Sociology  BSc (Hons)

Overview

This degree is concerned with important contemporary topics and debates such as cultural and socio-economic transformations, family life, social stratification, gender and sexuality, race relations and new ethnicities, migration, human rights, citizenship and cosmopolitan identity, governance, media and communications and crime and security.

A Sociology degree from City develops a range of skills and intellectual abilities valued by employers including analytical skills, problem solving, communicating ideas, independent judgement and the ability to think constructively about challenging issues. As a result, 95 per cent of our most recent graduates were in employment or further study within six months of completing their course (UniStats).

City is ranked 3rd in London for Sociology by The Complete University Guide 2012 and ranked in the top 10 in the UK for employability by The Times Good University Guide 2012.

Meet our students

Read short profiles of a few Media Studies & Sociology undergraduate students:

Entry Requirements:

340 UCAS tariff points, typically AAB at A-level or equivalent (or ABB at A-level plus extra AS-level at C or above). A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Studies are not accepted. More...

Course Fees:

  • Full-time EU: £9,000
  • Full-time Non EU: £11,000

Start Date:

24 September 2012

UCAS code:

L300

How to Apply

Entry Requirements

Tariff Points

UK

A-Level

  • Minimum 340 UCAS tariff points, typically AAB at A-level or equivalent (or ABB at A-level plus extra AS-level at C or above)
  • 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 (DDD 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)

35 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 between 80-85%)
  • Bulgarian Diploma za Sredno Obrazovanie (Offer typically made on the basis of a score of at least 5.8)
  • Canadian school leaving certificates. (Offer typically made on the basis of a score between 80-90%)
  • Cypriot Apolytirion (Require a score of at least 17. Combined with two relevant A-levels)
  • French Baccalauréat (Offer typically around 12.5-14/20)
  • German Abitur (Offer typically around 1.8 - 2.2)
  • Greek Apolytirion (Require a score of at least 17. Combined with two relevant A-levels)
  • Hong Kong Advanced Level
  • Indian HSC/ISC/ SSC grade XII (Offer typically made on the basis of a score between 80-90%)
  • Italian Esame di Stato (Offer typically made on the basis of a score between 80-90%)
  • 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)
  • 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 at least 80% from three extended level subjects)
  • Singapore/Cambridge GCE Advanced Level Higher 1 and 2
  • Spanish Título de Bachillerato (Offer typically made on the basis of the applicant achieving between 7.5-9/10)
  • 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

INTO Foundation Programmes

If you do not qualify for direct entry, INTO City University London offers academic preparation programmes which focus on the skills you need. Successful completion to the required standard of the International Foundation in Business, Humanities and Social Science at INTO City University London means guaranteed progression to this degree.

Kaplan International College (KIC) London

Additionally, the University works in partnership with KIC London to provide preparatory courses for international students.  Foundation and Pre Masters courses at KIC London offer comprehensive support to students including regular one-to-one tuition. Progression to the University is guaranteed if you complete the KIC London course at the required level.

English Requirements

  • Grade B 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

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:
24 September 2012
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 be taught by academic staff who are internationally-recognised for their research.

Course Structure

Year 1

Core modules:
Elective modules (from):

Year 2

Core modules:

Elective modules (from):
  • Crime, news and criminal justice
  • Gender, crime and justice
  • New media challenges  
  • Interpreting news and documentary  
  • Key issues in criminology  
  • Political sociology
  • Understanding social change  
  • Race & ethnicity in Britain  
  • Television and sport
  • Sociology of punishment
  • The circuit of culture
  • Violence and criminal justice policy

Year 3

Core module:

  • Dissertation

Elective modules (from):

  • Approaches to film
  • Criminal behaviour  
  • Environmental criminology  
  • Media, conflict and terrorism  
  • Sociology of human rights  
  • Youth, crime & society
  • Forced migration
  • Gender and globalisation
  • Globalisation and human rights
  • Media and politics: strategies, scandal and spin
  • Policing and crime control
  • The global media system
  • The information society
  • Victimology
  • Welfare and society

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.

Fees

  • Full-time EU: £9,000
  • Full-time Non EU: £11,000

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 2012 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.

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.

Find out more about City University London

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.