BA (Hons) Sociology course preparation
To help you feel prepared for your university studies, we’ve gathered together a range of course related activities including suggested reading, useful websites and some great things to do right now. Open the links below to find out more:
Suggested reading
This section relates to reading specifically for your programme. For suggested reading and other materials to read or watch now, please view the other sections on this page.
You will be given far more information about which textbooks to read and introduced to the University Library, as well as the many ebooks we have for you to access, when you begin your studies in September.
In the meantime, please find a list of textbooks below which will help you to prepare for your Year One modules:
Detailed and updated reading lists are included in the module handbooks, which are provided in the first session of each module.
Useful websites
You can see some of our cutting-edge research pertinent to your degree at the following links:
Things to do now
We do not recommend too much preparation before arrival – you will have enough to do when you arrive.
However, you might want to think about how you will prepare for study – which might involve clearing a space for study if you intend to study from your home or thinking about how you will manage your time in relation to caring, social and work obligations when you arrive to begin the programme. The programme is a full-time job and you should expect to work 40 hours a week!
You might want to make use of the books in the ‘Suggested texts’ section and get used to reading a good newspaper or magazines – Prospect or New Statesman – and try watching some good documentaries and TV news. Channel 4 is the most in-depth but also check on BBC, Russia Today and Aljazeera for good preparation.
You could also:
- Keep up-to-date with the Guardian Society pages
- Take a virtual tour of the nearby International Slavery Museum in Liverpool
Additional ways to prepare
Preparing to start
This session examines how to make a successful transition to university. From planning your results day, accommodation and commuting tips, extra support available to you and general advice on uni life.
Watch the session
Find out more about who you are
The following information provides an insight into what to expect when coming to university along with some good advice on how to navigate some of the potential challenges you may face.
Start preparing yourself