Sociology

Sociology is the systematic study of how human societies are organised, how institutions shape individual lives, and how power, inequality, and culture reproduce themselves across generations. It asks questions that are both intellectually challenging and directly relevant to understanding the world we live in: why does poverty persist in wealthy societies, how do race and gender structure opportunity, what holds communities together and what pulls them apart, and how do collective movements produce social change. At Liverpool Hope University, this four-year programme offers an intellectually serious engagement with these questions alongside substantial practical experience.

You will study the major sociological traditions, from the classical theories of Marx, Durkheim, and Weber to contemporary debates around identity, globalisation, intersectionality, and digital society. The curriculum examines both the current state of social life and the processes through which societies change, giving you conceptual tools to analyse institutions such as education, health, media, religion, and criminal justice. Research methods are central to the discipline, and you will develop skills in both quantitative and qualitative approaches, learning to design studies, gather data, and interpret findings in ways that are rigorous and ethically sound.

The programme includes a sandwich year, giving you extended experience in a professional or voluntary sector environment where sociological thinking is directly applicable. Work placement and a year abroad are also part of this programme, ensuring that you encounter social realities beyond your immediate context. The typical entry tariff is 88 UCAS points, and the programme is studied full time.

Sociology graduates are found across an exceptionally wide range of careers, including social research, policy analysis, journalism, social work, human resources, community development, education, and the civil service. The analytical and communication skills the degree develops are highly transferable. Further study options include postgraduate research degrees, professional qualifications in social work, or masters programmes in criminology, public policy, gender studies, or social data science.