Sociology

Sociology is the discipline that examines how human societies are organised, how people within them are shaped by forces they often cannot see, and how inequality, identity and power operate across institutions and everyday life. It is a field that takes the social world seriously as an object of rigorous investigation, bringing the same commitment to evidence, argument and critical scrutiny that the natural sciences bring to the physical world. Its subject matter, from family structures and religious organisations to global economic inequality and the politics of race and gender, makes it directly relevant to the most important questions facing contemporary societies.

At the University of Sussex, this three-year full-time degree is taught in an internationally respected department where academics pursue active research in social justice, gender inequalities, identity, healthcare, migration and related areas. You will engage with the classical foundations of the discipline alongside contemporary debates, developing sociological theory, research methods and the ability to construct and defend empirical arguments. The degree includes a foundation year for students who would benefit from supported entry, as well as a sandwich year with work placement opportunities and a year abroad, enabling you to spend extended time in a professional environment and to study at an international partner institution.

Typical entry is around 120 UCAS tariff points.

Graduates from sociology programmes go on to careers in social research, public policy, health and social care, education, journalism, the civil service, housing, community development and the voluntary sector. The analytical and communication skills developed, particularly the ability to interpret evidence, understand complex social systems and write clearly about them, transfer into almost any profession where understanding people and their social contexts matters. Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in sociology, social policy, criminology, social work or related fields.