Program Overview

---

Sociology MSc

Overview

Sociology helps us understand how society works, connecting the dots between individual lives and the structures they live in. Studying a Master's in Sociology can completely change the way you view the world around you, developing you as a skilled researcher, excellent critical thinker, robust theorist and agent for change.

On this MSc Sociology degree, you'll explore all aspects of social life, because it all matters. You'll cover topics such as identity, intimacy, wellbeing, popular culture, consumption, colonialism, global inequalities, social media, feminism, racism and sustainability.

You don't need to have studied sociology before, but we hope you'll have a passion for understanding social issues and a desire to make a difference. You'll use qualitative and quantitative research methods to generate reliable data and insights, and ultimately deepen your knowledge on these issues.

Once you graduate, you'll have skills and awareness to succeed further in a huge range of careers, such as social research, policy making, law, social work, charity or community work, marketing, advertising, teaching or human resource management.

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.

Course Highlights

• Study with a Sociology team whose research has helped make us the top modern UK university for research quality and research power in Area Studies - Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
• Discover how to use data and research to explore social issues and widely-held societal beliefs, across topics such as poverty, gender and the climate crisis
• Learn from active sociological researchers, in areas including trans and non-binary inclusion at work (included in guidance from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development), and the sociology of migration (resulting in free legal advice and casework on complex immigration applications)
• Develop sustainable and durable critical thinking and problem-solving skills you can apply in your career
• Have the opportunity to take part in short placements supporting staff research activity, such as in immigration advice and migrant homelessness
• Become ready to take the next steps in your career with a deep understanding of the structural basis of inequality in contemporary society and gain insight into how to address some of our more pressing social injustices

Entry Requirements

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.

UK Qualifications

• A minimum of a second-class honours degree in Sociology or other relevant subject.
• Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete.

Non-UK Qualifications

If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.

English Language Requirements

• English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 5.5.
• You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
  • you have a UK degree
  • you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
  • you are a national of a majority English speaking country

Course Costs and Funding

Tuition Fees (September 2025 / January 2026 start)

• UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students:
  • Full-time: £10,900
  • Part-time: £5,450 per year
• EU students (including Transition Scholarship):
  • Full-time: £10,900
  • Part-time: £5,450 per year
• International students:
  • Full-time: £17,900
  • Part-time: £8,950 per year

Funding Your Studies

Explore how to fund your studies, including available scholarships and bursaries.

If you're a UK student, you may be eligible for a Government Postgraduate Master's Loan, which you can use to help with course fees and living costs.

Modules

Full-time

• Year 1:
  • Core modules:
    • Changing Society: Sociological Debates - 30 credits
    • Identities and Inequalities - 30 credits
    • Sociological Research Methods - 30 credits
    • Dissertation - 60 credits
  • Optional modules:
    • Cultures of Production and Consumption - 30 credits
    • Emotions, Intimacies and Affects - 30 credits
    • NGOs and Social Movements - 30 credits

Part-time

• Year 1:
  • Core modules:
    • Changing Society: Sociological Debates - 30 credits
    • Sociological Research Methods - 30 credits
  • Year 2:
    • Core modules:
      • Identities and Inequalities - 30 credits
      • Dissertation - 60 credits
    • Optional modules:
      • Cultures of Production and Consumption - 30 credits
      • Emotions, Intimacies and Affects - 30 credits
      • NGOs and Social Movements - 30 credits

How You'll Spend Your Time

• This Master's degree will take:
  • 1 year (full-time study)
  • 2 years (part-time study)
• You can expect:
  • 3-4.5 hours of teaching time every week (lecture, seminar or workshop) for each module you study (pro rata for part-time students).
  • 24–30 hours of independent study each week if you study full-time, or 12–15 hours each week if you study part-time.

Career Development

Careers This Master's Prepares You For

In an increasingly polarised world, studying sociology empowers us with the knowledge and evidence to confront challenges in contemporary society.

Sociology is a subject with huge social and economic value. It can improve public policy by providing evidence on trends and public opinions, helping governments, charities and businesses make informed decisions. It can enable charities to serve their communities more effectively by researching their needs. It can help businesses to enhance their operations through analysing consumer beliefs, tastes and decision making.

Sociologists themselves occupy vital occupations within educational institutions, social services, business and non-profit organisations.

While a sociology degree might not necessarily lead you automatically into a specific field of work, it equips you with a wide variety of skills that are easily transferable to a number of different sectors. Rather than closing down options, this degree opens them up.

Graduates of This Course Can Go On To Have a Positive Impact on Society

• Informing fairer teaching or admissions policies in education
• Pioneering hiring initiatives to dismantle bias in recruitment and HR
• Providing insights into wellbeing, welfare and safety online
• Supporting community organisations to obtain funding for local initiatives by writing research proposals

Graduates of This Course Can Go On To Work In Areas Such As

• Policy development
• Social research
• Youth work
• Community development
• Local government
• Marketing or advertising
• Market research
• Charities and fundraising
• Diversity and inclusion
• Human resources

Supporting You

Master's study is more focused on independent learning than undergraduate study, but you'll get lots of support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed.

Types of Support

• Personal tutor
• Learning support tutors
• Academic skills support
• Wellbeing and mental health support
• Disability advice and additional support
• Library support
• Support with English

How to Apply

Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.

There's no deadline for applications to this course. We accept applications right up until the start dates in September and January, as long as there are places available. If you wait until your start month to apply, you may find that the course is full.

If you're applying as an international student, remember that you'll need to leave plenty of time to get your visa organised.

You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. International students and current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth also have some different application options, which are detailed below.

Extra Information for International Students

If you're an international student, you can apply directly to us using the same application form as UK students.

You could also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.

If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.