Course Overview
Your degree is taught by some of Europe's foremost Sociologists in a department nationally and internationally renowned for creative and groundbreaking research. This means your learning environment is up to date, exciting and challenging. Much of our teaching is in small lectures, seminar groups of 10 - 13 students, and interactive workshops so you will get to know your peers and our members of staff very well.
Your first year provides you with a basic grounding in 'thinking sociologically' and addressing some of the issues sociologists are thinking about today. The Introduction to Sociology module familiarises you with sociological issues, ideas, concepts, evidence and arguments, examining key aspects of living in the contemporary world.
Thanks to the flexibility of the Lancaster structure, you can also take complementary courses such as Gender and Women's Studies or Media and Cultural Studies during your first year. You can also combine our first year Sociology course with other first year courses in other departments.
There are two compulsory core courses in your second year: Understanding Social Thought and Research Skills and Techniques. In your final year, there is one compulsory core course: Doing Sociological Research, which consists of completing a Dissertation on a topic of your choice. In both years you'll also be able to choose from a vast range of options to complete your degree, such as Living with Capitalism; Friendship, Intimacy and Society; Nation, Migration, Multiculturalism; Terror; The Chinese Century? ; Gender, Sexuality and Society; and Media in the Global Age.
Related Courses
Modules
Lancaster degree programmes are flexible, offering students the opportunity to cover a wide selection of subject areas to compliment their degree. The following is an example list of modules which our previous students have studied. For a full list contact the Sociology department.
Year 1
- Introduction to Sociology
Year 2
- Understanding Social Thought
- Research Skills and Techniques
- Research Methods
- Gender, Sexuality and Society
- Sociological Research Skills and Techniques
- Race Relations and Social Change
- Bodies in Society
- Sociological Research Methods
Year 3
- Doing Sociological Research
- Terror
- Feminism and Social Change
- Imaging the Body
Lancaster University offers the chance to follow a structured study programme or the option to devise a more flexible programme. We divide academic study into 2 sections - Part 1 (Year 1) and Part 2 (Year 2, 3 and sometimes 4). In Part 1 you will take three modules of study which, depending upon your programme, will be drawn from one, two or three different academic subjects, a higher degree of specialisation then develops in subsequent years. For more information about our teaching methods at Lancaster visit our Teaching and Learning section.
For further information about the department, staff and courses please visit the Sociology department website.
Entry Criteria
A-level: ABB. We normally expect three A-levels
Preference: Two or more A-levels
Key skills: Not included in offer
Scottish Highers: BBBBB
Irish Leaving Cert: Offers will be made on the basis of 5 or 6 Higher level subjects. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 592028) for further information
International Baccalaureate: 32 pts overall with 16 pts from best three HL courses
BTEC: DDM only
Mature students: Applications most welcome, especially from adults taking 'access courses'. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 592028) for further information
IELTS: 6.5
Careers
Sociology graduates have found employment in a wide range of areas, including the public sector, in roles in administration, social services, or teaching.
The transferable skills of this course have seen a significant number of Sociology graduates entering sectors such as banking, law, and public relations. Many have pursued careers in the media, advertising and journalism.
Some of our Sociology graduates continue to postgraduate degrees at Lancaster, other institutions within the UK or internationally, which leads to employment in research or teaching in higher education, international organisations or the public sector.
Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, you also graduate with the relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.
Studying
Teaching and Learning Methods
At Lancaster we offer a broad range of learning environments designed to best support the requirements of your chosen degree programme. These may include lecture and tutorials, interactive workshops, laboratory sessions, other practical activities, student-led seminars and web-based elivery.The modules which make up a programme of study are assessed using a variety of different methods, enabling students to demonstrate their capabilities in a range of ways. Typical coursework assignments include laboratory reports, essays, literature reviews, short tests, short and sharply focussed critical reports, poster sessions and oral presentations. Formal examinations include short answer questions, essays and data analysis. Multiple choice formats are also employed where appropriate. Students are supported in the production of final year project reports and dissertations. Details of the assessment methods for individual modules can be accessed via the university's online module catalogue. In addition to these learning and teaching methods we encourage independent study, meaning you take responsibility for your own learning. For more information visit our Teaching Approach page.
Assessment Methods
We offer you a variety of stimulating and effective approaches to teaching, learning and assessment. This enables you and your tutors to explore the very latest thinking within your subject and develops your skills in problem solving, analysis and critical reflection, communication, application of knowledge and modern technologies.
As a University, we commit to providing all our undergraduates with a minimum number of contact hours per week, providing you with timely feedback on your work and a maximum number of 15 students per seminar group.
Funding
Lancaster University has committed £2.7m in scholarships and bursaries to help with your fees and living costs. Our financial support depends on your circumstances and how well you do in your A-levels (or equivalent academic qualifications) before starting study with us.
Lancaster University's priority is to support every student to make the most of their life and education. For students starting their study with us in 2014, over 600 each year will be entitled to bursaries and/or scholarships to help them with the cost of fees and/or living expenses. For UK students entering in 2014 we will have the following financial support available:
- An Academic Scholarship of £2,000 for the first year of study to any student from the UK entering with A*, A*, A or equivalent academic qualifications
- An Access Scholarship of £1,000 per year for all UK students from households with an income of less than £42,600 who achieve grades of A*, A, A or the equivalent academic qualifications
- A Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 per annum for all students from England with a household income of more than £25,000 but less than £42,600
- As part of the National Scholarship Programme, a £1,000 Bursary, a £1,000 Fee Waiver and a £1,000 Accommodation Discount in the first year of study, for students from England with a household income of less than £25,000. Plus a Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 in subsequent years.
*All of the financial awards above are subject to approval by the Office for Fair Access July 2013.
For full details of the University's financial support packages including eligibility criteria, please visit our fees and funding page