Program Overview

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Sociology, MA

Introduction

Sociology at Aberdeen opens up your ‘sociological imagination’, as you explore how society shapes us as individuals in all sorts of ways, helping us to understand ourselves, our relationships, and the challenges we face in a changing world. Top-rated excellent teaching and a culture of dynamic research will give you the skills to be a sought-after graduate by employers in many sectors.

Study Information

At a Glance

• Learning Mode: On Campus Learning
• Degree Qualification: MA
• Duration: 48 months
• Study Mode: Full Time
• Start Month: September
• UCAS Code: L300
• Pathway Programme Available: Undergraduate Foundation Programme

Sociology at Aberdeen explores the issues and challenges of modern societies and how they have developed through time until the present day. You will gain a deep understanding of how society influences people and explore a range of different themes, including social awareness.

You will study topics as wide-ranging as sociology of the family, work-life balance, crime, religion and the state. And you will become skilled in the social research methods used to gather the evidence to better understand aspects of society – which could be observation, interviews, large-scale surveys or analysing the content of documents and videos.

Your teachers have international reputations for conducting high-quality research in religion and secularisation, conflict and peace, social movements and global political sociology.

The skills you will develop in thinking critically and posing probing questions – skills which have tremendous value to employers across the public, private and third sectors. Recent Aberdeen graduates are working in journalism, management, marketing and advertising, local and national government, social research institutions, teaching, health services, social work, charitable organisations, human resources, market research and university and college lecturing.

You will enjoy our special, warm welcome at the University of Aberdeen, benefit from excellent teaching, research with international impact and a truly global experience as part of our friendly and vibrant international community. You will love our beautiful campus, great facilities for learning, sports and leisure. There are many opportunities to develop the skills and attributes for a competitive advantage in the career you choose.

Sociology is also available as a joint degree along with a range of other subjects that you can find here.

Aberdeen Global Scholarship

The University of Aberdeen is delighted to offer eligible self-funded international on-campus undergraduate students a £6,000 scholarship for every year of their programme.

What You'll Study

Sociology at Aberdeen covers a wide range of courses, designed to provide you with an in-depth overview of the subject. You will develop a deep knowledge and understanding of sociology by studying subjects such as identity interaction, inequality, social organisation, conflict, media and politics, consumerism, food and globalization, work and the economy.

Year 1

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Introduction to Sociology I: Self, Identity & Society (SO1007)
  • Introduction to Sociology II: Systems of Power (SO1509)
  • Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD1002)
  • Academic Writing for Social Sciences (AW1006)
• Optional Courses: Select a further 90 credit points from courses of choice.

Year 2

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Sociology of Everyday Life i: the Embodied Self (SO2006)
  • Sociology of Everyday Life II: Global Issues in the 21st Century (SO2509)
• Optional Courses: Select further credit points from courses of choice to reach 120 credit points.

Year 3

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Thinking Sociologically (SO3066)
  • Sociology of Religion (SO3070)
  • Social Research Methods (SO3524)
  • Ten Sociological Studies (SO3568)
• Optional Courses: NOTE: If you intend to enrol on the Sociology research project at level 4, you must pass SO 3524 Social Research Methods at level 3.

Year 4

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Research Project Part 1 (SO4068)
  • Research Project Part 2 (SO4568)
• Optional Courses: Select 60 credit points from level 4 Sociology courses of choice.

How You'll Study

Most courses are taught using a combination of lectures and small-group seminars and are assessed by both essays and formal examinations. For Honours students, the year-long Research Project forms a major element in the final assessment.

Learning Methods

• Individual Projects
• Lectures
• Tutorials

Assessment Methods

Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods:

• Coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course.
• Practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course.
• Written examinations at the end of each course.

The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, years of study and individual courses.

Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.

Why Study Sociology?

• Aberdeen has an international reputation for our sociology research, and we are recognised by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as a centre for research training and supervision for postgraduate students
• Aberdeen is ranked 2nd in Scotland for overall student satisfaction in sociology, social policy, and anthropology in the 2024 National Student Survey
• Sociology at Aberdeen is ranked 3rd in Scotland in the Complete University Guide 2025
• Get involved with a packed programme of student and public events, lectures, exhibitions, seminars, invited speakers, plus the annual May Festival, British Science Week and Being Human Festival regularly featuring Aberdeen research in social sciences

Careers

The applied skills that you will gain from studying Sociology at Aberdeen will enable you to meet the requirements of employers in a range of different industries. Recently qualified Sociology graduates from the University now work in careers as diverse as journalism, local and national government, non-governmental organisations, social research institutions, teaching English as a foreign language, the health service, social work, human resources, market research and university and college lecturing.

Industry Links

The Department has an international reputation for its research. It is recognised by the UK Government's Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as an outlet for research training and supervision for Masters and PhD students

Globally Renowned Sociology Research

The Sociology department at Aberdeen is internationally renowned for its research.

Our Experts

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

• 2024 Entry:
  • SQA Highers: Standard - AABB, Minimum - BBB, Adjusted - BB
  • A LEVELS: Standard - BBB, Minimum - BBC, Adjusted - CCC
  • International Baccalaureate: 32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL
  • Irish Leaving Certificate: 5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3
• 2025 Entry:
  • SQA Highers: Standard - BBBB, Minimum - BBC, Adjusted - BB
  • A LEVELS: Standard - BBC, Minimum - BCC, Adjusted - CCC
  • International Baccalaureate: 32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL
  • Irish Leaving Certificate: 5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3

English Language Requirements

• IELTS Academic: OVERALL - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
• TOEFL iBT: OVERALL - 78 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
• PTE Academic: OVERALL - 59 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
• Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: OVERALL - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Fees and Funding

• England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £9,535
• EU / International students: £20,800
• Self-funded international students commencing eligible undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 will receive a £6,000 tuition waiver for every year of their programme
• Home Students: £1,820

Scholarships and Funding

• UK Scholarship
• Aberdeen Global Scholarship
• Funding Database

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