MA (Hons) Sociology and Spanish & Latin American Studies · University of AberdeenBachelor's degree · 5 years
Request information University profile
University of Aberdeen · Undergraduate

MA (Hons) Sociology and Spanish & Latin American Studies Bachelor's degree at the University of Aberdeen

MA (Hons) Sociology and Spanish & Latin American Studies at University of Aberdeen. You will engage with core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills development.

MA (Hons)
Award
5
Years
Full-time
Study mode
90%
in work/study (15m)

About this course

MA (Hons) Sociology and Spanish & Latin American Studies is a Bachelor's degree (MA (Hons)) at the University of Aberdeen, based in Old Aberdeen. It runs 5 years, studied full-time.

For Sociology graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 45% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (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.

8.6
/ 10
Excellent
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Excellent83

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)

Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Exceptional90

Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Excellent84

Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 84% (2022-23; 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.

Year 1 9 modules
  • Academic Writing for Language & LiteratureCompulsory
    Module details

    This compulsory evaluation is designed to find out if your academic writing is of a sufficient standard to enable you to succeed at university and, if you need it, to provide support to improve. It is completed on-line via MyAberdeen with clear instructions to guide you through it.

  • Getting Started at the University of AberdeenCompulsory
    Module details

    This course, which is prescribed for level 1 undergraduate students and articulating students who are in their first year at the University, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across the first 4 weeks of term. Topics include University orientation overview, equality & diversity, MySkills, health, safety and cyber security, and academic integrity.

  • Spanish Language 1Compulsory15 credits
    Module details

    This is a fast-paced and intensive language course for students with very little or no previous knowledge of Spanish. It is aimed at students intending to pursue an honours (single or joint) degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies but is also suitable for students on other degree programmes. This course involves intensive language study.

  • Spanish Language 2Optional15 credits
    Module details

    This is a fast-paced language course for students with some previous knowledge of Spanish. It is aimed at students intending to pursue an honours (single or joint) degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies but is also suitable for students on other degree programmes. This course involves intensive language study.

  • Spanish Language 3Optional15 credits
    Module details

    This course follows Spanish Language 2 or can be taken by students who have the required level of Spanish.

  • Spain and Spanish America: History, Culture, PoliticsOptional15 credits
    Module details

    The course introduces students to colonial encounters ranging from Muslim Iberia to the pre-conquest Americas and continuing into the period of the Spanish Empire. From the nineteenth century, conquest and colonial encounters continued as newly-independent Spanish American states seized indigenous territories, while colonial mentalities re-surfaced in contexts as diverse as the Spanish Civil War and Southern Cone dirty wars. These examples show how colonial encounters helped shape contemporary S

  • Introduction to Sociology I: Self, Identity & SocietyOptional15 credits
    Module details

    Sociology is the study of human social groups. It particularly focuses on modern societies, analysing how they work and how the major social institutions in them (such as religion, the media, government and the economy) operate. The course provides students with a general introduction to the unique manner in which sociologists seek to understand contemporary societies. Students are presented with current and classical approaches to understanding the social processes that underlie self-constructi

  • The Global City in Text and FilmOptional15 credits
    Module details

    Focusing on major cities in Europe and the Americas, this course unit uses a range of texts, including films, poetry and fiction, to investigate urban spaces as sites of promise, power and loss. Representations of global cities, and experiences of urban dwellers, highlight themes such as empire, identity, leisure, labour and love. Set amid glittering facades and gritty back streets, the texts studied in this course explore the many meanings of the urban experience across place and time. These ur

  • Introduction to Sociology II: Systems of PowerOptional15 credits
    Module details

    This course is an introduction to macro-sociology, which analyses the ways that people's lives are shaped by large-scale forces, structures, and institutions. Students are introduced to the particular ways in which classical and contemporary sociologists understand social forces in the modern domestic and global environment and learn to think critically about those social forces that impact their everyday lives using the sociological imagination. Substantive topics likely to be covered in this c

Year 2 4 modules
  • Spanish Language 4Compulsory15 credits
    Module details

    This course aims to prepare intending Honours students of Spanish and Latin American Studies for their compulsory period abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. The course will develop further Spanish language skills, both receptive and productive. Classes on grammatical and linguistic analysis will contribute to the development of both sets of skills. In addition students will complete a structured self learning programme of audio-visual study and grammatical reinforcement study.

  • Latin America: Texts and ContextsOptional15 credits
    Module details

    This course uses texts, which can include plays, films, novels, music, letters and an etiquette guide, to understand issues, concerns and themes in Latin American history. The course is organised chronologically and each week classes focus on texts from a particular country as a means to discuss bigger questions, such as how to make a new nation after three hundred years of colonial rule and a decade of warfare, how to demonstrate your honourability in an anonymous city and what cultural models

  • Sociology of Everyday Life i: the Embodied SelfOptional30 credits
    Module details

    This follows on from level-one sociology. It is designed to highlight the ways that sociological theory informs the research endeavour, not only the questions sociologists raise, but also the particular modes through which we go about investigating them. The module examines these points in relation to a range of micro-level topics – the body, food and feeding, health and illness, the emotions, group behaviour, sex and gender, the life course and death and dying – all of which emphasise the natur

  • Sociology of Everyday Life II: Global Issues in the 21st CenturyOptional30 credits
    Module details

    This macro-sociology course extends students' understanding of large-scale social, as well as political and economic, processes and institutions. Particular focus is on the sociological analysis of global issues and socio-political controversies, many of which are subject to topical and

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

You'll study sociology alongside Spanish and Latin American cultures and societies, combining social theory with linguistic and regional expertise. A course like this typically opens with the foundations of sociology, class, gender, race and social order, and research methods in interviews and surveys. In your second year, you'll move to social theory and data analysis, with opportunities to specialise in areas such as criminology, social policy, gender and identity, or migration. By your final years, you'll pursue specialist options aligned with your interests, engage with contemporary social debates through research-led seminars, and conduct your own empirical or theoretical research project. The Spanish and Latin American studies component runs alongside, building language proficiency and contextual knowledge of the region's social and political landscapes.

Who it's for

This course suits students interested in understanding social structures, cultural contexts, and Spanish-speaking societies. You should hold A-levels or equivalent qualifications; recent entrants typically arrived with UCAS tariffs between 176 and 191 points. Full-time study is the mode of delivery.

Careers & job market

Across sociology and social sciences nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries of £23,000–£30,000 at 15 months; after three years, £20,400–£28,800; and after five years, £24,650–£34,800. These figures reflect the broader field rather than a guaranteed salary. First-year retention stands at 89% nationally for this subject area.

University & format

This degree is offered by the University of Aberdeen, a public university founded in 1495 and located in Old Aberdeen. The MA (Hons) is a 5-year full-time course taught in English. It is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so your qualification will be nationally recognised. The university also offers bursaries and scholarships. Check their funding pages for details.

Student satisfaction

How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.

The teaching on my course
90%
Learning opportunities
80%
Assessment and feedback
73%
Academic Support
91%
Organisation and management
76%
Learning resources
94%
Student voice
79%

Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 82%.

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.

Application timelineWhat happens next
  1. 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted

    Your application needs a reference before you can send it.

  2. 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  3. 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

  4. 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline

    18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.

Show 5 later dates
  1. 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens

    Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.

  2. 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers

    Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.

  3. 2027 entryClearing opens

    Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.

  4. 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  5. 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

Entry & how to get in

Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent100% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 176 - 191 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check the University of Aberdeen's official course page for the current offer.

Who gets in

What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.

UCAS tariff of entrants

Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.

Qualifications held on entry

QualificationShare
A-levels or equivalent100%

Entry & your chances

An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.

Competitive entry

Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.

Will you get in? Plot your grades

Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.

Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.

Add your grades to see where you land

Your points will drop onto the distribution above, with an honest above / within / below read.

Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.

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.

Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesA*A*A*+A-level equivalent admitted students held
UCAS codeRL43quote this on your application
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course (code RL43). One application covers up to five choices.

  2. 2
    Write 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.

  3. 3
    Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time

    UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.

  4. 4
    Reply to your offers

    When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.

  5. 5
    Results 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.

💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask University of Aberdeen whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.

Fees & funding

What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.

Tuition per year

International£20,800 / yr

Provider fee page. Set under Scotland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.

Check fees at University of Aberdeen →

If you normally live in Scotland

For eligible Scottish-domiciled students at an eligible Scottish provider, SAAS can pay tuition directly. Living-cost support can combine bursary and loan and depends on household income and student circumstances. Students from elsewhere use their home funding body.

Check the current amounts with SAAS →

Paying for it

  • SAAS tuition payment: paid directly to the university for eligible Scottish-domiciled students, applied for through SAAS.
  • Living-cost support: a mix of bursary and loan from SAAS, depending on household income.
  • Repayment: only above the Scottish repayment threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
  • Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.

Scotland runs its own system through SAAS; check saas.gov.uk for current rates.

Funding matched to this course

Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for

All University of Aberdeen funding →

Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.

Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.

StudyKit · free

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.

Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check

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

WhenMedianTypical rangeGraduates
15 months after£24,000£22,500 – £30,00015
3 years after£23,000£20,000 – £26,50030
5 years after£28,500£21,500 – £33,00035

Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.

Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course

90%
in work or further study 15 months on
45%
in highly skilled work or study
84%
continue past their first year
60%
find their work meaningful
55%
say work fits their future plans
  1. 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in sociology & social sciences · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
  4. 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs

How pay grows: this course vs Sociology & Social Sciences nationally

Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£24,000
£23,000 – £30,000
After 3 years LEO
£23,000
£20,400 – £28,800
After 5 years LEO
£28,500
£24,650 – £34,800
national rangethis course’s medianaxis £19,000 – £36,000

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.

What happened to 100 students?

Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.

90 of 100

were in work or further study

15 months after graduation

65% working20% working and studying5% in further study45% in highly skilled work or study

Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.

Value compared with similar courses

How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Sociology & Social Sciences courses at the same study level.

This course £28,500Peer median £29,000Middle 50% £26,500–£33,000
41st percentile

Compared with 751 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.

UK occupations graduates enter

Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.

  • Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
  • Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
  • Managers, directors and senior officialsSOC 2020 1 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £51,733
  • Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
  • Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
  • Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660

Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 35; response rate: 75%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.

Job market & outlook

How Sociology & Social Sciences graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.

85%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Sociology & Social Sciences courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes
55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled
89%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuation

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.

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.

Live from the StudySmarter job board · as of 2026-08-01.See all matching jobs

Is this course right for you?

The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.

💷

Student finance

Fees for this course are set under Scotland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is paid by SAAS directly to the university, applied for through SAAS and not Student Finance England. Living-cost support is a mix of bursary and loan, and you repay only above the Scottish threshold.

📈

Where graduates go

90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £24,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.

🎯

Your entry chances

Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.

Official-data snapshot

Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.6 out of 10: NSS 83.3% · in work or study 90% · continued 84%.

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

The University of Aberdeen

All students13,930
International18.8%
Aged 25+29.2%

Social sciences across the UK

Students275,900
Aged 25+37%

HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.

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 Aberdeen from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.

Tuition fees

International tuition is £20,800 / 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

University of Aberdeen offers the Aberdeen Global Scholarship (£6,000/yr) for international students, see Scholarships above.

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 Aberdeen and gov.uk before you apply.

Common questions

Entry is competitive. Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 176 - 191 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
Set by the University of Aberdeen. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
For Sociology graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 45% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
Fees for this course are set under Scotland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is paid by SAAS directly to the university, applied for through SAAS and not Student Finance England. Living-cost support is a mix of bursary and loan, and you repay only above the Scottish threshold. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
No obligation

Request information about MA (Hons) Sociology and Spanish & Latin American Studies

Prospectus, key dates, entry and funding, free to your inbox.

No spam · unsubscribe anytime.