Sociology BSc
London, Bloomsbury
This is the programme information for 2026 entry
If you require details of the previous year's programme, Sociology BSc (2025), click here
The Sociology BSc blends local and global sociological perspectives to examine contemporary social issues and transformations, ranging from environmental risks and climate change, to the intensification of inequalities, and imaginings of the future. Students will graduate with the skills and mindset appropriate to tackle the challenges of 21st century society. You will also have the opportunity to study abroad for one academic year.
Study mode
Duration
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
Programme starts
September 2026Application deadline
14 Jan 2026UCAS course code
Entry requirements
- Grades
- AAA
- Subjects
- No specific subjects. At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade B or 6.
Contextual offer information
- Grades
- ABB more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- No specific subjects. At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade B or 6.
- Points
- 38
- Subjects
- A total of 18 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5.
Contextual offer
- Points
- 34 more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects, with no score below 5.
UK applicants qualifications
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
Equivalent qualification
Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 33 credits at Distinction and 12 credits at Merit, all from Level 3 units.
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF) or BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (RQF - teaching from 2016) with Distinction, Distinction, Distinction.
D3,D3,D3 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects.
AAA at Advanced Highers (or AA at Advanced Higher and AAA at Higher).
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
International applications
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
Additional tests
TARA Admissions Test
For the 2026 cycle, alongside the UCAS application, UCL will require all applicants to sit the TARA (The Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions) run by University Admissions Tests UK.
TARA is a new test available from 2026. It is a non-subject-specific test designed to assess essential skills required for undergraduate study. There will be an entry fee for the test. More information about the test will be shortly available on University Admissions Tests UK website.
Access and widening participation
UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates
The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.
Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.
For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.
English language requirements
The English language level for this programme is: Level 3
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Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
Course overview
Sociology is indispensable for understanding today's interconnected yet unequal world. Our degree offers a truly global, de-centred and yet historically grounded curriculum, enabling students to flourish as independent and critical thinkers, capable of tackling urgent global challenges.
The three-year degree offers a strong grounding in sociological theory and research methods, with a focus on how sociology can be applied to important contemporary issues. Our degree emphasises the strong inter-linkages between the local and the global, while giving you the ability to engage with and undertake qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research. Completing a work-based project and a dissertation enables you to enhance your future employment prospects and tailor your study to your own areas of interest.
You will benefit from a research-led curriculum delivered by world-leading sociologists in the Social Research Institute (SRI) and you will study at IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society, ranked No.1 in the world for Education for the past 11 years (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024).
There is also an opportunity to study abroad for a year (meaning you will complete four years of study in total) at one of our partner institutions.
What this course will give you
The degree will help you develop your sociological identity and make you an asset to 21st-century employers as they navigate an evolving socio-economic landscape.
Throughout your studies, you will gain a strong foundation in essential sociological theories and develop advanced analytical and methodological skills, from ethnography to quantitative techniques. You will also receive training in key analytical tools such as SPSS for statistical analysis. Practical experience is integrated into the programme through our Work-Based Module, where you will engage with organisations in social policy, local government, community engagement, and research. Additionally, you may contribute to academic research in SRI via the Internship Module (subject to availability). These combined skills, training, and experiences will prepare you for a range of career paths.
To support your career development, you will participate in tailored workshops led by SRI and gain access to UCL’s wider career networks and events.
Finally, studying and living in London provides a unique opportunity to engage with grassroots and third-sector organisations, councils, and businesses through guest lectures and site visits—enhancing your skills, knowledge, and professional network for both career progression and active citizenship.
Teaching and learning
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BSc (Hons) in Sociology.
Modules
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.
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Our Sociology degree provides a rigorous sociological foundation while embracing an interdisciplinary approach. The degree includes core modules on social change, urban sociology, global issues, sociological perspectives on identities and research methods. This is complemented by options on topics such as media, digital sociology, politics, youth, race, gender, love and sexuality, family, migration, market and capitalism, work, and the future. Students will also be able to explore different disciplines such as anthropology or economics - among others - through optional and elective modules (subject to availability and timetable). These modules are led by staff who are world-leading in their research and scholarship.
In Year 1, you will take three compulsory modules in term 1 and three compulsory modules in term 2, plus two optional modules.
Year 2 consists of three compulsory modules in term 1 and two compulsory modules in term 2, plus three optional modules.
Finally, in Year 3, you will take the work-based study module and complete a dissertation, plus five optional modules.
There is also an opportunity to study abroad for a year (meaning you will complete four years of study in total).
Compulsory modules
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
Your learning
Our innovative teaching and assessment methods include the use of photo diaries, narrative walks, multimedia, and other approaches that will enable you to interact with the built and social environment.
Each term, students will usually take four modules. Most modules include a weekly lecture and seminar, though some are delivered in a combined workshop format. Depending on your chosen modules, you can expect between 10 and 14 hours of scheduled "classroom time" per week. In addition to these sessions, students are expected to spend 20 to 25 hours per week on independent study.
Assessment
Assessment is through a variety of methods such as: essays, photo-diaries, examinations, practical exercises, presentations, a work-based report and a dissertation in the final year of study. The weight given to each assessment method varies across modules to ensure a manageable workload throughout the programme.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.
Visit us
Online - Open day
Sociology information video
Watch this video to find out more about Sociology at UCL, including entry requirements, course structure and other helpful information. Recorded Spring 2024.
The foundation of your career
A work-based project will help you to work collaboratively to apply theoretical approaches to real-world applications. Sociologists make significant contributions to government and public administration, non-governmental and grassroots organisations, charities and international development, teaching and research, business, innovation and design sectors, media, journalism and publishing, health and welfare services, human resources, marketing and much more.
Employability
This degree will give you the edge in a dramatically changing world of work. The skills and critical mindset you develop will not only continue to be needed in an increasingly digital world but will help you equip your employers to address these and other social transformations.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
| Fee description | Full-time |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees (2025/26) | £9,535 |
| Tuition fees (2025/26) | £36,500 |
Fees are for Undergraduate 2025/26 entry and are for the first year only. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions. UK fees are in line with the Government announcement on fee cap increases and are subject to the passing of secondary legislation. Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2025/26 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
Additional costs
Please note that if you study abroad during your programme at UCL, this is likely to incur additional costs. Studying abroad may cost between £200–£1,000 per month depending on where you choose to study. The cost of studying abroad can be difficult to predict as it will depend on your priorities and choices. There is more information available on the UCL Study Abroad website.
Students may need to cover some travel costs to fulfil the requirements of certain modules. This may include travel within London for activities such as site visits for the work-based module or trips to museums and other relevant locations included in different modules.
For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
Funding your studies
Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.
Scholarships
The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.
Next steps
Your application
We are looking for motivated candidates with an interest in engaging critically and imaginatively with urgent global challenges. We expect students to have a real curiosity and desire to work collaboratively and apply critical sociological thinking to real-world problems, to re-imagine the future of our interconnected yet unequal world.
How to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Selection
For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.
Got questions? Get in touch
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