BA Sociology
About this course
BA Hons in Sociology, a sociology degree centred on the study of social structures, inequalities, and everyday life. Core topics include Statistics, Research Methods, Project Management, Policy Analysis, Communication & Writing, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Social & Cultural Analysis, Global & Comparative Perspective. The final year culminates in an independent research project where students conduct an original investigation on a chosen topic. The first year introduces foundational concepts through core modules such as Thinking Sociologically, Researching Society: Principles and Practices, Framing Social Issues, and Public Sociology: Understanding and Creating Social Change. Optional modules in the first year allow exploration in areas such as criminology, media, politics, philosophy, and linguistics. The second year advances theoretical and methodological training with core modules including Global Social Theory: Connecting Sociologies, Research in Action: Methods for Investigating the Social World, and Designing Sociological Research, alongside optional studies in gender, race, welfare, and digital cultures. The final year deepens expertise through Advanced Sociological Theories and Applications and the Sociology Independent Project, supported by specialized options covering environmental crises, health, migration, and media industries.
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: BBB IB: 30 points overall with 15 points from the best 3 HL subjects
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 89%: 81 offers from 91 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 12 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 88%
- Learning opportunities: 85%
- Assessment and feedback: 69%
- Academic support: 96%
- Organisation and management: 69%
- Learning resources: 90%
- Student voice: 74%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 10 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 80%
- Working and studying: 15%
- Further study: 5%
Most common jobs
- Administrative occupations: 25%
- Teaching Professionals: 15%
- Caring personal services: 15%
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 15%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 15%
- Find their work meaningful: 60%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 70%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 60%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 75 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 60%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 3%
- East Midlands: 1%
- West Midlands: 14%
- East of England: 5%
- London: 9%
- South East: 5%
- South West: 1%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 90%
- Other HE qualification: 10%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Thinking Sociologically
- Researching Society: Principles and Practices
- Framing Social Issues
- Public Sociology: Understanding and Creating Social Change
- Contemporary Social Issues 1: Power, Inequality and Everyday Life
- Contemporary Social Issues 2: Social Issues in a Changing World
- Explaining Criminology
- Doing Criminology: How We Know About Crime
- Crime and Popular Culture
- A Brief History of Crime and Criminology
- British Cinema
- Foundations of Language
- English across Space and Time
- English in Use
- Language in Mind and Society
- Understanding Media and Culture
- Media, Power and Identity
- Transformations in Digital Media
- Screens and Selves
- Global Challenges in World Politics
- Parties, Populism and Protest
- Policy Lab
- Political Theory for a Troubled World
- British Politics: Political Ideas in Action
- Ethics: How Should I Live?
- Global Religions and Society
- History of Philosophy: Ideas that Shaped the West
- History of Philosophy: Resistance and Inclusion
- Knowledge and Reality in a Complex World
- Political Philosophy: How Should we Live Together?
- Global Social Theory: Connecting Sociologies
- Research in Action: Methods for Investigating the Social World
- Designing Sociological Research
- Race, Racism and Inequality
- Transnational Debates on Gender and Society
- Welfare States: Poverty, Policy and Politics
- Gender and Sexuality in Popular Culture
- Youth Justice
- Organised Crime
- Cybercrime and Cybercriminality
- Contemporary Issues in Policing
- Digital Cultures
- Visual Cultures
- Classic Hollywood Genres
- Film Theory and Aesthetics
- Film, Gender, Race and Ideology
- Discourse Studies
- Language and Creativity in Advertising
- Democracy, Dictatorship and Everything in Between
- Theories of Power and the State
- Who Governs Britain? Policy, Politics and Political Change
- Global Superpowers
- Politics of the Global South
- Global Religions, Women and Gender
- Applied Philosophy: Decisions that Change the World
- Language, Communication and Knowledge
- Mind, World and Science
- Advanced Sociological Theories and Applications
- Sociology Independent Project
- Environment and Society: Crisis, Justice and Change
- Health, Bodies and Social Reproduction
- Migration, Inequalities and Societies
- Green Criminology
- Gendered Harm and Justice
- Drugs, Crime and Society
- Hate Crime
- Crimes and Harms of the Powerful
- Crime and Media
- Film Circulation, Exhibition and Audiences
- Film Industries, Practices and Movements
- Global Film Genres
- The Making of Media and AI Futures
- Media Industries
- Audiences, Fans and Participatory Cultures
- Mediating the Body
- Environment and Development
- Democracy Under Pressure
- Critical Political Theory
- Parliamentary Studies
- Policymaking in the Real World
- The Politics of Crises and the Future of Governance
- Russia and China
- Politics of Latin America and Africa
- Politics of the Middle East and Asia Pacific
- The Politics of Borders and Migration
- Philosophy and Popular Culture
- Philosophy For Times of Global Crisis
- State and Religion
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Sociology at Lancaster University earn?
The median salary is £26,000 after 15 months, £23,000 after 3 years, £26,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £21,500 and £33,000. The £26,500 median after five years is the same as the UK median for Sociology.
What do graduates of BA Sociology at Lancaster University do next?
100% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Sociology at Lancaster 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 Sociology at Lancaster University?
The typical offer is BBB at A level, or 30 points in the IB. The average entrant had 147 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Sociology at Lancaster University?
89% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 81 offers from 91 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
How many students continue on BA Sociology at Lancaster University?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.