BA (Hons) Social Sciences Bachelor's degree at West of Scotland
BA (Hons) Social Sciences at West of Scotland. You'll study core theory alongside research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills development.
About this course
BA (Hons) Social Sciences is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at West of Scotland, based in Paisley,Lanarkshire. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For Social sciences graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £34,000. (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 Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 68% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
A typical UK Sociology & Social Sciences degree builds from foundations to specialist options and a final project. An indicative structure:
| Stage | Module |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Introduction to Sociology The classic questions: class, gender, race and social order. |
| Year 1 | Social Problems & Policy How societies define and respond to inequality and harm. |
| Year 1 | Researching Society I Interviews, surveys and ethics, social research in practice. |
| Year 2 | Social Theory From Marx and Weber to contemporary theorists. |
| Year 2 | Researching Society II Quantitative and qualitative analysis of real data. |
| Year 2 | Applied streams Criminology, social policy or childhood studies on many courses. |
| Year 3 | Specialist options Typically migration, media & society, health, or crime and justice. |
| Year 3 | Contemporary Debates Research-led seminars on live social questions. |
| Year 3 | Dissertation Your own empirical or theoretical social research project. |
Typical structure for this subject (indicative). Modules vary by university. Check the provider's course page for the exact curriculum.
Specialisations & pathways
Tip: click a specialisation → current jobs in that area.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
You'll study how societies are structured and how social problems emerge and are addressed. A course like this typically begins with foundations in sociology, exploring class, gender, race and social order, alongside practical training in social research methods, interviews, surveys and research ethics. As you progress into the second year, you'll engage with social theory from classical thinkers to contemporary scholars, and develop your analytical skills through quantitative and qualitative data analysis. From the outset, you can shape your learning towards specialisations such as criminology, social policy, gender and identity, migration, or social work routes. In your final year, you'll typically choose from specialist options reflecting your interests, engage with research-led seminars on current social questions, and complete your own empirical or theoretical research project as a dissertation.
Who it's for
Most entrants to this course hold another higher-education qualification, 85% of accepted students arrive with prior higher-education experience. The part-time structure suits those balancing study with work or other commitments. The University of West of Scotland has 15,555 students overall.
Careers & job market
Across Sociology and Social Sciences courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after completing their degree. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. National Graduate Outcomes data shows starting salaries (at 15 months) typically range from £23,000 to £30,000, rising to £24,650–£34,800 after five years. The university also offers bursaries and scholarships. Check their funding pages for details.
University & format
This BA (Hons) Social Sciences degree is delivered by the University of West of Scotland, located in Paisley, Lanarkshire. The course is studied part-time and taught in English. As a programme from a recognised UK degree-awarding body, your degree is nationally recognised. The university also offers bursaries and scholarships. Check its funding pages for details.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Names detected beside accreditation or recognition copy on the provider course page; verify the route and intake.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
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
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| another higher-education qualification | 85% |
| A-levels or equivalent | 11% |
| a previous degree | 4% |
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. 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. Set under Scotland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at West of Scotland →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.
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 | £34,000 | £29,000 – £39,000 | 325 |
| 3 years after | £28,000 | £22,500 – £31,500 | 55 |
| 5 years after | £33,500 | £26,000 – £37,500 | 55 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 325. Cohort 2021-22.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 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.
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.
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 325. Cohort 2021-22. 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.
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.
Sociology AdjunctCommonwealth Of VirginiaSociology ECT - High-Achieving Secondary School in BrightonMarchant RecruitmentHead of Psychology and SociologyTeacherActiveIs 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
Most graduates were in work or further study, with a median salary of £34,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 6.8 out of 10: continued 68%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of West of Scotland
Social sciences across the UK
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 West of Scotland from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £15,500 / 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 West of Scotland’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 West of Scotland and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at West of Scotland
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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