BA Education Studies - Sociology
About this course
The BA (Hons) Education Studies - Sociology degree combines the study of education with sociology, bringing education and sociological analysis together in one programme. Core topics include Research Methods and Social & Cultural Analysis. Students can apply to add a placement year or a study-abroad year at an overseas partner institution, extending the programme from three to four years. The first year covers educational research and sociological foundations through Encountering Educational Research, "Why do we have to go to class?": Introducing sociologies of education, Education in Question, Societies in Transition and Classical Sociological Theory. Year two focuses on research design and appraisal in Researching Education, contemporary debates in The Trouble with Education, and theoretical perspectives in Modern and Contemporary Sociological Theory, with options including Learning Lives, Constructing Childhood and Youth, Sociology of Education and Sociology of Health and Medicine. The final year pairs the compulsory Dissertation, an independent research project on an area of interest within education, and Education Reimagined (New Module: 20 credits), where students work on responding to real-world educational challenges, with options such as Issues in Criminal Justice (Inside-Out), Race, Racism and Social Justice in Britain, Education, Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Evidence and Educational Policy. Elsewhere in the programme, optional modules span areas including higher education and exclusion, crime and social inequalities, and the politics of knowledge.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: AAB IB: 35 with 665 in higher level subjects
See the highest paying Social Sciences degrees in the UK →
See the highest paying Education & Teaching degrees in the UK →
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 50%: 5 offers from 10 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 24 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 88%
- Learning opportunities: 85%
- Assessment and feedback: 91%
- Academic support: 88%
- Organisation and management: 90%
- Learning resources: 88%
- Student voice: 85%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 50 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 6 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 80%
- Unemployed: 10%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 17%
- Elementary occupations: 12%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 9%
- Administrative occupations: 8%
- Protective service occupations: 8%
- Find their work meaningful: 97%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 88%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 91%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 155 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 45%
- North West: 10%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 13%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 7%
- London: 11%
- South East: 5%
- South West: 2%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 2%
Who gets in
Based on about 55 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 98%
- Baccalaureate: 1%
- Other qualifications: 1%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Encountering Educational Research
- "Why do we have to go to class?": Introducing sociologies of education
- Education in Question
- Societies in Transition
- Classical Sociological Theory
- Researching Education
- The Trouble with Education
- Modern and Contemporary Sociological Theory
- Example optional modules
- Dissertation
- Education Reimagined (New Module: 20 credits)
- Example optional modules
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Education Studies - Sociology at Durham University earn?
The median salary is £31,500 after 15 months, £26,500 after 3 years, £32,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,500 and £35,000. The £32,500 median after five years is £6,000 more than the UK median for Sociology.
What do graduates of BA Education Studies - Sociology at Durham University do next?
80% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Education Studies - Sociology at Durham University?
88% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Education Studies - Sociology at Durham University?
The typical offer is AAB at A level. The average entrant had 90 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Education Studies - Sociology at Durham University?
50% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 5 offers from 10 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Education Studies - Sociology at Durham University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Education Studies - Sociology at Durham University?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.