Sociology BSc Hons | University of Chester

You are viewing Course summary

Course Summary

Through studying Sociology at Chester, you will be supported and empowered to develop a lifelong curiosity and unique way of looking at the world around you through a critical lens – a 'sociological imagination' – that will stay with you long after graduating. In a world grappling with complex social challenges and transformations dynamics, there's a growing demand for informed critical thinkers who can navigate these issues reflexively.

You will be introduced to cutting-edge research and theoretical perspectives that will help you to challenge dominant and taken-for-granted understandings of everyday social problems, issues and debates. Whether it's media, the welfare state, racial inequalities, consumer culture, gender and the body, climate change or education, our course focuses on complex, globally relevant topics that really matter.

You will be taught by staff who are actively engaged in social research on varied topical issues. We bring this expertise to each of the modules we teach, ensuring you will be learning about up-to-date developments in the field, and how sociological knowledge can be applied in practice.

Through our interactive and inclusive teaching approaches and learning activities, you'll learn how to apply sociological theories and debates to your own real-world observations and examples. You will graduate feeling confident and inspired, ready for a fulfilling career that makes use of your unique and sought-after knowledge and skills. Our graduates are well equipped for careers including those in social research, advice and advocacy, community development, teaching, social policy, youth and community work, charity work, or for further academic study. Other related careers include work within the Civil Service, journalism, human resources, public relations and social work.

Why You'll Love It

Staff are published academics with a passion for their subjects

A group of students seated around small tables, writing on notebooks.

We offer a dynamic, vibrant learning environment that will help you to thrive

You'll have the opportunity to put theory into practice

What You'll Study

The Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Foundation Year route offers you an important preparation year as part of your four-year degree.

For Law and Criminal Justice subjects, you will explore legal frameworks, criminal justice systems, wider social contexts and issues, as well as case scenarios, and research and problem solving in law and criminology.

For Humanities and Social Science subjects, you will explore people and societies and their beliefs, cultures, power structures, stories and narratives, as well as critical inquiry into societal issues and global affairs with contemporary and historical perspectives.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

The Sociology course offers an in-depth understanding of the key social issues and challenges affecting our lives today and in the future, alongside giving you the skills needed to explore and respond to such issues independently.

In Year 1 (Level 4), you will develop an understanding of what Sociology is, key themes within the discipline, and how sociologists look at and study the world using theory and research skills. You will then be introduced to social welfare policy, seeing this topical issue in a historical perspective and examining the role of welfare policies in shaping everyday experiences and inequalities, using theoretical perspectives to do so.  You’ll also explore the role of the media in contemporary society and the ways that different groups are represented. Another key topic concerns environmental changes and their interconnection with global inequalities, enabling you to participate in debates on ecology and climate change. 

In Year 2 (Level 5), you will build on your learning and skills, by engaging in theoretically informed debates on contemporary social issues such as mobilities, globalisation, status, social class, and decolonisation. You will also study race, ethnicity, nationality and citizenship in a historical perspective that takes account of power and inequalities. This entails an exploration of how human mobility and the categorisations of groups of people transform societies, and how these social phenomena can contribute to and explain continued social inequalities. The sociology of the body is another core topic explored – you will build an understanding of how our bodies are constructed, categorised and regulated in contemporary Western societies, with a critical focus on topics such as gender, race and disability. You will consider the influence of wider forces such as social media and social policies on bodily experiences and practices, and you'll be encouraged to apply and evaluate the theories learned to your own examples and observations from everyday life.

In Year 2, you are also offered opportunities to put your learning into practice through real-world experience to support and develop your future career plans. This includes the chance to gain relevant work experience, study abroad, engage with a research project, or learn a language.

In Year 3 (Level 6), key topics explored include the sociology of consumption, where you will engage in critical consideration and reflection on the predominance of consumer culture in our everyday lives, and the social and ecological implications of this. Education is another key topic, where you will critically evaluate its role in society, placing such debate within the wider context of neoliberalism, capitalism and postmodern thinking. Furthermore, you will consider the role of social science outside of academia, and its potential to promote positive social change through engaging the public and making social scientific knowledge more accessible. This will involve critical discussions of the role of dominant power interests in shaping public knowledge of social issues and inequalities, and the potential of social science to provide counter-narratives and advocate for marginalised communities. Furthermore, you will get the chance to consolidate your knowledge and skills through undertaking an independent project on a key social issue of your choice, with continued support and guidance from experienced researchers. 

Theoretical understandings span across all three years of study, with students building the ability to apply and appraise theory in reference to a variety of real-world social problems.

This course is delivered in three terms of ten weeks each. In each term, you will study 40 credits comprising either one or two modules. Scheduled contact hours range between approximately six and ten hours per week, depending upon level of study and the complexity of the material being taught. This course is primarily delivered in person, with some online learning. You can expect to take part in interactive sessions comprising lecture content, task-based workshops and peer-led seminar discussions that enhance subject knowledge and build key academic skills. 

As a student, you will be involved in the design, delivery, and experience of your learning at university, recognising the importance of student agency and co-creation in education. Opportunities to collaborate in your learning process include student representation; feedback; inclusive teaching initiatives (such as workshops or discussions around making the curriculum more inclusive, where student input is crucial); student-led workshops and seminars; collaborative curriculum design; peer teaching; access to digital platforms where you can share resources; project-based learning (such as coursework projects where you will have choice over the topic); being part of a learning community with your fellow students; and having input into how these communities are structured and operate.

Outside of timetabled teaching, you should expect to spend an average of 30-34 hours per week on independent study, which might include undertaking weekly learning activities for each module in your own time, undertaking wider reading, using the University's library, one-to-one tutorial time with staff, working with peers, and preparing work for summative assessments. 

There will be a broad range of assessment methods to optimise learning and skill development for a diverse range of learners with unique needs and preferences, and to enable you to build a wide array of skills to thrive in the workplace. These will include formative assessment such as group tasks and discussions where you can receive feedback from lecturers and your peers to build your confidence and skills. Summative assessment will include written coursework, such essays (short and long form), summaries and critical reviews of literature and/or policy, case study reports, and writing for public as well as academic audiences. In addition, summative assessment will focus on visual, verbal and practical skills, encompassing, for example, posters and presentations.

You will be given ongoing support with assessments throughout each module, in addition to being guided on how to utilise past feedback. We continuously review the assessment methods used, to ensure they are inclusive and engaging, and so that they equip you with all of the skills that graduate-level employers are looking for.

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core – building your subject competence, confidence, and key transferable skills to shape you into a world-ready Chester graduate.

Entry Requirements

112UCAS points

UCAS Tariff	112 points
GCE A Level	Typical offer – BCC-BBC
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM
International Baccalaureate	28 points
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers - H3 H3 H3 H3 H4 Scottish Highers - BBBB
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma, to include 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above
T Level	Merit
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma: DMM
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For more information on our entry requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

72UCAS points

UCAS Tariff	72 points
GCE A level	72 points overall, including grade D in A level
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma: MMP
International Baccalaureate	24 points
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers: H4 H4 H4 H4 H4 Scottish Highers: CCDD
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma – Pass overall
T Level	T Level: Pass (D or E on the core)
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma: MMP
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs. If you are a mature student (21 or over) and have been out of education for a while or do not have experience or qualifications at Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels), then our Foundation Year courses will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you will need to succeed in your chosen degree.

Fees and Funding

£9,535per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2025/26 are £9,535 a year, or £1,590 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

You can find more information about undergraduate fees on our Fees and Finance pages.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

£14,450*per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

The tuition fees for international students studying Undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £14,450 per year for a full-time course. This fee is set for each year of study.

The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fee. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when your application is reviewed, and any award given will be stated on your offer letter.

For courses with a Foundation Year, the tuition fees for Year 1 are £10,750 and £14,200 for Years 2-4 in 2025/26.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

In November 2024, as part of the government’s Autumn Budget, it was confirmed that some foundation years from September 2025 will have a fee of £5,760 for the first foundation year of a four-year course. This is mainly for courses in the Humanities, Business, and Social Sciences disciplines. The following three years of these courses will be the standard fee of £9,535 per annum.

	Foundation (First) Year	Second Year onwards per year
Home Students	£5,760 for the first foundation year (2025/26)	£9,535 per year from the second year onwards (2025/26)
International Students *	£10,750 for the first foundation year (2025/26)	£14,450 per year from the second year onwards (2025/26)

* For courses which accept applications from International Students

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials.

Students often elect to purchase a laptop, where students choose to do so, the cost it likely to be around £800-£1000.

Most software specific to your course is available free to students through agreements we have with the software vendors.

Occasional, optional, field trips may be offered, depending on student demand, these are typically within the UK and where chargeable the cost is likely to be under £100. Students are not required to participate in order to successfully complete the course.

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

Where You'll Study Exton Park, Chester

The location

Modern learning resources and library

Seaborne library, seating and reception area.

Student Services

Fitness facilities

A male student wearing goggles is swimming in the training pool between the red rope lane marker lines.

Chapel, chaplaincy and multi-faith spaces

Accommodation

Catering

Your Future Career

Job Prospects

Sociology graduates pursue diverse career paths including in the public sector and civil service, politics and government, social work, charity and advocacy work, public relations, advertising, market research, journalism, academia and teaching. The critical and analytical skills developed through studying Sociology are highly transferable and extremely sought after by employers.

Below are some potential career paths and roles for Sociology graduates:

Community development worker: Work with individuals, families or whole communities to bring about social change and improve the quality of life in their local area.
Policy Officer: Undertake research and gather evidence to support the policy-making process and influence policy decisions.
Social Researcher: Plan, design, conduct analysis and manage social research projects. Report on findings to shape or evaluate policy and address societal issues.
Civil Service Administrator: Play an essential role in government departments and agencies in an administrative support or operational delivery role.
Family Support Worker: Offer practical help and emotional support to families experiencing short- or long-term difficulties.
Charity Officer: Work for charitable or non-profit organisations.
Secondary or College Teacher: Teach a subject you love and engage pupils in learning and preparing for their future.
Youth Worker: Guide and support young people in their personal, social and educational development to help them reach their full potential.

Careers Service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

Sociology BSc (Hons)

Available with: