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Sociology (MA) (2024 Entry)

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Explore our Sociology taught Master's degree.

Sociology MA is a lively and engaging programme for students interested in how social life shapes individuals' experiences of the world around us. Warwick's Sociology Department, ranked 4th in the UK, will help you develop the skills needed to progress into your career.


Course overview

Why are ‘private troubles’ also ‘public issues’? This course enables you to explore and answer questions just like this. The course will appeal if you are interested in how social life shapes individuals’ experiences of the world around us.

From across sociology and allied social sciences, you will gain a thorough understanding of theories and methodologies that explore the social world. Then you will have the opportunity to tailor your programme to your own specific interests through our wide range of options.

Your period of study will involve you examining individuals’ experiences, and encounters with structures and institutions; reading new empirical research; exploring social theories; and assessing innovative methodologies.

Skills from this degree

  • Ability to analyse and evaluate complex intellectual ideas
  • Ability to analyse and evaluate competing approaches to understanding the contemporary world
  • Ability to build sophisticated and persuasive arguments from an array of sources
  • Ability to gather and analyse data using a range of techniques
  • Ability to carry out independent research
  • Ability to write about complex ideas in a clear way

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject.


English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

  • Band B
  • IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.


Additional requirements

Read our department advice on applying to ensure your application has the best chance for success.

Core modules

State of Art of Sociology

This module seeks to introduce you to some of the major debates about how theorising and empirical research should be done, through examples of how it is being done. It seeks to situate this against the background of the sociological tradition and to give students a sense of where there is continuity, discontinuity, progress and/or decline.

Understanding Social Science

This module introduces you to some of the standard methodological and theoretical problems posed by social inquiry. It is divided into two parts with the first part being structured around problems in social science and the second part around the problem(s) of objectivity. Many of the issues to be discussed relate to one key question: are the methods of the social sciences essentially the same or essentially different from those of the natural sciences?

Dissertation

The dissertation module gives you the opportunity to complete an independent piece of research on a topic of your own choice with the support of your dissertation supervisor, plenary teaching, and other online resources. The aim is for you to creatively use the substantive and methodological training acquired in the earlier part of your course to critically analyse a research topic of sociological relevance.


Optional modules

Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:

  • Qualitative Methods in Social Research
  • Quantitative Methods in Social Research
  • Gender, Imperialism and International Development
  • Gender Analysis and Development Practice
  • Cultures of Life, Authority and Power in Modernity
  • Market Life: Wealth and Poverty in Global Capitalism
  • Social Research for Social Change
  • State of the Art of Sociology
  • Understanding Social Science
  • The Sociology of Urban Life
  • Postcolonial Theory and Practice
  • Transnational Media Ecologies
  • Feminist Pedagogy/Feminist Activism
  • Queering Sociology
  • Key Problems in Criminal Justice
  • Creative Research Methods
  • Feminist Theory and Epistemology
  • Feminist and Queer Thinking: Contemporary Challenges
  • Ethnography and the Anthropological Tradition
  • Sociology of End Times
  • Social Data Science
  • Researching Inequality: Race, Class, Gender in Global Perspective

Teaching

Each of our MA courses has specified core modules which will be studied alongside a range of optional modules. You will be required to choose four optional modules from our departmental list.

All our MA courses follow a consistent structure meaning that you will follow a programme of taught modules, followed by a 15,000-word dissertation.


Class sizes

Class sizes can range from 6 to 30 students, dependent on each module.


Typical contact hours

Each module consists of at least 20 hours of teaching. You will also have contact hours available at your own disposal for dissertation supervisor, etc.


Assessment

Taught modules are assessed through written assignments. You will focus on your 15-000 word dissertation after the end of Spring Term.

If you study part-time then you will study your taught modules over two years: with teaching taking place during the academic terms. The order in which you study your modules will be agreed following discussion with your course convenor. You will also begin planning your dissertation in year one.


Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you and you will be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.

Your career

Graduates from these courses have gone on to work for employers including various national and international Universities, NGOs and the charity sector, or the civil service. They have pursued roles such as: business and financial project management professionals; higher education teaching professionals; IT project and programme managers; legal professionals and research and development managers.

Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

  • Make Your Mark - Careers with a degree in Sociology
  • Working for More than Profit
  • Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
  • Your Sociological future: Sociology Alumni Evening
  • My Sociological Future- What next? Career planning for undecided Sociology finalists

Sociology at Warwick

We have an international reputation for research excellence, a global and cosmopolitan perspective, and high-quality teaching. Our curriculum offers a comprehensive and up-to-date foundation with a diverse range of specialist options.

What does it mean to understand the world in which you live? What will your contribution be to this changing world? How do your own experiences and life chances compare to those of others?

Sociology – the study of humans in society – attempts to capture the rich variety and complexity of human social life. Indeed, it is difficult to think of any area of social existence that a sociologist wouldn’t be interested in examining, from the most intimate of personal relationships to the worldwide circulation of ideas, beliefs, products and people.

Find out more about us on our website.Link opens in a new window


Our Postgraduate courses

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your taught course fees  


Fee Status Guidance

The University carries out an initial fee status assessment based on information provided in the application and according to the guidance published by UKCISA. Students are classified as either Home or Overseas Fee status and this can determine the tuition fee and eligibility of certain scholarships and financial support. 

If you receive an offer, your fee status will be stated with the tuition fee information. If you believe your fee status has been incorrectly classified you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire (follow the instructions in your offer) and provide the required documentation for this to be reassessed. 

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) provides guidance to UK universities on fees status criteria, you can find the latest guidance on the impact of Brexit on fees and student support on the UKCISA website.


Additional course costs

Please contact your academic department for information about department specific costs, which should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below, such as:

  • Core text books
  • Printer credits
  • Dissertation binding
  • Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Sociology Funding Opportunities

Find out more about the various funding opportunities that are available in our department.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.

How to apply

The application process for courses that start in September and October 2024 will open on 2 October 2023.

Applications will close on 2 August 2024 for students who require a visa to study in the UK, to allow time to receive a CAS and complete the visa application process.

How to apply for a postgraduate taught course  

After you’ve applied

Find out how we process your application.

Applicant Portal

Track your application and update your details.

Admissions statement

See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.

Join a live chat

Ask questions and engage with Warwick.

Warwick Hosted EventsLink opens in a new window

Our hosted events run throughout the year, with a mixture of virtual and in-person sessions. These events are a great way to learn more about our courses and departments, chat to current students and staff, and find out more information about accommodation, careers, and how to apply.

Postgraduate Fairs

Throughout the year we attend exhibitions and fairs online and in-person around the UK. These events give you the chance to explore our range of postgraduate courses, and find out what it’s like studying at Warwick. You’ll also be able to speak directly with our student recruitment team, who will be able to help answer your questions.

Live chats

Join a live chat with our staff and students, who are here to answer your questions and help you learn more about postgraduate life at Warwick. You can join our general drop-in sessions or talk to your prospective department and student services.

Warwick Talk and Tours

A Warwick talk and tour lasts around two hours and consists of an overview presentation from one of our Recruitment Officers covering the key features, facilities and activities that make Warwick a leading institution. The talk is followed by a campus tour which is the perfect way to view campus, with a current student guiding you around the key areas on campus.