Sociology

Sociology is the systematic study of social life, and its scope is as broad as human society itself. It examines how individuals are shaped by the groups, institutions, and structures they inhabit, and how those structures in turn are built, sustained, and changed by human action. From global questions of power, inequality, and conflict to intimate questions of family, identity, and belief, sociology offers tools for understanding the social world that are both intellectually rigorous and deeply relevant to the challenges facing contemporary societies.

At Queen's University Belfast, this three-year full-time degree equips you with the theoretical frameworks and methodological techniques to explain the dynamics of social life. You will engage with questions spanning the global and the personal: examining power and politics, religion and secularism, racism, sexism, and other forms of structural inequality alongside the digital world, climate change, conflict, and peace. On the personal scale, you will explore family life, intimacy, emotion, mental health, and belief as socially shaped phenomena.

The programme develops you as a critical and engaged citizen, capable of bringing sociological thinking to bear on the issues that matter most in the world around you. The typical entry tariff is 120 UCAS points.

Graduates of sociology degrees pursue careers across an exceptionally wide range of sectors. Social work, public policy, community development, education, journalism, research, the charity and voluntary sector, and local and national government are all common destinations. The research skills, analytical habits, and critical awareness the degree develops are valued in any role that requires understanding people and organisations.

Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in sociology, social policy, social work, or criminology, deepening their expertise in particular areas of social life or preparing for specialist professional roles.