BA Sociology
About this course
The BA (Hons) Sociology is an undergraduate degree examining how individuals and collective action interact with wider cultural and institutional contexts. Core topics include Statistics, Research Methods, and Social & Cultural Analysis. Applied research runs through the degree, with a group research project in the second year and a compulsory dissertation project in the final year. An optional placement with a local community organisation allows the application of sociological knowledge in practice. The first year establishes foundations through Classical Sociological Theory, Social Research Methods, Culture and Identity in a Changing World, Power, Rights and Justice in Globalising Contexts and Critical Scholarship in the Social Sciences. First-year options can include Introduction to Criminological Theory, Decolonising Knowledge and Power and a language module from the Centre for Foreign Language Study. In the second year the compulsory modules are Modern and Contemporary Sociological Theory and Research Methods in Action, the latter built around a group research project designed and carried out by students. Optional modules at this stage span areas such as Communities and Social Justice, Crime, Power and Social Inequalities, Sociology of Education and Violence and Abuse in Society. The final year is anchored by the compulsory 40-credit Dissertation project, in which students design and carry out research on a topic of their choosing in Sociology or Social Policy. Later-year options then extend into fields including Cyberculture and Cybercrime, Race, Racism and Social Justice in Britain, Drugs and Society and Social Policy.
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
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 90%: 130 offers from 145 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 26 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 90%
- Learning opportunities: 84%
- Assessment and feedback: 82%
- Academic support: 92%
- Organisation and management: 72%
- Learning resources: 90%
- Student voice: 80%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 80 students who started
- Continued on course: 94%
- Left higher education: 2%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 4%
What graduates do next
Based on about 25 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 60%
- Working and studying: 20%
- Further study: 15%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 20%
- Administrative occupations: 15%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Finance Professionals: 5%
- Media Professionals: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 60%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 30%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 100 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 19%
- North West: 8%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 11%
- East Midlands: 4%
- West Midlands: 4%
- East of England: 9%
- London: 25%
- South East: 10%
- South West: 3%
- Wales: 3%
- Scotland: 2%
Who gets in
Based on about 85 students who started
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Classical Sociological Theory - 20 credits
- Social Research Methods - 20 credits
- Culture and Identity in a Changing World - 20 credits
- Power, Rights and Justice in Globalising Contexts - 20 credits
- Critical Scholarship in the Social Sciences - 20 credits
- Example optional modules
- Modern and Contemporary Sociological Theory - 20 credits
- Research Methods in Action - 20 credits
- Example optional modules
- Dissertation project - 40 credits
- Example optional modules
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Sociology at Durham University earn?
The median salary is £30,000 after 15 months, £26,500 after 3 years, £30,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £26,500 and £39,000. The £30,500 median after five years is £4,000 more than the UK median for Sociology.
What do graduates of BA Sociology at Durham University do next?
95% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Sociology at Durham University?
90% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Sociology at Durham University?
The typical offer is AAB at A level. The average entrant had 143 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Sociology at Durham University?
90% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 130 offers from 145 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA 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 Sociology at Durham University?
94% of students continued into their second year, and 2% left higher education.