Program Overview

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BA (Honours) Sociology with Foundation Year

Course summary

This course provides an understanding of deviance, order, protest, inequality, identity, and religion. Students will take on real-world projects with hospitals, the police, schools, councils, charities, and community associations. The course develops an expert approach to producing life-changing research in the future.

How you learn

• Workshops
• Tutorials
• Field trips
• Events
• Guest speakers
• Group learning

Key Themes

• From day one, students learn how to research, gain independence, benefit from invaluable work placements, and become a confident, competent professional.
• Students explore core sociological knowledge and skills before progressing onto specialized interests and employability skills – working on live projects and putting their skills to the test in real-world situations.

Course Support

• Community is a huge part of this course – both in and out of the classroom.
• Students are part of a large, safe academic community that helps them thrive.
• Students help to champion diversity in an accepting environment, with societies, charities, and other extracurricular activities to help them along the way.

Applied learning

• On this industry-focused course, students learn things they can apply to the real world.
• For example, previously students have undertaken research with various charities.
• They have also worked collaboratively online with students from the University of Dallas.
• There are always opportunities outside of the classroom – we’ve even recently seen a level 4 student deliver a speech to the United Nations.

Live Projects

• Students undertake live projects as part of their degree, getting a taste of how to use the skills they learn on the course in the real world.
• For example, working on a project brief for a local charity – undertaking desk-based research, helping them while also forming the basis for their assessment.

Field Trips

• During the course, students can take a field trip at no additional cost.
• In recent years, these have included a visit to Liverpool, Edinburgh, Dublin, and Belfast.
• Students get to immerse themselves in places and contexts of sociological importance and interest.

Work Placements

• In the third year, many students opt to go on an eight-week work placement.
• This gives them real-world experience to prepare them for their future career.
• Previous students have worked on projects under the direction of a supervisor in workplaces such as hospitals, police service, schools, council departments, and community associations.

Networking Opportunities

• As a Sociology student, students are enrolled as a member of the Social Research Association (SRA) – funded by the university.
• The SRA is a membership organization for social researchers working on poverty, health, crime, and other social issues students will encounter on their course.
• Students are able to access extensive networks that can support their studies and career development – with amazing networking and research opportunities during their studies and beyond.

Course leaders and tutors

• Karl Baker-Green, Principal Lecturer, Head of Sociology
• Ian Woolsey, Senior Lecturer In Sociology

Modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Contemporary Issues In Social Science 1
  • Credits: 60
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
• Contemporary Issues In Social Science 2
  • Credits: 60
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%

Year 2

Compulsory modules

• Deviance, Order And Protest
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
• Researching Society
  • Credits: 40
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
• Sociology – The Big Issues
  • Credits: 40
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
• The Sociological Imagination
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%

Year 3

Compulsory modules

• Applied Research Methods
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
• Inequality, Identity And Intersectionality
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
• Theorising Modernities
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%

Elective modules

• Sociology – Real-World Application
  • Credits: 60
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
• Study Abroad - Social Sciences
  • Credits: 60
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
• Work Placement (Politics And Sociology)
  • Credits: 60
  • Assessment: Coursework 70% Practical 30%

Year 4

Compulsory modules

• Drugs, Crime And Society
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
• Education, Health And Disability
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
• Gender, Sexuality, And Culture
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
• Sociology Dissertation
  • Credits: 60
  • Assessment: Coursework 90% Practical 10%

Future careers

This course prepares students for a career in:

• Health and related areas
• Education
• Police, prison, and probation
• Local and national government
• Drug and alcohol services
• Social and policy research
• Human resources
• Civil service
• Trade unionism
• Business management
• Victim support work
• International consultancy
• Journalism

Equipment and facilities

The university is investing £250 million in new facilities over the next five years. This means students have access to new, innovative, and flexible spaces to study and relax in, making their student experience even better.

Where will I study?

Students study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars, and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support their learning.

Entry requirements

• UCAS points: 64
• GCSE: English Language at grade C or 4 or equivalent, Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalent
• ACCESS: Access to HE Diploma, with at least 45 level 3 credits.

Fees and funding

• Home students: Tuition fees for 2026/27 are not yet confirmed. Our tuition fee for UK students on this course in 2025/26 is £5,760 for the foundation year and £9,535 per year for the degree (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year).
• International students: Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2026/27 is £18,000 per year (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year).