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BA Sociology

with Year Abroad

Start date
September 2025
Duration
4 years
UCAS code
L30A
Course Type
Undergraduate, Single Honours
Fees

For 2025/26:
£9,535 (UK students) 
£24,470 (International Students) 
More detail on Fees and Funding.

Are we living in a ‘broken society’? What new forms of cultural identity are emerging? What are the effects of globalisation on cultural, economic and political life?

Answering questions such as these is the challenge of our era. The BA Sociology programme will provide you with the knowledge and skills to engage critically with issues such as globalisation, the changing nature of work and the family, gender roles and sexuality, multiculturalism, the impact of the media and information technologies, and new forms of politics. Studying Sociology at Birmingham will provide you with the toolkit to form your own critical judgements on social changes reshaping the world today. 

In addition to these 'big picture' social theories, we place a strong emphasis on developing social science research skills - so valued by employers - with research methods training in each year. This culminates in a final year dissertation where you will research and write an extended piece on a topic of your choice, with the support of an expert supervisor. This reflects our view that you should be doing Sociology, not just reading about it, from the very start of your degree. 

In addition to our Single Honours programme, Sociology can also be studied as part of a range of Joint Honours options including Political Science, Social Policy, Philosophy, and Education.

This course has given me the freedom to discover new passions and future aspirations, with a wide-ranging list of modules spanning across different disciplines. I have been incredibly impressed with how the department encourages their students to reach their full potential, preparing students for their dissertations right from the start with research methods modules. This also showed a clear focus on developing key research-based skills for future careers. Staff went above and beyond, providing extra resources and inspirational guest speakers. My university experience has been a crucial step in securing a scholarship for a Master's in Gender, Policy and Inequality.

Phoebe, Student, BA Sociology with Year Abroad

Modules

The programme has been carefully designed to advance your skills and knowledge each year: from broad, introductory level modules in the first year to specialist options and a substantial piece of independent research in the final year.

First year 

In your first year you will be introduced to degree level sociology through six core modules. These modules will outline key sociological concepts and ideas, and will also introduce you to the basics of research design and methods.

Compulsory

  • The Sociological Imagination
  • Sociology of Everyday Life
  • Introduction to Social Divisions
  • Crime, Justice, and Society
  • Social Research I Part 1
  • Social Research I Part 2
  • Social Problems and Social Policy: Social Science in Action Part I
  • Social Problems and Social Policy: Social Science in Action Part 2 

To be able to take a year abroad you must have an average weighting of 60% by the end of this academic year.

Second year 

The second year of your degree builds on these foundations by developing your understanding of sociological theory. You will also receive more advanced methods training in data analysis which will help prepare you for your final year dissertation. 

Compulsory

  • Modern Sociological Theory
  • Social Research II

You must choose one of the following modules:

  • Gender and Sexuality
  • 'Sociology of Race' and Ethnicity - A Global Perspective
  • Poverty, Class and Inequality

You will then choose your remaining credits from a range of optional modules, such as:

  • 'Sociology of Race' and Thnicity - A Global Perspective
  • Gender and Sexuality
  • Poverty, Class and Inequality
  • Media and Society
  • Sociology of Health and Illness
  • Education, Policy and Social Justice
  • Histories of Criminal Justice and Empire
  • Social Psychology
  • Housing, Home and Place: Issues in Policy
  • Enterprising Solutions to Social Problems
  • Enterprising Solutions to Social Problems
  • Punishment in a Global Context
  • Youth, Crime and Justice

During your second year you must apply for a place at an overseas institution. Full information will be provided during your study and you are supported in making this application. Allocation of places for international exchanges is done by the international office (university-wide competition). The Year Abroad tutor will assist you and be able to offer advice during your studies.

Learn more about your year and semester abroad here.

Year abroad

Your third year will be spent abroad at a university in the EU or elsewhere in the world. After completing your year abroad, you will return for your fourth and final year to the same BA degree programme. During your year abroad, you will be required to choose from a range of modules provided by the host institution and which must be agreed by the exchange tutor.  

There are a wide range of countries and universities from which you can choose. As well as a range of European universities, you may also choose from a range of current institutional partners worldwide. These include countries in which a variety of languages are spoken, including universities at which courses are taught in English. In recent years, students in the department have taken their year abroad in Australia, Canada, Denmark and the United States, among others.

Final year 

The focus of the final year is your independent, supervised dissertation which brings together your research skills on a project defined by you. Your training in key sociological ideas is completed with a module on Contemporary Social Theory, and you can then specialise in the areas of the discipline that interest you most. Our teaching staff, who are active researchers, run options in their own specialist fields including the family, political sociology, celebrity culture, the sociology of technology, religion and society and ethnicity and migration.

If you want to take advantage of a unique opportunity to be supported with a work placement opportunity as part of your final year, this course includes the opportunity to undertake a 'Professional Development' module as part of your optional module choices.

Compulsory

  • Dissertation
  • Contemporary Social Theory

You will choose your remaining credits from a range of optional modules, such as:

  • Technology and Society
  • Mental Health and Society
  • Migration, Mobility and Difference
  • Harmfull Socities: Crime, Social Harm and Social Justice
  • Children as Citizens
  • Crime and the City
  • Drugs: Society, Politics and Policy
  • Quantitative Data Analysis
  • Genocide and Mass Atrocities
  • Power, Control and Resistance
  • Sociology of Success and Spectacle
  • Professional Development

Unless indicated otherwise the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2025.

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Fees

The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If your offer is for 2025 year of entry, we expect that the tuition fee for your first year of study will be £9,535. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay. If you are applying for 2026 year of entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee closer to the time. Visit our tuition fees page for more information.

Learn more about fees and funding.

International students

Full-time Band 1 (Classroom): £24,470

Scholarships

At Birmingham we ensure that fears about finance do not constrain prospective students from considering university and that excellence is rewarded.

The University offers a range of additional financial support for students studying at Birmingham in the form of bursaries, grants and scholarships.

Learn more about our Scholarships and Bursaries.

How To Apply

Apply through UCAS at www.ucas.com using code: L30A.
Learn more about applying.

University of Birmingham's UCAS code number is B32.

Standard offer

International Requirements



Number of A levels required:
3
Typical offer:
ABB
General Studies:
Not accepted

BTEC Extended Diploma, Diploma and Subsidiary Diploma are all considered.

Learn more about entry requirements.

Alternative offers through our Pathways to Birmingham programmes and our Contextual Offer scheme

Students who are eligible and successfully complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme will receive special consideration from admissions tutors and an alternative offer (typically two grades below the standard offer). In addition, our Contextual Offer Scheme recognises the potential of students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement in school or college. If you are eligible to benefit from the contextual offer scheme, you will receive an offer which is one grade lower than the standard offer.

International Students

International Baccalaureate Diploma: 6,5,5 at Higher Level with a minimum of 32 points overall.

Standard English language requirements apply.
Learn more about international entry requirements.

Depending on your chosen course of study, you may also be interested in one of our foundation pathways, which offer specially structured programmes for international students whose qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to UK universities. Further details can be found on Birmingham International Academy web pages.

We pride ourselves on the quality of our teaching. Our staff are active researchers who want to share their enthusiasm for Sociology with you. We believe teaching and learning should be both rigorous and enjoyable, and seek to involve students in continually developing our activities.

We advocate an enquiry-based approach to learning, which means that we encourage you to become an independent and self-motivated learner. Through the programme of study we offer, we will develop the qualities that employers value in today's university graduates - qualities that will set you apart in your future career.

How will I be taught?

During your time as a Sociology student at Birmingham, your learning will be facilitated through a blend of teaching, learning and assessment methods, and you will experience teaching through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops, and tutorials.

Learning settings

Your learning will take place in a range of different settings, from scheduled teaching in lectures and small group tutorials, to self-study and peer group learning (for example preparing and delivering presentations with your classmates).

Two female students studying

Personal tutors

You will be assigned your own personal tutor who will get to know you as you progress through your studies. They will provide academic support and advice to enable you to make the most of your time here at Birmingham.

Support

We have dedicated wellbeing officers who provide professional support, advice and guidance to students across a range of issues. They can meet with you to discuss extensions, disabilities, reasonable adjustments, extenuating circumstances, or talk through any problems you might be experiencing, and help you access wider support on campus and beyond.

Our Academic Skills Centre also offers you support with your learning. The Centre is a place where you can develop your mathematical, academic writing, and general academic skills. It is the Centre's aim to help you to become a more effective and independent learner through the use of a range of high-quality and appropriate learning support services. These range from drop-in sessions to workshops on a range of topics including note taking, reading, writing and presentation skills.

Contact hours

For all undergraduate modules students attend 1 lecture and 1 seminar per week.

Internships and work experience

We have developed a range of internships and funded work experience placements that will enhance both your professional and personal skills whilst giving you the practical experience that is required by almost all graduate employers. In addition to funding and support, we offer unique opportunities to help you to rise above the competition, with global internships and placements available.

The positions of our recent Sociology graduates include:

  • Executive Officer – Civil Service
  • Project Manager – The Home Office
  • Research Fellow – Higher Education
  • Social Media Manager – Rice Media
  • Senior International Officer – Gloucester College
  • Registration Services Officer – UK Public Health Register
  • Road Safety and Evaluation Officer – The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents

Where can your sociology degree take you?



Your Birmingham degree is evidence of your ability to succeed in a demanding academic environment. Employers target Birmingham students for their drive, communication and problem-solving skills, their team-working abilities and cultural awareness, and our graduate employment statistics have continued to climb at a rate well above national trends. If you make the most of our wide range of services, you will be able to develop your career from the moment you arrive.

Careers Network

Preparation for your career should be one of the first things you think about as you start university. Whether you have a clear idea of where your future aspirations lie or want to consider the broad range of opportunities available once you have a Birmingham degree, our Careers Network can help you achieve your goal.

Our unique careers guidance service is tailored to your academic subject area, offering a specialised team (in each of the five academic colleges) who can give you expert advice. Our team source exclusive work experience opportunities to help you stand out amongst the competition, with mentoring, global internships and placements available to you. Once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CVs and job applications will help give you the edge. In addition, our employer-endorsed, Birmingham Award recognises your extra-curricular activities, and provides an accredited employability programme designed to improve your career prospects.

Careers Fair in the Great Hall, University of Birmingham

We also offer voluntary work which complements your studies by helping you gain practical experiences in occupational settings while contributing back to society. This can bring new skills that will be useful throughout your future and can make a positive impact on your learning whilst at university. Volunteering enables you to develop skills such as communication, interpersonal skills, teamwork, self-confidence and self-discipline, all of which can be transferred into your studies.

Visit the University of Birmingham Careers pages for further information about how we are 'connecting you to your future'.

Career opportunities

Our graduates enter a variety of occupations including management training, social and market research, policy and campaigns, the media, law, and teaching. The Careers team offer drop in one-to-one advice sessions, web resources and workshops on developing a CV and getting the most out of a social science degree. They invite speakers from different organisations, and Birmingham Sociology graduates, to discuss their career experiences and offer advice on navigating the job market.

My time at the University of Birmingham as a Sociology student was very positive. After gaining a first-class honours degree, I have been able to undertake my PGCE and hope to begin my career by teaching Sociology in a college or sixth form. However, the University has also encouraged me to strive for my goal of becoming a university lecturer. The excellent support during my final year of study enabled my dissertation to be published which has further sparked by interest in becoming a researcher and lecturer. I hope in the future to complete a Masters followed by a PhD and without the University of Birmingham, I never would have imagined such a career path to be possible.

Hannah Beasley, Sociology graduate