About this course
Society is rapidly changing. Our multicultural and diverse world is becoming increasingly complex - bringing about challenges and problems that we, as sociologists, seek to tackle. At NTU, our role is to deliver you as a sociology graduate ready for the real world, well-prepared to address these changes.
We believe that the study of sociology should not be confined to the university classroom but that you should have the chance to apply your knowledge to do public good, benefiting communities and wider society. You’ll take advantage of our teaching team’s connections with individuals and organisations in the local and international community to learn from active researchers.
Studying with us, you’ll engage in the most pressing contemporary social issues of our time - from gender equality to race and ethnicity, environmental sociology to media, popular and digital cultures. You’ll develop the knowledge and skills to tackle some of today’s most challenging problems. You’ll stand out as an actively engaged citizen. You’ll be ready to make a real difference to society - whether that’s working in the public, private, or third sector.
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Taking sociology outside the classroom – sometimes literally - in local and national field trips and assessments that ask you to address the connections of what you learn in the classroom with the world in which we live. -
Employability – Sociology at NTU opens up a wide range of career options in the public sector, Education, Welfare Services, Human Resources, Public relations, or Marketing to name a few. -
Freedom to build your degree with the choice of a wide range of contemporary modules in line with your specific interests and career aims. -
The experience of working with a wide range of students in a thriving interdisciplinary environment with research-led and actively engaged staff.
This exciting Sociology degree examines specialist areas of contemporary sociology and allows you to explore society, culture and everyday lived experiences. Throughout the course you'll hear from external speakers, and may have the opportunity to study abroad and undertake a self-directed work placement.
If you have a keen interest in society, culture and making sense of the social world in which we live, then our Sociology course is ideal for you.
Why choose this course?
- From your first year this course will help you to develop skills for employability. You'll get the chance to complete project work for a local, national or international organisation and gain valuable experience by undertaking a work placement.
- You'll benefit from the skills and expertise of our academic staff who use their leading research on identities, social inclusion, and cultural diversity to inform their teaching.
What you’ll study
The BA Sociology degree has been developed to reflect the diversity of our students and to examine social issues. Not just through the dominant ideas of Western sociology, but through the perspectives of scholars from across the globe.
Throughout the course, we integrate the analysis of social problems, social research training and sociological theory with a strong focus on employment. We'll work with you to develop a complex skill set in analysis, critical thinking, digital competency and personal confidence to ensure you’re well-prepared for the future jobs market.
Here’s a breakdown of the core and optional modules you’ll be studying across your course:
Foundations of Social Theory (20 credit points)
- You’ll develop an understanding of early sociological thought on modern societies and the still pervasive ideas that arose from that thinking.
- You’ll appraise the ‘modernity thesis’ and its principal ideas emanating from classical sociological thought.
- You’ll describe and explain the ideas and themes of non-western approaches to the discussion of social life (e.g. Islamic and Southern Theory) and their critiques of Enlightenment sociology.
What is Society? (20 credit points)
- You’ll examine how a variety of social structures and institutions shape society.
- You’ll develop an understanding of the relationship between structure and agency.
- You’ll examine strategies which have been used for challenging structural inequalities.
Identity, Culture and Student Life (20 credit points)
- You’ll be introduced to key ideas around identity, culture and everyday life.
- You’ll use student life as a lens to bring together sociological knowledge, and personal experience.
- You’ll develop your ability to use your sociological imagination to interrogate everyday experiences.
Working Lives (20 credit points)
- You’ll be introduced to sociological approaches to the study of work and employment, by connecting a reflexive approach to your own experiences of work with an awareness of broad societal trends.
- You’ll engage with a range of sociological modes of enquiry, including academic literature, fictional and documentary films, and role-play.
Foundations of Social Research and Academic Practice (20 credit points)
- You’ll be provided with the foundations of social research and academic practice that you require to study effectively in higher education.
- You’ll search for and evaluate different kinds of evidence, from primary and secondary sources.
- You’ll develop effective self-management, improve communication and help you to gain an awareness of how effective study and learning skills promote lifelong learning.
Introduction to Sustainability (20 credit points)
- You’ll be introduced to the interdisciplinary field of sustainability, its origins and evolution, and its relevance in addressing contemporary social challenges.
- You’ll learn about how sustainability can be incorporated into social and institutional practices.
- You’ll consider your own behaviours in relation to helping address the sustainability agenda.
Core modules
Constructing Modern Societies (20 credit points)
- You’ll further develop your understanding of the modern world by applying contemporary social theory.
- You’ll adopt a decolonial approach to knowledge through the introduction to global sociological perspectives.
- You’ll apply reflexivity and critical awareness skills in the real world by integrating sociological thought and practice.
Sociology and Service Learning (20 credit points)
- You’ll work with social and civic organisations seeking to make a difference in a wide range of contemporary social issues.
- You’ll apply your sociological thinking to real-world issues and problems, working with practitioners, academics and community members as ‘public sociologists’.
- You’ll develop your ‘disciplinary identity’ as a public sociologist through the application of theory to practice contributing positively to a social justice issue.
Applied Social Research (20 credit points)
- You’ll develop your understanding of research in the Social Sciences, and learn how research skills are applied in pursuit of social knowledge.
- There is a strong emphasis on application to provide an opportunity to highlight your research skills by developing a research portfolio.
- You’ll learn about research design, qualitative and quantitative methods, data analysis and appropriate presentation of research findings.
Sustainable Futures (20 credit points)
- You will explore and evaluate what we mean by sustainable futures and how we may engage with everyday issues in a sustainable manner
- You’ll explore various social issues ranging from food and fuel poverty, sustainable transport, mental health connected to inclusion and exclusion, equality and social justice, social cohesion, and well-being.
- You’ll develop an understanding of the connection between social sustainability and social justice, both at local level and in the wider context of globalisation.
Optional modules
Religion, Nonreligion and Everyday Belief (20 credit points)
- You’ll be introduced to some of the major discussions within the sociology of religion (e.g. concerning secularisation, individualisation and fundamentalism).
- You’ll consider contemporary debates concerning religion/spirituality (e.g. around issues of gender, sexuality, freedom of speech and violence).
- You’ll explore the role of religion/spirituality in the lives of believers and faith communities.
Sociology of Education (20 credit points)
- You’ll develop an understanding of the evolution of formal education, focusing particularly on policy developments designed to combat educational inequality.
- You’ll explore the sociological characteristics of lifelong learning and how these influence individual ‘learning careers’.
- You’ll reflect on your own ‘learning career’ as part of your ongoing career development.
Politics and Social Justice (20 credit points)
- You’ll gain a critical understanding of how sociologists have studied political phenomena.
- You’ll examine a range of sociological approaches towards the state, society and power.
- You’ll engage political sociology in the analysis of contemporary politics, policy areas, and social justice.
Gender, Sex and Sexuality (20 credit points)
- You’ll be introduced to the theoretical, political and cultural perspectives of gender, sex and sexuality.
- You’ll differentiate and evaluate a range of sociological approaches to understanding concepts of gender, sex and sexuality.
- You’ll identify and construct accounts of contemporary practices around, and representations of gender within a historical social context.
The Body in Society (20 credit points)
- You’ll explore how aspects of the human body relate to the social organisation of everyday life from a sociological perspective.
- You’ll consider the body in sociology through a focus on key theoretical perspectives relating to embodiment, and research addressing related issues.
- You’ll develop an understanding of the range of social and cultural factors that make the body more central to the contemporary self.
Sociology of Consumption (20 credit points)
- You’ll identify the social, cultural, political, and economic significance of consumption practices.
- You’ll consider and critique differing meanings of consumption and a variety of sociological and related theories that account for its significance.
- You’ll situate consumption practices within a broader analysis of capitalism, past and present, considering its social divisions and locating it in wider debates about power, sustainability and inequality.
Core modules
Theorising Contemporary Society (20 credit points)
- You’ll gain an understanding of contemporary sociological theory by demonstrating its usefulness in helping us to understand issues and social practices in contemporary society.
- You’ll critically reflect upon key concepts and emphases of contemporary sociological thought.
- You’ll identify both similarities and differences between issues in classical sociological theory and issues found in contemporary sociological theory.
Sociology of Work and Career (20 credit points)
- You’ll make explicit sociological links between ‘work’ and ‘career’ – where the concept of ‘career’ will enable you to understand how work relates to other activities undertaken through the life course (e.g. volunteering, formal and informal learning, leisure.)
- You’ll apply career development theory as a means of understanding your personal experiences of ‘work’ and ‘career’.
- You’ll engage with formative and summative assessment opportunities that serve to facilitate your career and personal development.
Research Project (40 credit points)
- You’ll bring together your learning across your degree into a sustained piece of independent learning which can be delivered in the format of a dissertation or a research-based report for a local organisation.
- You’ll be supported with one-to-one supervision from a member of academic staff.
- You’ll develop analytical and presentation skills for future employability.
Optional modules
Race, Culture and Society (20 credit points)
- You’ll critically analyse the construction of ‘race’, racial identity and racism in a historical and contemporary context.
- You’ll use sociological perspectives to investigate the relationship between ‘race’, other social identities and contemporary social issues including decolonisation.
- You’ll explore the contestability of apparently fixed concepts like ‘race’ ethnicity, culture and identity in order to understand how ‘race’, racism and colonial logic feature in contemporary social policy.
Identities and Intimacies (20 credit points)
- You’ll develop your understanding of the construction and management of personal and social identities in contemporary western society, and globally through the lens of personal life.
- You'll explore sociological approaches to the study of intimacy, sex, and love and their relevance to contemporary discussions of well-being.
- You’ll analyse a variety of contemporary close and personal relationships (e.g. marriage, family, friendship, sexual partners) across cultures and traditions.
Popular Culture (20 credit points)
- You’ll expand your understanding of the social and political, to questions of power which shape our everyday experiences and the cultural representations of the world in which we live.
- You’ll be provided with the theoretical resources to critically analyse a range of cultural texts, including screen and other media cultures, youth cultures, and fashion, as well as the everyday experience of the home, sites of consumption, sport and leisure.
- You’ll draw on a wide range of theoretical traditions and empirical case studies from around the world, including cinematic, TV and musical traditions.
Sociology of Harm (20 credit points)
- You’ll interrogate social harm as a lens through which to understand and explain injustices in contemporary society.
- You’ll take a broad sociological approach to (in)justice, moving beyond individualistic, legalistic, and traditional criminological explanations.
- You’ll develop a critical appreciation of crime, the possibility of agency and importantly new and emerging social justice insights.
Digital Culture and Society (20 credit points)
- You'll develop an understanding of contemporary sociological perspectives in which the impact of technologies is an integral focus.
- You’ll evaluate social transition in relation to technological developments.
- You’ll develop critical skills in evaluating and developing digital content.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
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How you're taught
To make sure you get the most out of your time at university, you'll receive contact time through a diverse range of delivery methods.
Structured teaching will be delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and computer room sessions. The smaller group seminars and workshops provide opportunities to develop problem-solving skills, group work, analysis, debating skills, presentation skills and discussion about a wide range of views.
Tutorials with staff
As the relationship between students and tutors is an important one you can expect to have lots of direct contact and support through seminars and one-to-one tutorials. At these sessions, you'll have the opportunity to:
- discuss and gain feedback about your work
- ask questions about the projects you're working on
- raise any difficulties you are experiencing relating to your work, personal circumstances or your university experience.
Independent study
Independent study is an important part of this course. Throughout the three years of your course the scheduled contact hours you receive will gradually decrease as you develop the skills required to undertake an independent research project in your final year. You'll still have regular contact with your tutors and if necessary ad hoc tutorials can be arranged.
Virtual learning environment
You'll also use our virtual learning environment, NOW, which is a flexible web-based system that allows you to have 24-hour access to module learning materials and reading lists. It allows you to discuss work with tutors and other students and submit coursework electronically from anywhere in the world.
Learning from experts
You'll be taught by enthusiastic, engaged and expert staff. The courses all draw upon their expertise, research interests and experience and many have also published textbooks in their specialist area of interest. You'll develop specialist knowledge based on the teams’ expertise in several areas including:
- gender equality
- race and ethnicity
- work and career
- environmental sociology
- media and digital cultures
- identity and intimacy.
Make connections
As part of the Department of Social and Political Sciences and the wider school of Social Sciences, you’ll join a large community of students and staff across multiple disciplines, including Criminology, Politics and International Relations, Psychology, Social Work and Education. Sharing some of your classes with students from across the school will enable you to draw upon insights from these other subjects and develop an appreciation of the connections across the social sciences.
Learn a new language
Alongside your study, you also have the opportunity to learn a new language. The University Language Programme (ULP) is available to all students and gives you the option of learning a new language or improving the skills you already have.
Learning a new language can:
- enhance your communication skills
- enrich your experience when travelling abroad
- boost your career prospects.
Find out more about the University Language Programme.
How you're assessed
Your work will be assessed through a diverse range of activities, including coursework-based essays, reports, individual and group presentations, posters, exams and research projects.
In response to student feedback, the University has introduced a policy ensuring marked work is returned to you electronically within three weeks of submission.
- Year 1 coursework, written, practical exams
- Year 2 coursework, written, practical exams
- Year 3 coursework, written, practical exams
Contact hours
Throughout your studies, your teaching will be a mixture of in-person teaching and independent study. You will have around 10-12 hours per week of contact time with our teaching staff, consisting of lectures, seminars, workshops and one-to-one supervision meetings. Approximately 90% of this teaching is in-person. Overall, contact time makes up around 30% of a full-time week, while the remaining 70% of your time will be devoted to independent study.
- Year 1 lectures/seminars/workshops, independent study
- Year 2 lectures/seminars/workshops, independent study
- Year 3 lectures/seminars/workshops, independent study
Careers and employability
The job titles below give an indication of the careers our recent Sociology graduates are following:
- Youth and Community Support Worker
- Education Professionals
- Asylum Worker
- Peer Mentor
- Charity Officer
- Social Researcher
- Events and Resources Officer
- Human Resource Managers
- PR Coordinator
- Sales Executive.
Excellent work experience opportunities
Employability is integral to this course and the modules it offers, helping you to develop a range of vital transferable skills that employers demand.
From your first year, this course will help you to develop skills for career development. You will gain opportunities to complete project work for a local, national or international organisation and acquire valuable experience by working in collaboration with one of our community partners on a social justice project. Such experiences will provide the opportunity to apply sociological knowledge gained from the degree as well as gaining important transferable skills that will be desired by future work, voluntary and educational organisations.
Your career development
This is a major part of this course. You'll develop key transferable skills, including:
- communication
- time management
- problem-solving
- teamworking
- the ability to retrieve, manipulate and present information.
You'll also have the opportunity to develop links with relevant organisations and potential employers.
This course opens up careers in a wide range of fields in the public and private sectors. You may be keen to pursue a career in:
- human resources
- marketing
- education
- third sector work in areas such as welfare and housing
- non-government organisations
- youth and community work.
You may need to complete further training for some of these roles.
You may also consider studying a postgraduate sociology course to continue the intellectual curiosity and imagination the BA (Hons) Sociology will have fostered.
Our Employability team
We have a dedicated Employability team located on the City Campus. The team are well placed to give you specialist guidance and practical help that will really make a difference to your prospects once you do graduate.
Campus and facilities
You’ll mainly be studying in the Chaucer and Newton buildings, at the centre of our vibrant City Campus. As well as a range of classrooms and lecture theatres, the facilities including a mock prison cell, banks of open-access PCs, social spaces for either quiet study or busy group work.
NTU’s City Campus has everything you’ll need to stay busy between lectures. As well as the Boots Library and its beautiful roof garden, there’s our stylish Students’ Union building and two-storey, 100-station gym; a whole host of cafés, bars, restaurants and food outlets for every taste; our much-loved Global Lounge; performance and rehearsal spaces for musicians; and much, much more!
Take a few steps off campus and you’ll find yourself in the heart of Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. It’s stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure. Enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.
Take our virtual tour to get a real feel for the campus.
Entry requirements
UK students
Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications
Contextual offer: 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications
To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.
Additional requirements for UK students
There are no additional requirements for this course.
Contextual offers
If you don’t quite meet our entry requirements, we might be able to make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and your individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer, and we get data from UCAS to help make these decisions. We do this because we believe everyone with the potential to succeed at NTU should have the opportunity to do so, no matter what barriers you may face.
Meeting our entry requirements
Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS Tariff points attached to specific grades, including A-levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our Tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.
Other qualifications and experience
NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds, either for year one entry or for advanced standing beyond the start of a course into year 2 or beyond.
We consider study and/or credit achieved from a similar course at another institution (otherwise known as credit transfer), vocational and professional qualifications, and broader work or life experience.
Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route. If you wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning, please contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International students
Academic entry requirements: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four A levels. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.
English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.
Additional requirements for international students
Undergraduate preparation courses (Foundation)
If you need help achieving the academic entry requirements, we offer a Foundation preparation course for this degree. The course is offered through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC) based on our City Campus.
English language requirements
View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.
If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.
Other qualifications and experience
If you have the right level of qualifications, you may be able to start your Bachelors degree at NTU in year 2 or year 3. This is called ‘advanced standing’ entry and is decided on a case-by case basis after our assessment of your qualifications and experience.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
Sign up for emails
Sign up to receive regular emails from the International Office. You'll hear about our news, scholarships and any upcoming events in your country with our expert regional teams.
Getting in touch
If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
