Program Overview

Sociology BA (Hons)

Overview

Do you share a concern for the future of society? Discover sociology’s potential to chart a course towards more hopeful alternatives. Learn to analyse contemporary social phenomena, such as the advancement of technology and climate change, and offer solutions to current and future challenges with a Sociology BA at Keele. Explore the intersections of culture, community and identity, and the methods that shape our understanding of social systems and our roles within them.

Year of Entry

• 2026 - for 2026 entry see here - for 2025 entry see here

UCAS Code

• L30L

Duration of Study

• 3 years or 4 years with international or placement year

Course Summary

Our modern curriculum has been carefully curated to ensure that you get an understanding of well established and emerging theories, concepts and methodologies used in contemporary practice. You will gain hands on experience by training in practical research skills such as, formulating research questions, sampling strategies, the collection of quantitative and qualitative data, and data analysis, considering the ethical issues related to this.

Why Study Sociology at Keele University?

• Taught by specialists in a wide range of areas including, migration, cultural studies, consumer culture, family and personal life, anthropological perspectives, and environmental sociology
• Global Top 300 for Social Sciences (Times Higher Education World University Subject Rankings, 2022)
• A chance to broaden your horizons and study abroad at a partner university
• Opportunity to gain professional experience with a placement year
• No. 1 in the UK. Britain's best university, as ranked by students (Student Crowd University Awards, 2022)

Course Overview

Delve into the study of culture, community and identity, taught by lecturers who are actively researching in the industry today. Put your learning into practice in real-world situations by having the opportunity to engage with the public and community sectors during your studies at Keele.

Modules for Sociology

Year 1

• Compulsory modules
  • Understanding Inequalities How can we mobilise our sociological imagination to make sense of the social divisions and inequalities that persist across time and are reproduced in different cultures and societies?
  • Society, People and Place: Global Issues and Local Realities This module explores the theories and methods used by sociologists for analysing culture and society.
  • Power, Identity and Resistance Exploring the ways in which individuals interact with others to shape meaning about identities, the purpose of this module is to understand power in social relations.
  • Becoming a Social Scientist This module transitions you to university scholarship and introduces the employability and professional skills that a social science degree provides through a range of action-focused activities.
• Optional modules
  • Imagining Social Order and Deviance Imagining Social Order and Deviance explores societal norms, values, and the construction of deviance through a series of real-life case studies.

Year 2

• Compulsory modules
  • Redefining Social Theory: Digital and Global Perspectives How can we mobilise our sociological imagination to understand the complexities and challenges of the modern world and our place within it?
  • Social Science Research Methods and Data Analysis How can we know the world and the societies around us?
  • Social Science at Work This module introduces you to possible careers for social scientists and links to the work you are doing in your subject core and option modules asking the question ‘how can we mobilise academic study into the real world?’
• Optional modules
  • Family, Community and Personal Life How do we express love, friendship, and community in increasingly diverse social and cultural contexts?
  • Difference and Division: Race, Class and Belief In this module we explore how socio-cultural narratives and practices around the intersections of race, class and belief influence notions of selfhood, belonging, and social cohesion.
  • Social Design Social Design is an interdisciplinary module exploring the interplay between societal structures, human behaviour, and crime, that equips you with the knowledge and skills to critically analyse, design, and implement interventions that foster safer and more inclusive communities.
  • Work Placement for Social Sciences This module gives students studying subjects in the School of Social Sciences the opportunity to contribute to the world beyond the University, in any workplace where the specialist knowledge, research, analytical, and communication skills developed as part of your Social Science degree can be used and can make a difference.

Year 3

• Compulsory modules
  • Independent Study Project in Sociology The Independent Study Project, or dissertation, is the culmination of your sociological journey.
  • Social Futures What is society in a world governed by data and algorithms?
  • Engaged Social Science Moving on from the previous skills modules, you will further consider how your degree can link to a range of life skills and careers through engagement with community groups, activists and people working in public and private sectors.
• Optional modules
  • Gender, Sexuality and Power This module explores the cultural construction of gender and sexuality norms.
  • Home and Belonging in a Precarious World What does home mean to you?
  • Beyond Human Beyond Human explores social behaviour, structures, and interactions among non-human entities, such as animals, artificial intelligence, and other forms of non-human life, seeking to understand the social dynamics present in non-human societies and their interactions with human societies.
  • Work Placement for Social Sciences Final Year Students This module is designed to give students studying subjects in the School of Social Sciences the opportunity to contribute to the world beyond the University, in any workplace where the specialist knowledge, research, analytical, and communication skills developed as part of your Social Science degree can be used and can make a difference.

Double Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework

Keele is one of only 15 broad-based universities in England - out of over 100 - to have been awarded Gold in both the 2017 and 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) exercises, demonstrating our consistent teaching excellence.

Additional Opportunities

• Work Placement Year On this course, you will have the opportunity to opt for a Work Placement Year in between Year 2 and 3.
• Study Abroad Enhance your career prospects with an International Year at one of our partner institutions.
• Learn a Language Discover languages at Keele, whether you are a complete beginner or already have a foundation of knowledge.

Entry Requirements

• A Level: BBC in three A Levels.
• BTEC Extended Diploma / National Extended Diploma: DMM in any BTEC Extended Diploma / National Extended Diploma.
• BTEC National Diploma / Diploma: Distinction and Merit in any BTEC National Diploma / Diploma and C in one A Level, or Merit and Merit in BTEC Diploma and A in one A Level.
• T Level: Merit in any T Level.
• International Baccalaureate Diploma: 554 in three Higher Levels or 29 points.

Fees and Funding

• Tuition fees for 2025/26 academic year:
  • UK: £9,535 for the 2025/6 academic year (subject to Parliamentary approval).
  • International: Band 1, £17,700 for the 2025/26 academic year

Supporting You

• Student Support To help you meet your academic and personal needs, we offer a multi-layered support structure.
• Societies We have a wealth of student-led societies here at Keele which cover a diverse range of interests.

Your Future Career

• Enhance Your Employability As a Sociology graduate at Keele, you will attain the relevant and sought-after skills for roles across various industries.
• Careers and Employability Team Our Careers and Employability team offers a variety of personal and career development opportunities to enhance your employability.

Foundation Year

• Foundation Year Overview Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, offering preparation for your chosen degree with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete.
• September Entry Overview The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants.
• January Entry Overview We also offer a January start for some of our Foundation Year courses.
• Information for International Students Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through Keele University International College (KUIC).