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Check eligibility →BA (Hons) Sociology Bachelor's degree at UWE Bristol
BA (Hons) Sociology at UWE Bristol covers core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills.
About this course
BA(Hons) Sociology (with Foundation Year) provides opportunities to work with leading experts and develop your own insights into how to make a difference. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Sociology is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at UWE Bristol, based in University of the West of England. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For Social sciences graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 55% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £27,000. (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.
Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 85% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 35% (2021-23; 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 zero (Foundation year) 4 modules
- Essentials of Academic PracticeCompulsory
- Exploring the Social World and the Problems of CrimeCompulsory
- From Plato to NatoCompulsory
- Psychology, Policing and SocietyCompulsory
Year one 5 modules
- Foundations in Social TheoryCompulsory
Module details
Provides a solid foundation in sociological knowledge by covering theories from the 'Founding Fathers' (Marx, Weber, Durkheim) through to contemporary feminism and applying their ideas to our everyday lives.
- Social Issues and Social ProblemsCompulsory
Module details
Covers diverse 'problems' (poverty, riots, drug misuse) to examine how Sociology makes a difference in the 'real world' by addressing pressing and complex social issues to identify policy solutions.
- Comparing CulturesCompulsory
Module details
Challenges assumptions about our contemporary western, capitalist lifestyles by comparisons with other 'non-modern' ways of life to raise profound questions around the supposed superiority of our society and its future sustainability.
- Critical Thinking (Sociology and Criminology)Compulsory
Module details
Develops critical thinking capacities vital to higher education through symposia designed to enable an appreciation of the ambiguity and uncertainty of knowledge and the importance of advancing structured and coherent arguments to academic success.
- Becoming a Social Scientist - Introducing Social ResearchCompulsory
Module details
Cultivates the sociological imagination to examine how 'the private troubles of individuals reflect and constitute the public issues of our times' (C. Wright Mills) while providing the basics of social research skills.
Year two 6 modules
- Theorising Social LifeCompulsory
Module details
Deepens knowledge of sociological theories through applying key theorists (for example, Bourdieu, Foucault and Ahmed) to a range of stimulating themes and topics (social class, gender and sexuality, 'race', culture, environment and work).
- Research, Theory and Practice: Developing Skills for Life and WorkCompulsory
Module details
This module will provide students with the knowledge and skills to conduct sociological research, evaluate and think critically about knowledge, research, and their positionality as researchers and individuals in society, and to reflect on their own skills, experiences and abilities for post-university life and employment.
- Gender and SocietyOptional
Module details
Examines gendered power relations amongst women and between women and men and explores gender identities and inequalities through focussing on a range of practices and phenomena (dieting, dating, drag queens, etc).
- Difference': 'Race', Ethnicity and Diversity in Contemporary SocietyOptional
Module details
Uses our multi-cultural city of Bristol as a starting point for exploring diversity in a national and global context through a highly varied set of themes and topics (slavery, immigration, Islamophobia, etc).
- Mind, Emotion and Society: an Introduction to Psychosocial StudiesOptional
Module details
Introduces the innovative field of psychosocial studies, examining the reciprocal influence between the less rational side of our minds and current social dynamics, and how to understand and investigate them.
- Modernity and Global IntimaciesOptional
Module details
This module explores in detail the sociology of intimacy, families, and personal life across different contexts, cultures, and countries.
Placement year 2 modules
- Placement LearningOptional
- Learning and DevelopmentOptional
Final year 10 modules
- Sociology Project and Placement ModuleCompulsory
Module details
You can either conduct an independent research project under the supervision of an expert in the sociological field in which the project is located, or undertake a short work placement and produce a critical reflection on this, drawing on sociological research and theory.
- Contemporary Critiques of Modern SocietyOptional
Module details
Utilises advanced sociological theory to explain the crisis of modernity and discuss its possible resolution in relation to the big global issues (genocide, environmental catastrophe, economic collapse, war, etc).
- Digital Media and SocietyOptional
Module details
Investigates the main social effects on our everyday lives of the proliferation of new communication technologies and computational devices within the context of an informational capitalist society dominated by networked power.
- A Sociology of SustainabilityOptional
Module details
the description will be published here as soon as possible.
- Protest, Policing and Public OrderOptional
Module details
Uses key concepts to produce a case study analysis of the mobilisation and policing of protest groups and social movements ranging from gay liberation and animal rights through to Extinction Rebellion and #Blacklivesmatter.
- Sociology of Sexes, Genders, and SexualitiesOptional
Module details
Explores social constructions and framings of sex, gender and sexuality- identity categories often assumed to be fixed and congruent, and investigates how they operate to provide a framework for society and for our individual lives and life course.
- Stop, Look, Listen! A Sociology of CultureOptional
Module details
Uses cutting edge theory to problematise what culture is across a range of cultural fields, but with a particular emphasis on popular music as reflects the academic expertise of the module leader.
- Sociology of Human, Non-Human and Environmental RightsOptional
Module details
Explores the theory, practise and violation of the rights of humans, animals and even nature itself, subjecting their impact on economy, society and politics to sociological critique, with a special focus on arguably the most extreme form of rights violation: genocide and ecocide.
- Childhood Disorder and Disordered ChildhoodOptional
Module details
Explores elements of contemporary childhood (e.g. poverty, medicalisation, fatherlessness, etc) through the lens of order/disorder within the framework of a late modernity that may be producing the over-regulation of children.
- Sociology StudyOptional
Module details
Designed to twin with the Social Sciences Placement Year and provides you with an opportunity to further consider and critically analyse a topic which speaks to your experiences on the Placement Year and/ or your Sociological interests.
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 offers opportunities to work with leading experts and develop insights into how to make a difference through studying society. A typical Sociology degree builds from foundations to specialist options. You'll usually begin with core modules such as Introduction to Sociology, exploring class, gender, race and social order; Social Problems & Policy, examining how societies respond to inequality; and Researching Society, covering interviews, surveys and research ethics. In Year 2, you'll progress to Social Theory, from Marx and Weber to contemporary thinkers, and quantitative and qualitative data analysis. You can specialise in areas such as Criminology, Social Policy, Gender & Identity, Migration, or Social Work Routes. Year 3 typically includes specialist options, research-led seminars on contemporary debates, and a dissertation where you conduct your own empirical or theoretical social research project.
Who it's for
Most entrants to this course hold another higher-education qualification, 90% of accepted students came in with prior higher-education experience. The part-time format suits those balancing study with other commitments. First-year continuation is strong: 89% of students continue past their first year, either still enrolled or having completed.
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 in work, 55% are in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries (at 15 months) typically range from £23,000 to £30,000, rising to £20,400–£28,800 after three years and £24,650–£34,800 after five years. These figures reflect national outcomes; individual outcomes vary.
University & format
BA (Hons) Sociology is studied part-time at UWE Bristol, a public university founded in 1970, based in the University of the West of England. The course is taught in English. As a recognised UK degree-awarding body, UWE Bristol's degrees are nationally recognised. The university holds a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
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
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Placement year. 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
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 | 90% |
| a previous degree | 5% |
| A-levels or equivalent | 5% |
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
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at UWE Bristol →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
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.
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 | £27,000 | £23,000 – £32,000 | 15 |
| 3 years after | £23,000 | £18,500 – £28,000 | 25 |
| 5 years after | £27,500 | £22,500 – £36,000 | 25 |
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
- 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.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. 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.
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.
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
- Managers, directors and senior officialsSOC 2020 1 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £51,733
- Information Technology ProfessionalsSOC 2020 213 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £55,357
- Teaching and Childcare Support OccupationDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Nursing ProfessionalsSOC 2020 223 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £37,597
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: 25; response rate: 55%. 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.
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
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. 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
85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £27,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 6.0 out of 10: in work or study 85% · continued 35%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of the West of England, Bristol
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 University of the West of England
547 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 UWE Bristol from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by UWE Bristol; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. 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 UWE Bristol’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 UWE Bristol and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at UWE Bristol
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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