you choose.

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked above). You can find out also about the range of support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Overall workload

Assessments

Careers and employability

This course equips you with transferable skills in both quantitative and qualitative research that are useful for various careers. Graduates typically seek employment in areas such as social research, policing, the voluntary sector, the housing and welfare services, journalism, the civil service and teaching. The degree also allows for progression on to postgraduate study.

Fees and funding

Your fees

UK/EU (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 13,920 GBP

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2017–18.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and living here

Location

About Brighton

Forward-thinking and welcoming, the city of Brighton & Hove is a community of creative and diverse people who share values like sustainability and inclusivity – just like its university.

Miles of pebble beaches, hundreds of bars, restaurants and clubs, a packed calendar of culture, music and sport and great independent and high street shopping attract visitors from all over the world. By the end of your course you’ll still be finding new things to enjoy about the city.

The Brighton Festival, England’s largest arts festival, takes place every May – as does the Great Escape Europe’s leading industry showcase for new music, 300 bands perform over three days at venues across the city. Major events celebrate Pride, digital culture, cinema, photography, food and the winter solstice. Our own Brighton Graduate show is a highlight, turning the university into the largest exhibition space in the south east as we celebrate the outstanding creativity of our students.

As a student here you’ll have a unique opportunity to experience what the city has to offer. Volunteering and placement opportunities enable you to play your part in the events, organisations and communities that make Brighton such a compelling place to be.

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Surrounded by the South Downs National Park and just five miles from the centre of Brighton, our Falmer campus has benefited from over £60million of investment over the past 10 years. 7,000 students are based here, studying subjects including English, education, social science, nursing and medicine.

Recent developments include the Falmer Sports Centre – with its fitness suites and sports hall – and the innovative Checkland Building, which has natural ventilation systems and an insulating green roof.

Falmer has also recently installed more than 600 solar panels, which reduce the campus’s carbon emissions by more than 80 tonnes. The renovation has made us one of the top universities in the UK for on-site renewable energy production.

Accommodation

Brighton

Our Brighton halls of residence are located across the city in Grand Parade, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

Grand Parade is in central Brighton and has one hall of residence, Phoenix Brewery, within walking distance.
Moulsecoomb is two miles from the city centre and also has one hall of residence, Moulsecoomb Place, on campus.
Varley Park offers the biggest choice of student accommodation with ten halls of residence.
Falmer campus has two halls of residence: Great Wilkins and Paddock Field.
Varley Park and Falmer are around four miles from Brighton centre; there are good public transport services nearby.

Aside from halls, you have the option of Unihomes, which we let out to our students on behalf of private landlords.

You can also choose to join the many students who live away from campus in private rented accommodation. We have a list of high-quality, university-endorsed private sector accommodation and can help you find housemates to move in with.

Find out more on our Brighton accommodation webpages and if you have any questions, our accommodation team will be happy to help. You can contact them by email at accommodation@brighton.ac.uk or by telephone on 01273 644100.

Paddock Field

Moulsecoomb Place

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Falmer campus and Brighton and Sussex Medical School map

Find out more

Sociology and criminology news

First name
Your email address
Subject area
Course page
Year of entry
201820192020
Providing this information will help us make our updates even more relevant to you.
Please make sure you read our privacy policy
Privacy consent
I understand and consent to how you will use my data