BSc (Hons) Sociology Bachelor's degree at the University of Kent
BSc (Hons) Sociology at University of Kent. You'll develop critical thinking and practical research skills through core theory, research methods, applied practice and specialist options, culminating in an independent project.
About this course
Examine society and human behavior with a BSc (Hons) in Sociology at the University of Kent. Study social issues, inequalities, and cultural dynamics, while developing critical thinking and research skills for careers in social research, public policy, or community work. Apply now! From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Sociology is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at the University of Kent, based in Canterbury. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For Social sciences graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £30,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Sociology & Social Sciences, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Stage 1 6 modules
- Fundamentals of SociologyCompulsory
Module details
You'll explore how sociologists understand the social structures and determinant social forces that shape our living conditions and life chances. The module examines how Sociology is a discipline committed to an analysis of the constitution of society, aiming to explain the distinctive character of people's social experience of the world.
- Sociological Theory: The ClassicsCompulsory
Module details
You're introduced to the key concepts, problems, and theoretical traditions that have shaped sociological thought. The module introduces the major issues and controversies surrounding the definition, development, and teaching of 'classical' sociological theory.
- Making Sense of SocietyCompulsory
Module details
You'll learn how we, as social scientists, study society. What is the difference between evidence and theory? How do we know when we know something, and how confident can we be in that knowledge? What are the different kinds of evidence social scientists use to investigate how people organise themselves?
- Society, Culture, PowerCompulsory
Module details
Explore some of the key ideas, events, figures, movements and mythologies that have shaped how 'Western' cultures think of themselves. Drawing on 500 years of history, but with a particular focus on the period from the mid-nineteenth to the early twenty-first century.
- Contemporary Society, Culture and MediaCompulsory
Module details
This module explores some of the key areas which have been most acutely affected by developments and are of great importance for understanding the world we live in. It raises questions about how contemporary society can be understood from a variety of social, theoretical, cultural, economic and technological perspectives.
- Sociology of Everyday LifeCompulsory
Module details
How do sociologists attempt to document and explain the social experience of everyday life? Get a new perspective of everyday life as you explore and examine how sociology impacts the 'ordinary' world.
Stage 2 5 modules
- Investigating Social IssuesCompulsory
Module details
Research methods are – together with theoretical frameworks and empirical material – one of the three main pillars of the study of human society. This module unlocks the power of data analysis for students from a variety of educational backgrounds - no statistical knowledge is necessary.
- InequalitiesCompulsory
Module details
We live in a deeply unequal world – one in which your education, wealth, power, and even health can be determined not by your intelligence or character, but by the social group you belong to. The study of these social inequalities has been central to Sociology right from its beginnings as a discipline.
- Researching Digital Society and CultureCompulsory
Module details
Society is becoming ever more digitally centred – from work to leisure, our activities are centred around 'the digital.' Do the ways we study society need to change in line with the ways we live within it? This module provides you with the chance to critically assess this, and related questions, while offering digital methods training to conduct your own research.
- Contemporary Sociological TheoryCompulsory
Module details
Explore the major issues and controversies that have shaped key developments in contemporary social theory. We will survey the development of social theory through the second half of the twentieth century and up to the present day.
- Inequality, Crime, and JusticeOptional
Module details
In what ways are various inequalities relevant to crime and the delivery of criminal justice? You'll examine the complex relationship between social inequalities and the criminal justice system, focusing on how disparities in socioeconomic status, race, gender, and other factors contribute to patterns of crime, victimisation, and access to justice.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course examines society and human behaviour, developing your critical thinking and research skills in areas such as criminology, social policy, gender and identity, and migration. A typical Sociology degree progresses from foundational modules, Introduction to Sociology covering class, gender and race, and Social Problems & Policy addressing inequality and social response, through practical research methods training. In the second stage, you'll study social theory from Marx to contemporary thinkers, analyse real data quantitatively and qualitatively, and explore applied streams. Finally, you'll specialise in areas such as crime and justice or health sociology, engage with research-led seminars on current social questions, and complete your own empirical or theoretical dissertation project.
Who it's for
You're suited to this course if you're curious about how societies function and why people behave as they do. You'll thrive if you enjoy asking critical questions, analysing evidence from multiple perspectives and engaging with contemporary social issues. The course suits those with strong written communication skills and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. You may be heading towards research, policy work or community-facing roles, or simply want to deepen your understanding of the social world. Part-time study allows you to balance academic work with other commitments.
Careers & job market
Across Sociology and Social Sciences courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. National graduate earnings show starting salaries of £23,000–£30,000 at 15 months; after five years, this typically ranges from £24,650 to £34,800. Sociology graduates move into social research, policy analysis, community work, local government and the charity sector.
University & format
The University of Kent is a public university founded in 1965, located in Canterbury. This BSc (Hons) Sociology is studied part-time and taught in English. The university is a recognised UK degree-awarding body with degrees that are nationally recognised. It holds Silver for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 and is.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Year in industry. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code L300). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at University of Kent →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Sociology & Social Sciences graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £30,000 | £24,500 – £35,000 | 1465 |
| 3 years after | £19,000 | £12,000 – £25,000 | 25 |
| 5 years after | £22,000 | £10,000 – £32,000 | 25 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 1,465. Cohort 2021-22.
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in sociology & social sciences · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Sociology & Social Sciences nationally
National figures for Sociology & Social Sciences graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Sociology & Social Sciences courses at the same study level.
Compared with 751 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
Job market & outlook
How Sociology & Social Sciences graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Sociology & Social Sciences graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Local authorities
- Charities & NGOs
- Research organisations
- Government & universities
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Sociology & Social Sciences graduates.
Is this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Published home tuition is £9,790/year for this course. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
Most graduates were in work or further study, with a median salary of £30,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.0 out of 10: NSS 79.6%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Kent
Social sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Canterbury
318 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Sociology & Social Sciences right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to University of Kent from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £19,300 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Kent’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Kent and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Kent
Sociology & Social Sciences at other universities
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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