BA Sociology
About this course
BA in Sociology BA, a sociology degree centred on social and cultural analysis. Core topics include Statistics, Research Methods, Communication & Writing, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Social & Cultural Analysis, and Global & Comparative Perspective. The curriculum explores methodologies for investigating societal issues and potential approaches to driving future social change. The first year establishes core foundations through compulsory modules such as Doing Social Research, Social divisions and inequalities: causes, patterns and change, Introduction to Social Theory, Theories of Society, and Understanding and challenging inequality: Sociological and policy debate, alongside optional choices including Sociology of hope, community and social justice, British Politics, World Politics, and Gender Politics. The second year advances analytical skills with compulsory modules covering Sociological Theory and Analysis, Doing Quantitative Sociological Research, Doing Qualitative Sociological Research, and Emerging Themes in Sociology, together with diverse optional studies such as Digital Media and Social Change, The Sociology of Crime, Sociology of Media and Consumer Culture, Sociology of Family: Continuity and Change, Dynamics of Social Change and Policy, In Sickness and in Health: The Sociology of Medicine, Crime, Justice and Social Policy, Men, Feminism and Gender relations, Solidarity: Politics, Law, and Society across the Globe, Sociology of the Body, Understanding 'Race' and Migration, Social Problems: Policy and Practice, Feminism, Ethnography of Faith, Spirituality and Wellbeing, Children and Digital Cultures, and Cities, Violence and Security. The final year centres on independent inquiry through the compulsory Dissertation in Sociology module, complemented by numerous optional studies addressing topics such as Children, Families and Welfare States, Digital Marketing and Consumer Culture, Race, technology and digital media, Intimacy and Personal Relationships, Queer Identities in the Media, Global Data Industries, Organised Crime and Illicit Markets, Digital Identities, Protest, Movements and Social Change, Sociology of Evil, Whiteness, Power and Privilege, Reimagining Care: Families, Services and Policies, Algorithms, AI and Society, Sex Work: Rights, Regulation and Resistance, Digital Health, What it means to be human, and Sociological Futures: Creating change beyond the academy.
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: ABB IB: 33; 32, with B in the extended essay
Real offers for this course
Applicants have posted 1 UCAS decision for BA Sociology (L300) at the University of Sheffield for 2027 entry so far. The published offer is ABB at A level.
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 92%: 429 offers from 466 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 39 final-year students who answered
- Teaching on my course: 85%
- Learning opportunities: 79%
- Assessment and feedback: 77%
- Academic support: 92%
- Organisation and management: 85%
- Learning resources: 94%
- Student voice: 78%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 90 students who started
- Continued on course: 93%
- Left higher education: 7%
What graduates do next
Based on about 28 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 75%
- Working and studying: 15%
- Further study: 5%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 25%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Teaching Professionals: 10%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 10%
- Secretarial and related occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 60%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 45%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 15 graduates, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- North West: 15%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 35%
- East Midlands: 10%
- West Midlands: 15%
- East of England: 5%
- London: 25%
Who gets in
Based on about 60 students who started
- A levels: 93%
- Other HE qualification: 7%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Doing Social Research
- Social divisions and inequalities: causes, patterns and change
- Introduction to Social Theory
- Theories of Society
- Understanding and challenging inequality: Sociological and policy debate
- Sociology of hope, community and social justice
- British Politics
- World Politics
- Gender Politics
- Sociological Theory and Analysis
- Doing Quantitative Sociological Research
- Doing Qualitative Sociological Research
- Emerging Themes in Sociology
- Digital Media and Social Change
- The Sociology of Crime
- Sociology of Media and Consumer Culture
- Sociology of Family: Continuity and Change
- Dynamics of Social Change and Policy
- In Sickness and in Health: The Sociology of Medicine
- Crime, Justice and Social Policy
- Men, Feminism and Gender relations
- Solidarity: Politics, Law, and Society across the Globe
- Sociology of the Body
- Understanding 'Race' and Migration
- Social Problems: Policy and Practice
- Feminism
- Ethnography of Faith, Spirituality and Wellbeing
- Children and Digital Cultures
- Cities, Violence and Security
- Dissertation in Sociology
- Children, Families and Welfare States
- Digital Marketing and Consumer Culture
- Race, technology and digital media
- Intimacy and Personal Relationships
- Queer Identities in the Media
- Global Data Industries
- Organised Crime and Illicit Markets
- Digital Identities
- Protest, Movements and Social Change
- Sociology of Evil
- Whiteness, Power and Privilege
- Reimagining Care: Families, Services and Policies
- Algorithms, AI and Society
- Sex Work: Rights, Regulation and Resistance
- Digital Health
- What it means to be human
- Sociological Futures: Creating change beyond the academy
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Sociology at University of Sheffield earn?
The median salary is £24,500 after 15 months, £25,000 after 3 years, £29,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £23,500 and £36,000. The £29,000 median after five years is £2,500 more than the UK median for Sociology.
What do graduates of BA Sociology at University of Sheffield do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Sociology at University of Sheffield?
85% 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 University of Sheffield?
The typical offer is ABB at A level. The average entrant had 143 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Sociology at University of Sheffield?
92% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 429 offers from 466 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Sociology at University of Sheffield 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 University of Sheffield?
93% of students continued into their second year, and 7% left higher education.