BA Sociology
About this course
BA (Hons) in Sociology, a sociology degree examining how social, economic and cultural forces shape individuals and institutions. Core topics include Research Methods. Students can choose to add a placement year or year abroad to their studies. The first year covers the foundations through Cultivating a Sociological Imagination, Living in Digital Cultures, Explaining Crime and Deviance, Investigating Social Problems and Theorising the Social World. The second year focuses on core themes with compulsory modules including Inequality, Marginalisation and Resistance, Doing Research and Societies and the Climate Crisis. Optional modules in the second year allow students to explore areas such as Health and Illness, Humans and Other Animals, People and the State, Popular Culture, the Media and Society, Social Interaction and Conversation Analysis, Gender, Sexuality and Inequalities, Body and Society and Working in the Criminal Justice System. The final year centres on the Undergraduate Dissertation alongside Creating Sociological Alternatives. Optional modules in the final year span topics such as Crime, Media and Culture, Global Justice, Health and Wellbeing, Race and Injustice, Crime, Gender and Sexuality, Morbidity, Culture and Corpses, Spiritual Realities, Talk at Work, AI in Society and Cities and Urban Culture.
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: 34 points overall BTEC: DDM We consider a range of BTEC qualifications equivalent to 3 A Levels, or in combination with A Levels or other qualifications. For example: Distinction, Distinction in BTEC Level 3 National Diploma plus B at A Level Distinction in BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate plus AB at A level Distinction, Distinction in 2 BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificates plus B at A level
What students say
Based on about 30 final-year students who answered
- Teaching on my course: 83%
- Learning opportunities: 82%
- Assessment and feedback: 82%
- Academic support: 99%
- Organisation and management: 85%
- Learning resources: 92%
- Student voice: 83%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 65 students who started
- Continued on course: 88%
- Left higher education: 12%
What graduates do next
Based on about 34 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 69%
- Working and studying: 11%
- Further study: 13%
- Unemployed: 6%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 20%
- Administrative occupations: 15%
- Sales occupations: 10%
- Legal professionals: 5%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 70%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 55%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 175 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 3%
- North West: 9%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 31%
- East Midlands: 9%
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 11%
- London: 22%
- South East: 8%
- South West: 1%
- Wales: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 40 students who started
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Cultivating a Sociological Imagination
- Living in Digital Cultures
- Explaining Crime and Deviance
- Investigating Social Problems
- Theorising the Social World
- Inequality, Marginalisation and Resistance
- Doing Research
- Societies and the Climate Crisis
- Health and Illness
- Humans and Other Animals
- People and the State
- Popular Culture, the Media and Society
- Social Interaction and Conversation Analysis
- Gender, Sexuality and Inequalities
- Body and Society
- Working in the Criminal Justice System
- Undergraduate Dissertation
- Creating Sociological Alternatives
- Crime, Media and Culture
- Global Justice, Health and Wellbeing
- Race and Injustice
- Crime, Gender and Sexuality
- Morbidity, Culture and Corpses
- Spiritual Realities
- Talk at Work
- AI in Society
- Cities and Urban Culture
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Sociology at University of York earn?
The median salary is £25,500 after 15 months, £24,000 after 3 years, £29,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £23,500 and £36,500. 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 York do next?
93% 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 York?
83% 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 York?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 128 UCAS points.
Does BA Sociology at University of York 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 York?
88% of students continued into their second year, and 12% left higher education.