Sociology BSc (Hons)

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Available with:

  • Foundation Year

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Course Summary

Through studying Sociology at Chester, you will be given the skills and support you need in order to develop a ‘sociological imagination’ of your own. You will be introduced to cutting-edge research and theoretical perspectives that will help you to challenge dominant understandings of social problems, issues and debates.

Our teaching team has a wide range of backgrounds and experience. Modules are written by staff in line with their research interests and include areas such as inequality and the welfare state, race and racism, gender identity and the body, globalisation, sustainability, protest and social change. How is ‘globalisation’ reshaping the world we live in? What are the major social divisions and conflicts affecting society today? How does the mass media influence our perception of these conflicts and divisions? These are just some of the questions that you will be asked to think about while studying Sociology at Chester.

Sociology BSc (Hons)

Sociology BSc (Hons)

What Our Students Think

3rd in the UK for course quality 2024 unicompare
1st for learning and teaching quality in the North West WUSCAS 2024

What you'll Study

In your first year you will develop an understanding of human behaviour, societies, and social identities. You will study the formation of both individual and collective identities within the wider context of social divisions, diversity, and inequality in relation to race, gender, social class, and sexuality. You will examine the historical and contemporary context of social welfare, situating social policy within significant socio-economic and political changes.  You will explore media representations of different groups in society. You will consider global inequalities and environmental changes enabling you to participate in debates on topics such as society, ecology, and climate change.  

In Year Two you will engage in theoretically informed debates on contemporary social issues topics such as mobilities, globalization, status, social class, and decolonization. You will study the ideas of race, ethnicity, nationality and citizenship in a historical perspective that takes account of power and inequalities. You will explore how human mobility and the categorisations of groups of people transform societies and these social phenomena can contribute to explain social inequalities and practices. You will enhance your understanding of how bodies are constructed, categorised and regulated in contemporary Western societies and will critically discuss bodily choices, practices and discourses in neoliberal capitalist society, including topics such as cosmetic surgery, sex education, and fitness culture.

In Year Three you will deepen your understanding of the sociology of consumption and will be encouraged to engage in critical consideration and reflection on the rise and continued predominance of consumer culture in our everyday lives. You will debate the role of education in wider society and opportunities it can provide within the wider context of neoliberalism, capitalism and postmodern thinking. You will critically consider how social scientists can engage the public to promote social change. You will explore the role of power in framing social issues, the challenges of public social science, and the responsibilities of social scientists to educate and advocate for marginalized communities. Students develop skills in effectively communicating to diverse audiences.   

You will also undertake a major project on a key social challenge with support and guidance from experienced researchers.  

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

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.

How you'll Learn

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This course is designed around in-person study

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There may be some online learning activities

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You will be assessed in a variety of ways

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Curriculum developed to match workforce priorities

This course is delivered in three terms of ten weeks each. In each term, students study 40 credits comprised of 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 of lecture content, task-based workshops and peer-led seminar discussions.  

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 you learning process include; student representation; feedback mechanisms; student-led workshops and seminars; collaborative curriculum design; peer teaching; project-based learning (such as negotiated title coursework or dissertations); learning communities (these are groups or cohorts of students who take several modules together, fostering a sense of community and shared learning. You will often have input into how these communities are structured and operate); digital platforms (platforms where students can share resources); inclusive teaching initiatives (such as workshops or discussions around making the curriculum more inclusive, where student input is crucial). 

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 asynchronous learning activities for each module, undertaking wider reading, using the University’s library, 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 students to build a wide array of skills to thrive in the workplace. These will include formative assessment such as group tasks and discussions where students can receive feedback from lecturers and their peers to build their 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 studies/ 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, presentations and Q&A discussions.  

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 in order that they put our students in the best position for graduate level employment.

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

£9,250per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2025/26 are £9,250 a year, or £1,540 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

The University may increase these fees at the start of each subsequent year of your course in line with inflation at that time, as measured by the Retail Price Index. These fee levels and increases are subject to any necessary government, and other regulatory, approvals.

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. All undergraduate students are eligible for international and merit-based scholarships which are applicable to each year of study.  

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. 

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

Exton Park is close to the city centre of Chester, a city like no other and an amazing place to live as a student. While it is undoubtedly beautiful and packed with history, Chester is also a bustling 21st-century city balancing big-name shopping, eating and living with a thriving independent scene.

Modern learning resources and library

We have dedicated resources and IT services across campus, as well as our Seaborne Library; home to an extensive selection of books, e-books and e-journals, as well as bookable multimedia rooms, video conferencing space, 24-hour access computer labs, and The Hub; a comfortable two-floor study zone, suitable for independent and group study.

Seaborne library, seating and reception area.

Student Services

Exton Park is home to a number of our central support services, including Disability and Inclusion, Careers and Employability, and Student Support.

Fitness facilities

Exton Park boasts an impressive choice of indoor and outdoor sports and leisure facilities, which are used for both competitive and recreational sports. Our facilities include a swimming pool, gym, squash, and tennis courts, running track and two floodlit pitches.

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

Chapel, chaplaincy and multi-faith spaces

Built in 1847 by former students, the University Chapel offers regular services and a venue to services. The University of Chester also has multi-faith spaces across the campus for prayer or quiet reflection.

Accommodation

Most of our student accommodation is located either on or near Exton Park.

Catering

We have several catering outlets available onsite, offering a wide selection of hot and cold food to students and visitors. Term-time Meal Schemes are also available for those students interested in non-residential catering schemes.

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.

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