BA (Hons) Sociology
Course
options
Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Arts
- UCAS Course Code
- L302
- Typical Offer
- ABB
- Contextual Offer
- BBC
- Course Length
- 3 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2026
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Why you should choose us
90%
Of graduates go on to work and/or study within 15 months after the course
Graduate Outcome Survey 2020Course Overview
Unlock the transformative potential of Sociology – on a Sociology course designed by you. Do you want to understand how society works – why inequality persists, how identities are formed, and the way power operates? Sociology is for you if you’re fascinated by the way society functions and are driven by a desire to contribute to a changing world.
The BA Sociology course at UEA puts you in charge of designing the course you want to study. Our teaching emphasises creative, critical and applied learning so you can learn in ways that suit you, whilst developing a wide range of skills and interests. The course is designed around four pathways:
- Criminology
- The Sociology of Children and Families
- The Sociology of Social Change
- Digital Sociology
You’re free to change your focus if your interests change.
We have a diverse community of experts in Sociology including social and political theorists, to specialists in social policy, social work, education, the environment and global development. Our staff-student community is really important – the staff get to know you, and you get to know us. Our students have even worked with staff on research activities in the school – and we’re always looking for opportunities for students to work collaboratively with us.
Sociology graduates will be critical thinkers, able to conduct social research, communicate complex ideas and reflect on existing and emerging career opportunities. The programme’s pathways are designed to link to employment options, as well as provide a strong foundation for postgraduate study.
Placement Year and Study Abroad
We offer a four-year version of this degree which includes a study abroad year between the second and final year: BA Sociology with a Year Abroad.
Study and Modules
Structure
In your first year, you’ll study five compulsory modules which develop your understanding of sociology and create a foundation from which you can shape your sociological interests. You’ll discover how sociology has developed. You’ll grapple with how concepts have been created, and the contested nature of knowledge. You’ll be introduced to the process of research and evidence.
Year one modules will introduce you to the four pathways the course is designed around, giving you a foundation to build the Sociology course you want to study. At the end of the first year, you’ll choose your year optional modules from a range of options within or across these pathways:
- Criminology - explores not only the criminal justice systems relating to ‘crime’ and ‘criminals’, but also sociological perspectives on wider concepts concerning harm and social justice.
- The Sociology of Children and Families - draws on the school’s internationally respected expertise on children and families, looking at a wide range of issues across regional, national and international contexts.
- The Sociology of Social Change - addresses social inequality, social justice and social change across a range of contemporary issues, topics and contexts.
- Digital Sociology - explores the role of digital media in our everyday lives, considering the technological developments that have changed or preserved the ways our social worlds are made and remade.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
In year one, you’ll take five compulsory modules and have approximately nine hours of timetabled in-person classes per week. Classes will be made up of a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops. In addition, you’ll be given independent study activities and reading, all supported by resources in the University’s virtual learning environment.
Independent study
Alongside your taught sessions, you’ll be required to work independently, and with your peers in groups. Lecturers will ask you to complete preparatory reading and tasks and bring these with you to sessions. Your independent study tasks are designed by the course team to help you to develop as an independent and self-regulated learner.
Supportive Learning Community
You’ll have a personal academic adviser who will support and advise you on your studies and developing your career ambitions. We also offer weekly staff-student drop-in sessions, and a programme of extra curricula events that will enable you to feel part of a community of sociologists at UEA.
Assessment
You’ll experience a range of assessment methods which are used to check your progress and ensure your academic development. These include essays, reports, projects, presentations and examinations. In addition to traditional essay-style work, our modules offer you the chance to develop skills in communicating ideas through a variety of creative and applied ways, reflecting the variety of teaching and learning activities you'll encounter. In year one, our assessment methods also include one online open-book examination.
We use formative assessment (which is a bit like a practice assessment) in all our modules to help you prepare for your summative assessment and to gain additional feedback on your developing skills and understanding.
Structure
In your second year, you’ll have more compulsory modules designed to consolidate and expand your core understanding of sociology and help support the development of your expertise in your chosen specialisms.
You’ll also take a range of optional modules offered from Schools across the University. These modules align with the course pathways and enable you to create specific routes through your degree. You’ll be encouraged to consider how these pathways may relate to your career plans, with support from our Careers team.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional C Modules
(Credits: 60)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
In year two, you’ll take both compulsory and optional modules. The contact hours for your timetabled classes will be similar to year one, depending on the combination of optional modules you take from the different schools. Although the overall hours of study expected on different modules will be the same, different module designs will have different combinations of in-person sessions, independent activities, and online learning.
Assessment
In your compulsory year two modules, assessments include a project and a portfolio. The assessment types for optional modules will vary and you’ll know how a module is assessed before you make your choices. The optional modules offered by the Sociology team include assessments using written coursework, posters, presentations and reflective writing.
In year two your summative marks contribute to your final degree grade, so we continue to use formative assessment (which doesn’t count to your degree mark) to help you prepare for your summative assessment so that you can do your best work when the marks count.
Structure
During your third year, you’ll complete a compulsory dissertation project on a topic of your choice, using the skills and expertise you’ve developed in your other modules. You can choose from different project types to suit your skills, preferences and interests, and will be supported by a supervisor to help you do your best work.
You’ll also take a range of optional modules in year three, again aligned with the four pathways. These will further advance your specialist knowledge and help you prepare for your graduate career or going on to postgraduate study.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 60)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
In year three, you’ll take optional modules alongside a year-long dissertation project. The dissertation project is a substantial piece of work supported by individual supervision and some group classes. The greater emphasis on independent work involved in dissertation projects means your contact hours in year three will be slightly lower than years one and two.
Assessment
In year three, you’ll write a dissertation report on a project of your choosing which allows you to explore a sociological topic in more depth. As with year two, assessment types for optional modules vary and you’ll know how a module is assessed before you choose to take it. The optional modules offered by the Sociology staff in year three include written coursework, posters, presentations and reflective writing.
In year three, summative assessments contribute to your final degree mark, so we continue to use formative assessment in all our modules to help you prepare for your summative assessment and to gain additional feedback on your skills and understanding.
Employability
After the Course
Graduates from the Sociology course will be critical thinkers, able to conduct social research, communicate complex ideas and reflect personally on existing and emerging career opportunities. The programme’s pathways have been designed to link to employment options, and the theoretical and research components of your degree will also provide you with a strong foundation for postgraduate study.
Careers
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
- Policy Analysts and Researchers
- Media, Marketing, Communications and Campaign Specialists
- Charity Managers
- Senior police roles
- Professionals in education, caring and social service roles
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade 4 or grade C.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.
- Contextual Offers
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
A levels
ABB
Contextual offer: BBC
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM
Contextual offer: DMM
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers
Access to HE Diploma
Pass Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 30 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 15 credits at Level 3.
Contextual Offer: Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Merit in 30 credits at Level 3 and pass in 15 credits at Level 3
T levels
Obtain an overall Merit
Foundation Year options:
If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes such as - Global Development with a Foundation Year
- Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements
International Baccalaureate
32 points overall
Irish Leaving Certificate
3 subjects at H2, 3 subjects at H3
Scottish Highers
AAABB
Scottish Advanced Highers
BCC
A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Progression
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade 4 or grade C.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. For specific details about your country, view our information for International Students.
A levels
ABB
International Baccalaureate
32 points overall
- UEA International Study Centre
If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, UEA International Study Centre offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
-
IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, UEA International Study Centre offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
-
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Progression
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees.
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of additional course-related costs.
How to Apply
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started.
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information: