Sociology BA
ABB at A level; graduates earn a median £24,000 three years on.
Typical A level offer
ABB
100% of entrants came with A levels · 88% stay on after year 1 · York course page, Discover Uni
Year 13 · applying
What do you need to get in?
ABBtypical A level offer
Typical offer — the grades most applicants are asked for. Contextual offer: BBB, for applicants from under-represented backgrounds.
York course page, read 19 September 2026 · Discover Uni entry profile
Who actually got in: 100% with A levels. Based on 40 entrants.
Other qualifications5
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Access | 30 credits at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher | — |
| BTEC | DDMDDM We consider a range of BTEC qualifications equivalent to 3 A Levels, or in combination with A Levels or other qualifications. For example: Distinction, Distinction in BTEC Level 3 National Diploma | — |
| IB | 34 points34 points overall | — |
| T Level | Distinction overall T Level subjects in Accounting; Design and Development for EDistinction overall T Level subjects in Accounting; Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing; Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction; Digital Business Services; Digital Produc | — |
| Scottish Highers | ABBBB | — |
Years 1–3
What do you study?
5compulsory modules in year 1
Compulsory modules this year: social & cultural skills 74% · language & communication 14% · transversal skills 10% · mathematics & statistics 2%.
Module — one course unit, usually a term or a year long; “core” means everyone takes it. One UK credit is about ten hours of study; a full year is 120 credits.
York course page · optional modules vary by year
Year 1 · 5 core · 100 credits ≈ 1,000 hours
- Investigating Social Problems
What you learn (11)
- explain key sociological and criminological debates relevant to social problems
- collaborate within a team to investigate a complex social problem
- apply sociological and criminological concepts to frame a research question
- select appropriate sources to support investigation of a social issue
- critically analyse a social problem using relevant evidence
- organise ideas logically for presentation to an audience
- present findings clearly using appropriate communication methods
- reflect on personal development of knowledge and skills gained during study
- evaluate how acquired skills could be applied to future social problems
- evaluate different types of data and their suitability for research questions
- assess ethical considerations associated with different data types
- Theorising the Social World
What you learn (5)
- explain key concepts and debates in social theory
- discuss the development of social theory concepts in historical context
- apply theoretical ideas to analyse the social world
- evaluate methodological implications of social theory concepts
- communicate complex social-theory ideas in oral and written form
- Explaining Crime and Deviance
What you learn (7)
- explain the historical development of criminology as a field
- describe debates underpinning theoretical explanations of crime
- organise own schedule to complete independent study tasks
- apply social theory concepts to analyse historical events
- apply social theory concepts to analyse current issues
- present coherent arguments in spoken discussion
- compose coherent arguments in written form
- Cultivating a Sociological Imagination
What you learn (8)
- explain the sociological imagination as a way of analysing social life
- situate the sociological imagination within broader academic debates
- apply sociological concepts to interpret personal experiences
- apply sociological concepts to interpret everyday social objects
- describe different sociological approaches to analysing contemporary society
- critique contemporary social life using sociological perspectives
- produce written work that conveys complex sociological ideas
- deliver oral presentations that convey complex sociological ideas
- Living in Digital Cultures
What you learn (7)
- explain the concept of digital culture
- apply the concept of digital culture to analyse everyday life
- evaluate key theories and perspectives relevant to digital culture
- apply theoretical concepts to examples of digital culture
- analyse key features of digital culture using varied sources
- contextualise lived experiences within digital culture
- evaluate how digital transformations shape individual lives
Year 2 · 3 core, 8 optional · 60 credits ≈ 600 hours
- Societies and the Climate Crisis
What you learn (9)
- summarise key sociological literature on climate change
- evaluate the social consequences of the climate crisis
- evaluate societal responses to the climate crisis
- apply sociological theory to analyse environmental issues
- analyse links between climate change and global economic inequality
- analyse links between climate change, coloniality and injustice
- collaborate effectively within a team on shared tasks
- solve problems using structured reasoning approaches
- communicate ideas clearly in written and spoken form
- Doing Research
What you learn (10)
- describe key principles underpinning social science research
- apply core social science research principles to a study
- identify ethical issues arising in social science research projects
- respond appropriately to ethical dilemmas during research activities
- evaluate quantitative or qualitative techniques for a research problem
- investigate a social science problem using chosen research techniques
- reflect on personal learning progress throughout the module
- plan own professional development based on reflective insights
- collaborate with peers to complete shared research tasks
- present complex research ideas clearly to an audience
- Inequality, Marginalisation and Resistance
What you learn (6)
- explain key social divisions and forms of inequality using sociological concepts
- apply sociological theories to analyse case studies of inequality
- analyse how different social divisions intersect to produce inequality
- evaluate strategies used to challenge inequality and promote social change
- construct a critical written argument supported by relevant evidence
- critically evaluate a sociological text in depth
8 optional modules
- Working in the Criminal Justice System
What you learn (7)
- describe various job roles within criminal justice agencies
- compare different occupational roles in the criminal justice system
- evaluate current debates surrounding criminal justice employment
- analyse sociological concepts relevant to criminal justice work experiences
- apply criminological theories to practitioners' lived experiences
- present a scholarly argument using visual materials
- produce a written scholarly argument
- Gender, Sexuality and Inequalities
What you learn (8)
- differentiate theoretical approaches to gender and sexuality
- evaluate competing frameworks for explaining gender and sexuality
- explain how social, cultural and historical factors shape gender expectations
- argue against biological determinism as an explanation for gender inequality
- identify how gender, sex and sexuality intersect with other social inequalities
- assess the interplay of structure and agency in bodily decision-making
- apply theoretical concepts to real-world global case studies
- critically evaluate conflicting positions on gender and sexuality debates
- Popular Culture, the Media and Society
What you learn (7)
- explain the sociological importance of popular culture spread via modern media
- critically analyse links between popular culture, media and society
- generate original perspectives on media and societal relationships
- collaborate within a team to examine social effects of media and popular culture
- structure and present ideas clearly to an audience
- evaluate theoretical and empirical research on popular culture and media
- synthesise findings from diverse studies into a coherent argument
- Body and Society
What you learn (12)
- explain core sociological concepts and theories of the body
- compare sociological perspectives on the body
- summarise key empirical studies on the sociology of the body
- describe case studies relevant to bodily sociology
- discuss key debates on the body in written form
- present debates on the body collaboratively in spoken form
- apply sociological concepts of the body to personal experience
- relate module theories to everyday life examples
- describe historical changes in embodiment practices
- compare contemporary embodiment practices across cultures
- critique eurocentric assumptions about bodily norms
- evaluate non-western perspectives on the body
- Humans and Other Animals
What you learn (8)
- describe the roles animals have held in human societies historically
- explain how animal roles have changed across different cultures
- evaluate how animals contribute to profit generation in capitalist economies
- evaluate how animals contribute to the production of knowledge
- compare expert and lay perspectives on the nature of animal life
- explain how animals are used to define human identity
- critique how animals shape distinctions between human and non-human categories
- relate academic theories to personal or everyday experiences
- Social Interaction and Conversation Analysis
What you learn (8)
- evaluate the argument that interaction underpins human social life
- critique major findings from existing conversation analysis studies
- assess how micro-level analysis contributes to sociological understanding
- apply conversation analytic methods to analyse original interactional data
- design a small-scale original research project using conversation analysis
- produce clear written analysis demonstrating critical academic reasoning
- present ideas confidently in spoken academic discussion
- manage own study tasks independently to meet academic goals
- Health and Illness
What you learn (7)
- explain core sociological concepts and theories relating to health and illness
- apply sociological theories to analyse specific health and illness cases
- describe key sociological research findings on healthcare issues
- evaluate research on lay beliefs about illness across different cultures
- analyse how social factors shape access to healthcare worldwide
- analyse how political factors shape healthcare provision globally
- construct a critical written argument supported by data analysis
- People and the State
What you learn (6)
- evaluate how rights, responsibilities and motivations shape political sociology
- analyse how politics and society interact in current events
- apply political sociology concepts to examine social issues
- use theoretical and empirical materials to support social analysis
- communicate ideas about state-individual relationships to varied audiences
- explain how intersectionality shapes citizenship in diverse contexts
Year 3 · 2 core, 11 optional · 60 credits ≈ 600 hours
- Creating Sociological Alternatives
What you learn (6)
- critically analyse how thinkers have envisioned alternatives to existing societies
- evaluate analytical frameworks as tools for driving social change
- formulate original ideas addressing contemporary social problems
- apply sociological concepts to sharpen critical thinking
- collaborate effectively within a team to investigate a social issue
- present complex ideas using varied creative contemporary formats
- Undergraduate Dissertation
What you learn (13)
- design a research project using qualitative and quantitative methods
- carry out rigorous analysis of a sociological or criminological topic
- explain a chosen topic using relevant disciplinary theories and perspectives
- relate a chosen criminology topic to relevant policy context
- synthesise theoretical knowledge to construct complex arguments
- communicate arguments about contemporary social issues and debates
- identify policy implications arising from criminological research findings
- analyse complex sociological or criminological concepts and theories
- apply theoretical concepts to develop understanding of social worlds
- identify ethical issues relevant to a research project
- apply ethical principles when interacting with research participants
- design research procedures that protect participant wellbeing
- plan and manage a self-directed research workload effectively
11 optional modules
- Morbidity, Culture and Corpses
What you learn (6)
- evaluate sociological links between death, culture and society
- apply sociological analysis to interpret the broader relevance of death studies
- synthesise theoretical and empirical research on mortality
- collaborate with others to organise and present ideas
- communicate ideas clearly to an audience
- reflect on personal strengths and motivations to identify areas for improvement
- Spiritual Realities
What you learn (8)
- describe the variety and frequency of spiritual and paranormal experiences
- identify characteristic features of spiritual and anomalous experiences
- evaluate social science approaches used to study spiritual experiences
- assess research methods applied to anomalous experience studies
- apply social science theories to analyse spiritual experience cases
- use social science methods to examine examples of paranormal phenomena
- locate relevant sources of information for academic assessment tasks
- evaluate the credibility of varied sources used in coursework
- Working in the Criminal Justice System
What you learn (7)
- describe various job roles within criminal justice agencies
- compare different occupational roles in the criminal justice system
- evaluate current debates surrounding criminal justice employment
- analyse sociological concepts relevant to criminal justice work experiences
- apply criminological theories to practitioners' lived experiences
- present a scholarly argument using visual materials
- produce a written scholarly argument
- Talk at Work
What you learn (7)
- evaluate the significance of social interaction in workplace settings
- justify the value of analysing authentic recorded workplace talk
- apply conversation analysis techniques to examine recordings of workplace talk
- assess how research findings can inform interventions improving workplace communication
- design an evidence-based workshop to enhance workplace communication
- analyse complex material critically using conversation analytic methods
- communicate complex ideas clearly in written and spoken formats
- Crime, Media and Culture
What you learn (7)
- explain theoretical perspectives on the links between media, crime and culture
- describe how media narratives affect diverse audiences locally and globally
- critique how popular culture and news shape public perceptions of crime
- evaluate relationships between crime, media representation and cultural change globally
- analyse visual artefacts using relevant theoretical frameworks
- produce a critical written analysis of complex ideas
- present complex ideas clearly in verbal communication
- Crime, Gender and Sexuality
What you learn (11)
- explain sociological approaches to gender and sexuality
- explain criminological approaches to gender and sexuality
- apply sociological theories to issues of gender and sexuality
- apply sociological concepts to analyse sexual offences
- evaluate formal social responses to gender- and sexuality-related crimes
- evaluate informal social responses to gender- and sexuality-related crimes
- explain how formal control strategies shape gender and sexual identities
- explain how informal control strategies shape gender and sexual practices
- analyse how legislation regulates gender and sexuality
- analyse how state policies regulate gender and sexuality
- analyse how policing strategies regulate gender and sexuality
- AI in Society
What you learn (11)
- explain key concepts in AI ethics
- describe major debates surrounding ethical use of AI
- relate ethical issues to AI use in interactive media for end users
- relate ethical issues to AI use in creative practice for practitioners
- identify the range of ethical concerns raised by AI in creative work
- recognise algorithmic bias and injustice in AI-driven creative systems
- recognise manipulation and discrimination risks in AI creative applications
- evaluate ethical implications of an AI system using a creative case study
- assess consequences of an AI-driven creative process on stakeholders
- participate in discussions on the future of responsible creative AI
- discuss regulatory approaches to ethical AI in creative practice
- Humans and Other Animals
What you learn (8)
- describe the roles animals have held in human societies historically
- explain how animal roles have changed across different cultures
- evaluate how animals contribute to profit generation in capitalist economies
- evaluate how animals contribute to the production of knowledge
- compare expert and lay perspectives on the nature of animal life
- explain how animals are used to define human identity
- critique how animals shape distinctions between human and non-human categories
- relate academic theories to personal or everyday experiences
- Race and Injustice
What you learn (7)
- critique sociological literature on race, racism and migration
- explain systemic, structural and institutional forms of racism
- evaluate how racism intersects with capitalism and migration
- analyse theoretical race and migration perspectives against real-world cases
- evaluate links between racism, border control systems and other oppressions
- synthesise complex sociological information into coherent arguments
- communicate key findings through written and oral formats
- Global Justice, Health and Wellbeing
What you learn (8)
- explain the global scope of health challenges facing populations
- identify assumptions underlying global health care policies
- identify key debates on global health and wellbeing inequalities
- evaluate sources discussing unequal access to health care worldwide
- analyse diverse healthcare systems across different countries
- analyse sociocultural contexts shaping global health provision
- synthesise theoretical perspectives to address global justice issues
- propose practical approaches to promote transformative global justice
- Cities and Urban Culture
What you learn (10)
- explain theoretical relationships between cities and urban culture
- analyse contemporary cities through visual research methods
- evaluate how racial inequality persists in modern cities
- evaluate the imperial legacies shaping contemporary urban life
- evaluate gender and class inequalities within contemporary cities
- describe how cities are socially constructed
- propose strategies for creating more socially just cities
- critically analyse complex urban issues using scholarly evidence
- communicate complex ideas effectively in written form
- communicate complex ideas effectively in verbal presentations
“What you learn” restates each module’s published learning outcomes in our own words, as short skill statements in the same form as the GCSE and A level curriculum, with the help of an AI model; fields of knowledge follow the twelve fields of the knowledge sphere. The university’s module page, linked from each title, is the authoritative description.
After graduating
Where does it lead?
£24,000median pay three years after graduating
Lower quarter£20k
Median£24k
Upper quarter£29k
Median — the middle earner: half earned more, half less. Pay is for graduates of this subject at this university who finished in 2016-18, not adjusted for inflation; based on 165 graduates.
Discover Uni dataset (HESA and Office for Students, CC BY 4.0, contains HESA data); earnings from the Longitudinal Education Outcomes data (Department for Education) · aggregation level 13, 14, 23
Half of graduates earned between £19,500 and £28,500. Five years on, the median is £29,000. 93% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing; 55% of those in work were in professional or managerial jobs.
All outcome figures7
| Measure | Value | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Continue after year 112% left | 88% | 65 |
| In work or study, 15 months on13% studying | 93% | 65 |
| Professional or managerial job | 55% | 45 |
| Pay 15 months on, median | £25,500 | 30 |
| Pay 3 years on, median | £24,000 | 165 |
| Pay 5 years on, median | £29,000 | 175 |
Money
What does it cost?
£10,050a year for UK students, 2027/28 entry
Tuition fee loan — paid straight to the university; repayments start the April after you leave, at 9% of income above the threshold. UK fees are capped by government and rise with inflation; placement and study-abroad years are usually charged at a lower rate.
York fees page · source
About £30,150 in fees over 3 years, covered by a tuition fee loan you repay only when earning above the threshold. International students: £27,800 a year (2027/28).
National Student Survey 2025-26
What do students say?
92%agreed the course was good overall (question 26)
NSS — a yearly survey of final-year students at every UK university; 74% of this course’s final year answered. Small groups can swing a lot year to year.
National Student Survey, via Discover Uni · 40 students answered
Highest: 100% agreed on question 15; lowest: 64% on question 25.
All questions26
| Question | Agree |
|---|---|
| Question 1 | 97% |
| Question 2 | 82% |
| Question 3 | 79% |
| Question 4 | 74% |
| Question 5 | 87% |
| Question 6 | 82% |
| Question 7 | 87% |
| Question 8 | 72% |
| Question 9 | 79% |
| Question 10 | 69% |
| Question 11 | 92% |
| Question 12 | 87% |
| Question 13 | 97% |
| Question 14 | 64% |
| Question 15 | 100% |
| Question 16 | 97% |
| Question 17 | 87% |
| Question 18 | 82% |
| Question 19 | 92% |
| Question 20 | 97% |
| Question 21 | 91% |
| Question 22 | 92% |
| Question 23 | 89% |
| Question 24 | 70% |
| Question 25 | 64% |
| Question 26 | 92% |
Question texts are published by the Office for Students; the dataset carries only the question numbers.
Modules, entry requirements and fees are facts read from University of York’s course page on 2026-09-19 and may change; the university’s page is authoritative. Descriptions are not reproduced. Outcome figures are from the Discover Uni dataset. University of York is a trade mark of the university; sch.today is independent of it.