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Sociology  BSc (Hons)

The BSc Sociology degree at City teaches you how to ‘do’ sociology, giving you a thorough understanding of contemporary sociological debates while developing the intellectual and practical skills employers demand. 90 per cent of our 2011 graduates were in employment or further study within six months of completing this course

Overview

Why study sociology?

In this short video, Dr Sarah Maltby talks about the relevance of a sociology degree to the workplace and our everyday lives:

Course overview

You won't only learn sociology on this degree, you will learn how to 'do' sociology in any number of settings. We teach sociology that is practical and applicable, and 90% of 2011 course graduates were employed or in further study within six months (Unistats).

Course content is informed by the research of your lecturers, who are experts in fields including media and communications, human rights, race, and criminology and criminal justice. For example:

  • Dr Sarah Maltby has conducted research for the British military into the relationship between the military and the media in conflict situations. She teaches the modules 'Media, War and Terrorism' and 'Interpreting News and Documentary'
  • Dr Chris Greer is a criminologist who submitted evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into press standards and is co-editor of the journal Crime Media Culture. His modules include 'Introduction to Criminology', 'Media, Crime and Criminal Justice' and 'Victimology'.

Entry Requirements:

320 UCAS tariff points. Typically gained from ABB at A-level. Other qualification combinations achieving 320 UCAS tariff points will be considered.

 A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Studies are not accepted.

More...

Course Fees:

  • Full-time EU: £9,000
  • Full-time Non EU: £12,000

Start Date:

23 September 2013

UCAS code:

L300

Entry Requirements

UK

A-Level

  • Minimum 320 UCAS tariff points. Typically gained from ABB at A-level. Other qualification combinations achieving 320 UCAS tariff points will be considered.

  • A-Level General Studies and A-level Critical Studies are not accepted.

GCSE pre-requisites

Grade C or equivalent in English Language and Maths or Statistics

Access to Higher Education

We welcome Access course applicants from 'mature' students. These applicants will be considered on the basis of their own merits.

A typical offer for an Access applicant would be: Pass 60 credits, 45 of which at Level 3. These Level 3 credits must include at least 27 at distinction and 18 at merit.

It is essential the Access course qualification is supplemented by at least a grade B in Maths and English Language at GCSE.

Please be aware that Access students are often asked for further information to supplement their application, this is normally in the form of a questionnaire.

Other UK qualifications accepted include:

  • BTEC National Diploma (DDM required)
  • Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects
  • Advanced Diploma (plus appropriate A-levels)
  • Scottish Advanced Highers
  • Welsh Diploma (plus appropriate A-levels)

Second-year transfer applicants

If you wish to apply for second-year entry please be aware that you must:

  • have achieved grades equal to the entry requirements for first-year entry (A Levels, foundation years, access courses, etc.)
  • have covered sufficiently similar content to that covered by our first-year students
  • be gaining or have gained at least a 2:1 in every module in your current first year. You must provide official documentation of this as evidence (e.g. university transcript).

If you feel you meet these requirements then please apply through UCAS as early as possible (transfer students normally apply when their first semester exam results are published) and we can then assess your eligibility. Please be aware you will need to select your 'point of entry' as year two.

Please note: For direct second-year entrants the overall degree classification will be based on the marks obtained at City University London only, with the weighting of 33/67 between the second and third year. Marks previously obtained will not be used in the degree classification.

On your application please include:

  • the exact name of the degree you are studying towards
  • the institution at which you are studying
  • the modules you have taken
  • any scores you have achieved

This information will enable us to make a more informed decision as to whether the content that you have studied is to an appropriate level for level-two entry.

Please be aware that you must meet all of the above requirements, otherwise your application is unlikely to be successful.

International

International Baccalaureate (IB)

33 points (no specific subjects required)

European Baccalaureate

75-80%

International Foundation Programme

The entry requirements for applicants applying having completed such programmes varies in relation to the specific programme completed. Typically, we would ask for applicants to have achieved at least 65% in a programme verified by the university, for an applicant to be made an offer.

International Qualifications

Please be aware you can apply for a course here before you sit your school leaving qualifications. Any offer we decide to make you will be conditional on you achieving the appropriate score in your school leaving qualifications, in conjunction with your English language qualification. This can be done from September the year before the programme to which you are applying.

Accepted qualifications include:

  • Australian school leaving certificates. (Offer typically made on the basis of a score of 90%)
  • Bulgarian Diploma za Sredno Obrazovanie (Offer typically made on the basis of a score of at least 5.0)
  • Canadian school leaving certificates. (Offer typically made on the basis of a score between 80-90%)
  • Cypriot Apolytirion (Require a score of at least 19. Combined with two relevant A-levels)
  • French Baccalauréat (Offer typically around 13.5/20)
  • German Abitur (Offer typically around 1.8)
  • Greek Apolytirion (Require a score of at least 19. Combined with two relevant A-levels)
  • Hong Kong Diploma in Secondary Education (554)
  • Indian HSC/ISC/ SSC grade XII (Offer typically made on the basis of a score of 80% average)
  • Italian Esame di Stato (Offer typically made on the basis of an overall mark of 80% with a grade of 8/10 in mathematics)
  • Israeli Bagrut (Offer typically made on the basis of a score between 80-90%)
  • Lithuanian Brandos Atestatas (Offer typically made on the basis of an average score of 9/10 from all A and B subjects)
  • Malaysian Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan (STPM ABB)
  • Norwegian Vitnemål  (Offer typically made on the basis of a score of at least 5.0)
  • Polish Matura (Offer typically made on the basis of an applicant achieving an average of 80% across three extended subjects)
  • Singapore/Cambridge GCE Advanced Level, ABB at Higher 2
  • Spanish Título de Bachillerato (Offer typically made on the basis of the applicant achieving 8 overall with 8 in mathematics)
  • USA Advanced Placement (Offer typically made on the basis of an applicant achieving at least 14 (5,4,4) from three approved subjects).

    Please contact the department for further guidance, if required.

All qualifications where the education is not in English will be required to achieve the appropriate IELTS/TOEFL score.

If the qualification you are due to complete is not shown below, please feel free to contact our UG admissions team for advice.  

Other Suitable Qualifications

Undergraduate Preparatory Courses for International Students

If you do not qualify for direct entry, INTO City University London offers an International Foundation Programme. This course offers a route to City University London through an excellent teaching and learning experience located in purpose built study facilities. Successful completion of the International Foundation Programme at INTO City University London to the standard required provides guaranteed progression to this degree.

English Requirements

  • Grade C in GCSE (or International GCSE)
  • Cambridge ESOL CPE grade C or above
  • IELTS 6.5
  • TOEFL (internet-based): 100 - 105
  • TOEFL (computer-based): 250
  • TOEFL (paper-based): 600

INTO English Language Programmes

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, INTO City University London offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.

Please click the links below for more information:

Visa Requirements

City University London retains Highly Trusted Status from UKBA, enabling us to sponsor international students to study in the UK.

The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course at City, there are different rules for:

  • Students on courses of more than 6 months
  • Students on courses of less than 6 months
  • Students on a pre-sessional English Language course

For more information see our main Visa page.

When and Where

Start Date:
23 September 2013
Duration:
Full-time - three years.

Course Content

Throughout your studies you will develop a global view of sociological analysis. You will graduate with a critical understanding of the fundamentals of sociological thought, and the ability to evaluate and plan sociological research.

You will learn how to 'do' sociology from the beginning of the course. One of your core first year modules is 'Sociology in action' and you can choose a module called 'Exploring London' where you discover London through a sociological lens. This continues into the second year with 'Doing sociology' and culminates in your final year dissertation based on your own research. 

Course Structure

Year 1

Core modules:

Elective modules (from):

  • Media, history and politics
  • Contemporary issues in media studies
  • Exploring London
  • Introduction to criminology 1: Crime and society
  • Introduction to criminology 2: Crime and the individual
  • Contemporary issues in global politics - 20th Century
  • Contemporary issues in global politics - 21st Century
  • History and theory in psychology
  • Lifespan psychology
  • Theories of global politics
  • A language module (French, German or Spanish).

Year 2

Core modules:

  • Doing sociology 1
  • Doing sociology 2
  • Social theory 1
  • Social theory 2
Elective modules (from):

  • Circuit of culture
  • New Media challenges
  • Television and sport
  • Identities and personal relationships
  • Interpreting news and documentary
  • Violence, criminal justice policy
  • Key issues in criminology
  • Sociology of punishment
  • Understanding social change

Year 3

Core module:

  • Dissertation

Elective modules (from):

  • Approaches to film
  • Crime, news and criminal justice
  • Global migration processes
  • Gender and society
  • Media, cities and culture
  • Media, war and terrorism
  • New media: From cyberspace to social media
  • Policing and crime control
  • Quantitative analysis of social research data
  • Reading sociology
  • Social movements and political action
  • Sociology of contemporary Europe
  • Sociology of human rights
  • Sociology of race and racism
  • The global media system
  • Transnational communication in Europe
  • Victimology
  • Youth, crime and society.

Read the full programme specification.

Teaching and Assessment

Teaching

We teach Sociology through lectures, interactive sessions, practical workshops and small group seminars, supported by a personal tutorial system.

Lectures provide commentary and explanation of key content areas. Small group seminars develop your understanding by inviting you to raise questions and participate in the debate and by providing guidance for further study.

You are encouraged to undertake extensive reading and independent study in order to understand the topics covered in lectures and classes and to broaden and deepen your knowledge of the subject.

For the third year project, you will receive supervision and the Project Workshop module provides you with the opportunity to develop research methods and writing skills.

Assessment

Assessment is primarily in the form of coursework (assessed essays and assignments) unseen examinations and a final year project.

Read the full programme specification.

Fees

  • Full-time EU: £9,000
  • Full-time Non EU: £12,000

Please note:

UK/EU students - The fees for UK/EU students rise each year by the rate of the cost of living in the UK and are set by the UK Government.

Non-EU international students - There is a small percentage increase, usually between 3% and 5%, each year on these fees.

Funding

For up-to-date information about tuition fees, living costs and financial support, visit Undergraduate Fees and Finance or Postgraduate Fees and Finance.

Scholarships

New for 2013 entrants: Up to £2,000 cash each year for at least three years for students on this course. Read more here to see if you might qualify.

Career Prospects

Because we develop skills and abilities valued by employers, City is consistently ranked as one of the top UK universities for career opportunities and professional development.

90 per cent of our 2011 Sociology graduates went into employment or further study within six months. (Unistats)

A sociology degree develops a range of skills and intellectual abilities valued by employers including analytical skills, problem solving, communicating ideas, independent judgment and the ability to think constructively about key issues.

Our graduates are found within a variety of different professions. Possible sectors for employment include civil service, broadcasting, advertising, press and public relations, audience and market research, the cultural industries, education, campaigning groups, non-governmental agencies, think tanks, the criminal justice system, protective agencies and health and social services.

Read an interview with Gary Argent (City's Director of Careers & Skills Development Service) about how undergraduates can improve their job prospects in today's workplace.

Sociology

UCAS code: L300


Applications to our undergraduate courses open on 1st September and close on 15th January (30th June for international students). Late applications will still be considered at our discretion.

All applications to our undergraduate degree courses, including those from mature students, must be made through UCAS.

You can apply through your school or college using the UCAS online service 'Apply' which enables you to apply directly through the UCAS website (www.ucas.com).

Independent applicants such as mature and international students can also use ucasapply.

The institution code for City University is C60. If you are still at school or college when you make an application, staff there should be able to assist with this process offering you help and advice.

If you are outside the UK when you make an application your local British Council Office should be able to provide assistance.

We accept a large number of international students to our undergraduate courses every year, so if your international qualifications do not reflect the grade requirements, then please feel free to contact us.