BA Sociology with Media Studies
About this course
BA (Hons) in Sociology with Media Studies, a combined social science degree examining contemporary societies alongside media and digital culture. Core topics include Research Methods. Students can choose to undertake an optional placement year, study abroad, or complete a foundation year. The first year establishes foundations through 21st Century Sociology, Critical Reading and Writing for Sociologists, Foundations of Media and Digital Culture, and Themes and Perspectives in Sociology I. The second year focuses on research design and media history via Designing Social Research, Media, Memory, History, and Media and the Real, while optional modules allow study in areas such as Classical Sociological Theory, Digital Societies, and Education and Inequality. The final year centres on independent research and advanced cultural studies through the Sociology Project, New Media Histories, and Utopian Cultural Politics and New Horizons, with further options covering topics like Coloniality, Racism and Inequality, Digital Activism and Citizenship in Datafied Societies, and Identity and Interaction.
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Entry requirements
A level: ABB or BBB IB: 32 points
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What students say
Based on about 117 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 87%
- Learning opportunities: 81%
- Assessment and feedback: 84%
- Academic support: 88%
- Organisation and management: 78%
- Learning resources: 87%
- Student voice: 83%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 95%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 23 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 80%
- Working and studying: 5%
- Further study: 5%
- Unemployed: 10%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 20%
- Elementary occupations: 15%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Media Professionals: 5%
- Skilled trades occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 65%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 55%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 25%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 135 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- East Midlands: 1%
- East of England: 10%
- London: 48%
- South East: 34%
- South West: 6%
- Wales: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 130 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 70%
- Baccalaureate: 3%
- Foundation course: 17%
- A degree: 8%
- Other HE qualification: 1%
- Other qualifications: 1%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- 21st Century Sociology
- Critical Reading and Writing for Sociologists
- Foundations of Media and Digital Culture
- Themes and Perspectives in Sociology I
- Digital Technology, Media and Society
- Gendering the Life Course
- Making the Familiar Strange
- Themes and Perspectives in Sociology II
- Designing Social Research
- Media, Memory, History
- Media and the Real
- A Sociology of Generations and Social Change? From Passive to Active Generations
- Citizenship, Activism and Resistance
- Digital Societies
- Drugs, Crime and Deviant Leisure
- Into the Lions Den: An Exploration (A)
- Migration and Integration (Aut)
- Sociology of Emotions and Mental Health
- The Climate Crisis, Criminology & the Justice System
- Class, Culture & Conflict: A View from The Inside
- Classical Sociological Theory
- Doing Social Research: working with qualitative data
- Education and Inequality
- Precarity and the Politics of Work (Spr)
- Social Research Methods: Analysing Quantitative Data
- The Alchemy of Race and Racism (Spring)
- The Sociology of Human Rights
- Sociology Project
- New Media Histories
- Utopian Cultural Politics and New Horizons
- (Im)mobilities and the Criminal Justice System
- Class, Power and the State (Aut)
- Coloniality, Racism and Inequality
- Digital Activism and Citizenship in Datafied Societies
- Identity and Interaction
- Migration, Identity, and Home
- Sexualities / Intimacies / Intersections (Aut)
- Sociology of Family, Reproduction & Care (Aut)
- The Death Penalty
- Capitalism, Growth, and Ecological Crisis
- Inequalities Across the Divides
- Riots, Strikes, Revolts
- Temporalities - Histories - Hauntologies (Spr)
- The Body (Spr)
- Transcendence, Devotion and Desire
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Sociology with Media Studies at University of Sussex earn?
The median salary is £26,000 after 15 months, £24,000 after 3 years, £30,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,000 and £38,500. The £30,500 median after five years is £4,000 more than the UK median for Sociology.
What do graduates of BA Sociology with Media Studies at University of Sussex 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 with Media Studies at University of Sussex?
87% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Sociology with Media Studies at University of Sussex?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 118 UCAS points.
Does BA Sociology with Media Studies at University of Sussex 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 with Media Studies at University of Sussex?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.