Program Overview

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BSc Sociology with Study Abroad (L301)

2026 entry

Course summary

Sociology is a well-established discipline, as relevant to the study of 21st-century societies as it is to the sweeping changes of the Industrial Revolution.

Sociologists are concerned with society's structures, forms of action, and cultural practices and they are uniquely placed to understand the changes of social life. This course provides the academic and professional support you need to develop your own sociological imagination.

You will be joining a vibrant academic community. Bristol is home to prominent sociologists focused on consumption, culture, digital society, environment, ethnicity and race, gender, migration, modern slavery, multiculturalism, popular music, social theory and more.

We provide regular workshops, guest speakers, reading groups and social events, as well as support for the student societies associated with this course.

Skills development is woven throughout your programme and you will graduate with valuable transferable skills that ensure you are well placed to pursue your career goals.

Overview

Typical offer

• A-level standard offer: AAB
• A-level contextual offer: BBB
• Go to entry requirements for the full entry criteria and contextual offer eligibility.

Programme duration

• 4 year(s) full-time.
• Part-time study is not available for this course

Application method

• UCAS (Code: L301)

Location

• Clifton campus, Placements

Fees

• £9,535 per year, home students
• £24800 per year, international students
• More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.

Fees quoted are for 2025 entry only. Fees for 2026 will be confirmed, subject to government approval, later in 2025.

Course structure

The first year provides a solid grounding in sociology, followed by a greater choice of units linked to staff research interests in subsequent years.

Recently, these units have covered subjects such as culture, ethnicity, class, migration, modern slavery, popular music, racism and science. There is a strong emphasis on research skills throughout, with compulsory units in the first two years.

Your third year is spent studying sociology abroad at an English-speaking university. The year abroad is an exciting opportunity to experience and study a different society and culture from a sociological perspective.

To find out more about studying abroad, visit the Centre for Study Abroad.

In your final year in Bristol, you will draw on your research skills to conduct a piece of supervised sociological research on a topic of your choice.

Full details about the course structure and units for this course can be viewed in the programme catalogue.

Entry requirements

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.

A-level standard offer

• AAB including an essay-based subject. Essay-based subjects include:
  • Ancient History
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Art and Design (all pathways)
  • Business Studies
  • Chinese
  • Classical Civilisation
  • Classics
  • Drama
  • Economics
  • English Language
  • English Language and Literature
  • English Literature
  • Environmental Science
  • Environmental Studies
  • Film
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Government and Politics
  • Greek
  • Health and Social Care
  • History
  • History of Art
  • Italian
  • Latin
  • Law
  • Media Studies
  • Music
  • Performance
  • Philosophy
  • Politics
  • Portuguese
  • Psychology
  • Religious Studies
  • Russian
  • Social Care
  • Social Policy
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Theatre Studies
  • Welsh

A-level contextual offer

• BBB including an essay-based subject. Essay-based subjects include:
  • Ancient History
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Art and Design (all pathways)
  • Business Studies
  • Chinese
  • Classical Civilisation
  • Classics
  • Drama
  • Economics
  • English Language
  • English Language and Literature
  • English Literature
  • Environmental Science
  • Environmental Studies
  • Film
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Government and Politics
  • Greek
  • Health and Social Care
  • History
  • History of Art
  • Italian
  • Latin
  • Law
  • Media Studies
  • Music
  • Performance
  • Philosophy
  • Politics
  • Portuguese
  • Psychology
  • Religious Studies
  • Russian
  • Social Care
  • Social Policy
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Theatre Studies
  • Welsh

BTEC

• DDD in any essay-based Applied General BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma

International Baccalaureate Diploma

• 34 points overall with 17 at Higher Level, including 5 at Higher Level in an essay-based subject. Essay-based subjects include:
  • Ancient History
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Art and Design (all pathways)
  • Business Studies
  • Chinese
  • Classical Civilisation
  • Classics
  • Drama
  • Economics
  • English Language
  • English Language and Literature
  • English Literature
  • Environmental Science
  • Environmental Studies
  • Film
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Government and Politics
  • Greek
  • Health and Social Care
  • History
  • History of Art
  • Italian
  • Latin
  • Law
  • Media Studies
  • Music
  • Performance
  • Philosophy
  • Politics
  • Portuguese
  • Psychology
  • Religious Studies
  • Russian
  • Social Care
  • Social Policy
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Theatre Studies
  • Welsh

International Baccalaureate Diploma contextual offer

• 31 points overall with 15 at Higher Level, including 5 at Higher Level in an essay-based subject. Essay-based subjects include:
  • Ancient History
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Art and Design (all pathways)
  • Business Studies
  • Chinese
  • Classical Civilisation
  • Classics
  • Drama
  • Economics
  • English Language
  • English Language and Literature
  • English Literature
  • Environmental Science
  • Environmental Studies
  • Film
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Government and Politics
  • Greek
  • Health and Social Care
  • History
  • History of Art
  • Italian
  • Latin
  • Law
  • Media Studies
  • Music
  • Performance
  • Philosophy
  • Politics
  • Portuguese
  • Psychology
  • Religious Studies
  • Russian
  • Social Care
  • Social Policy
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Theatre Studies
  • Welsh

European Baccalaureate

• 80% overall, with 8.0 in an essay-based subject. Essay-based subjects include:
  • Ancient History
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Art and Design (all pathways)
  • Business Studies
  • Chinese
  • Classical Civilisation
  • Classics
  • Drama
  • Economics
  • English Language
  • English Language and Literature
  • English Literature
  • Environmental Science
  • Environmental Studies
  • Film
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Government and Politics
  • Greek
  • Health and Social Care
  • History
  • History of Art
  • Italian
  • Latin
  • Law
  • Media Studies
  • Music
  • Performance
  • Philosophy
  • Politics
  • Portuguese
  • Psychology
  • Religious Studies
  • Russian
  • Social Care
  • Social Policy
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Theatre Studies
  • Welsh

Scottish Qualifications Authority

• Advanced Higher: AB including an essay-based subject, and Standard Higher: AAABB. Essay-based subjects include:
  • Ancient History
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Art and Design (all pathways)
  • Business Studies
  • Chinese
  • Classical Civilisation
  • Classics
  • Drama
  • Economics
  • English Language
  • English Language and Literature
  • English Literature
  • Environmental Science
  • Environmental Studies
  • Film
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Government and Politics
  • Greek
  • Health and Social Care
  • History
  • History of Art
  • Italian
  • Latin
  • Law
  • Media Studies
  • Music
  • Performance
  • Philosophy
  • Politics
  • Portuguese
  • Psychology
  • Religious Studies
  • Russian
  • Social Care
  • Social Policy
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Theatre Studies
  • Welsh

Access to HE Diploma

• Access to HE Diploma in Humanities, Social Sciences, Law or History (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include:
  • 24 credits at Distinction and 21 at Merit or above
  • at least 12 credits (including 9 at Distinction) in a single essay-based subject. Essay-based subjects include:
    • Ancient History
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Art and Design (all pathways)
    • Business Studies
    • Chinese
    • Classical Civilisation
    • Classics
    • Drama
    • Economics
    • English Language
    • English Language and Literature
    • English Literature
    • Environmental Science
    • Environmental Studies
    • Film
    • French
    • Geography
    • German
    • Government and Politics
    • Greek
    • Health and Social Care
    • History
    • History of Art
    • Italian
    • Latin
    • Law
    • Media Studies
    • Music
    • Performance
    • Philosophy
    • Politics
    • Portuguese
    • Psychology
    • Religious Studies
    • Russian
    • Social Care
    • Social Policy
    • Sociology
    • Spanish
    • Theatre Studies
    • Welsh

Welsh Baccalaureate

• Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales or the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.

Cambridge Pre-U

• Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/M2 is B, and M3 is C.

International qualifications

• The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and we accept a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

GCSE profile requirements

• Standard numeracy requirement (4 or C in GCSE Mathematics or equivalent)
• Further information about GCSE requirements and profile levels.

English language requirements

• If English is not your first language, you need to have one of the following:
  • IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in all skills
  • GCSE English Language grade C or 4
  • an alternative qualification outlined in our Profile level C.

Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.

Selection process

• Regulations and codes of conduct we abide by to create a positive environment for learning and achievement are found in the University admissions policies and procedures.
• If applying with extenuating circumstances please see our policy.
• Full information about our selection processes for Sociology with Study Abroad can be found in the Admissions Statement.

Applicants must also meet these requirements

• 90% say staff value students views and opinions about the course
• Data for Sociology with Study Abroad (Full time) at University of Bristol
• 90% of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.
• Data for Sociology with Study Abroad (Full time) at University of Bristol
• 85% in work or doing further study 15 months after the course.
• Data for courses in Sociology at University of Bristol

Related courses

• See a list of all Sociology degrees at Bristol, and find more information about the course, assessment and career prospects.

BSc Sociology

Related Subjects

• Childhood Studies
• Criminology
• Politics and International Relations
• Social Policy

Next steps

• Visit us at an open day
• Download a prospectus
• Find out how to apply
• Make an enquiry