Understand how people interact in the social world
Year of entry: 2019
L392
Y50
3 years full-time (plus optional placement year)
£9,250 per year (2018/19)
£17,120 per year (2019/20)
Get to know us better and find out what studying and living in York is really like.
Book nowExplore how the individual and the social environment influence each other. Understand how identities, choices and actions are shaped by interactions with other people, society and culture.
Delve deep into the significance of personality, values and mind and their interplay with social activity. Learn how to think critically and craft arguments - attributes valued by employers.
You’ll be taught by academics actively involved in research that changes the world, in the UK’s number one ranked Sociology Department for research (Times Higher Education rankings of the 2014 Research Excellent Framework), and use your skills to carry out research in an area you are passionate about.
The Department of Sociology is first in the UK for research quality (Times Higher Education's ranking of the 2014 Research Excellence Framework)
The strong support I received from the staff throughout my course and their willingness to listen to student opinions is what I believe makes Sociology at York so excellent.Hannah, BA Sociology with Social Psychology. More student views.
Our teaching is led by our research and addresses real-world issues. The course progresses from broad to specialist topics, comprising two thirds Sociology modules and one third Psychology modules. You'll develop a sociological perspective on how identities, choices and actions are shaped by technologies, sexuality, institutions, culture, and interactions with others.
As you progress you'll focus your studies, choosing option modules to develop your expertise. In your final year you'll undertake independent research leading to a 10,000-word dissertation.
There are opportunities to study abroad as part of your course. You can study at a leading European university for a semester in your third year as part of our Erasmus programme.
The University's exchange scheme also allows you to study abroad further afield in North America, South Africa, Asia and Australia.
In the first year you are introduced to foundations of Sociology and Social Psychology through four core modules.
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
You'll take specialist Social Psychology modules and gain grounding in research methods. You will also get to pursue your own interests selecting two option modules from a wide range of subjects.
Choose two of the following modules:
The focus of your final year will be your Dissertation. You'll work with an academic supervisor to identify and interrogate an original research question, writing up your results in a 10,000-word extended essay.
You'll study one core module which explores the latest social psychology research on topics of relevance to contemporary society. In addition, you'll choose three option modules, exploring themes including art, migration, and death.
Choose three of the following option modules
Please note, modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
"At the end of my first year I got the opportunity to travel to New York City, making fabulous new friends and getting to study a great course at Mount Holyoke College over the summer."Kate, BA Sociology with Social Psychology Graduate
The fees and funding figures below are based on data from 2018 entry. If you take a year abroad or year in industry you'll pay a reduced rate of fees for that year.
| UK/EU | International |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £17,120 |
You may choose to buy textbooks, but this is not required. You may also incur some minor costs through occasional printing or photocopying, and the production of your final year dissertation.
UK/EU or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK, EU or international student.
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
We offer a number of scholarships to help cover tuition fees and living costs.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
“Students from all backgrounds achieve consistently outstanding outcomes”
The TEF Panel, Office for Students, June 2018
Our Gold Teaching Excellence Framework award demonstrates our commitment to the delivery of consistently outstanding teaching and learning for our students.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
You'll learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and one-to-ones. We offer a personal approach to learning with much of our teaching conducted in small groups (typically under 15 students in a seminar group). Our staff are very approachable and our doors are always open. Your personal supervisor provides support and guidance throughout your studies, offering weekly feedback and guidance hours.
You'll be taught by academics at the forefront of research across a number of diverse sociological areas, such as science and technology, language and interaction, culture and new media, gender and sexuality, health, medicine and the body, urban studies and criminology. Our internationally-recognised staff are leaders in their fields, and their expertise and experience feeds directly into our teaching.
As a guide, students on this course typically spend their time as follows:
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures and seminars | 216 hours | 156 hours | 108 hours |
The figures above are based on data from 2016/17.
The rest of your time on the course will be spent on independent study. This may include preparation for lectures and seminars, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours will vary from person to person. In UK higher education the expectation is that full-time students will spend 1200 hours a year learning.
You will be based in the Department of Sociology on Campus West. You will be taught at a variety of locations across Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
Your first year work doesn't contribute toward your final degree classification. We recognise that students are only beginning to develop during the first year of their degree.
From Year Two onward, formal assessments contribute toward your final degree mark. In your third year, your 10,000-word dissertation focuses on a specific topic of your choice.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exams | 50% | 45% | 0% |
| Coursework | 50% | 55% | 100% |
The figures above are based on data from 2016/17.
Over 80 per cent of our graduates are working or in further study six months after completing their studies. Many of them secure jobs as a result of their first-hand experience from their internships and work placements.
One of the biggest myths about Sociology degrees is that they are non-vocational. In fact, a degree in Sociology successfully prepares you for many different careers.
Many of our students organise work placements out of term time, for example at North Yorkshire Youth Commission, York Crown Court and Refugee Action York. We encourage you to do this so you can gain workplace experience and a deeper insight into issues that interest you.
Our graduates forge successful careers all over the world. Some go on to work in criminal justice, the media, and education – others in social research, health and welfare services, and the charity sector.
Our graduates are highly sought after by sectors including:
As a Sociology student, you’ll learn about the world around you and the challenges faced by people in society. You’ll develop skills in:
Add to this the experience you'll get working in a team and using your initiative, and you'll have a whole host of invaluable skills that can be transferred to lots of different industries.
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| A levels | ABB |
| BTEC | BTEC Extended National Diploma DDM |
| European Baccalaureate | An overall average of 75% |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall |
| Irish leaving Certificate | H2,H2,H3,H3,H3,H3 |
| Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers | AAABB at Higher Level |
If English is not your first language you may be asked to provide evidence of your ability. We accept the following qualifications:
Other accepted tests and qualifications
To apply to York, you will need to complete an online application via UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).
Mature students are welcomed and applications will be considered individually.
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to deluxe.
Explore campus and city life and hear what our current students have to say about living here.
Lively, full of culture and beautiful, York is regularly voted one of the best places to live and visit in the UK.
