There has never been a better time to study Sociology. Social outcomes and social purpose are central to the Government’s plans to unlock innovation, boost inclusive growth, and strengthen community resilience. Studying Sociology at Edge Hill will not only change you as a person, but leave you prepared to change the world around you.
Studying Sociology at Edge Hill will immerse you in explorations of power, society and human behaviour, expanding your sociological imagination and examining the forces that shape the world around us.
On our BA (Hons) Sociology course you will ask important and challenging questions about everyday life that people tend to take for granted: Why are gender roles as they are? Why are so many children living in poverty in such a wealthy country as ours? Our courses also promote equity, diversity, inclusion and social justice, to create fairer and more sustainable societies.
Our modules will encourage you to think critically about the world and your place within it. You will explore a wide range of topics, including climate justice, globalisation, sexuality, gender, disability, childhoods, and the relationship between the state and political conflict. You will engage with theory, policy and practice throughout your studies.
Edge Hill has a proud history of sociological research and teaching stretching back four decades. Throughout this time, we have trained generations of students to become highly skilled social researchers. On our course, you will be taught cutting-edge research methods by experts in qualitative and quantitative analysis. You will design your own original research projects and learn how to use specialist research software.
You will learn through practical experience. This includes work placements in our innovative employability module, learning through case studies, problem-solving and policy evaluation, and benefiting from the local, national and global links offered by our Centre for Social Responsibility.
You will be taught by a team of expert sociologists whose world-leading research underpins the content of our course. Our experienced lecturers will work closely with you to equip you with the skills and experience needed to pursue your chosen career and create meaningful social change.
Discover why our Sociology course ranked 1st in the North West for Learning resources (National Student Survey 2024 – Sociology) and 3rd in the North West for Graduate prospects – on track (Complete University Guide 2026 – Sociology).
The first year of our BA (Hons) Sociology degree provides a strong foundation of sociological knowledge. This builds your transferable skills and prepares you for the following years of your degree. You’ll be introduced to social policy and welfare, looking at key social issues such as poverty, inequality, education and child welfare. You’ll also be introduced to the sociological imagination where you’ll explore a range of concepts and approaches that determine our view of the world.
Sociology of the Everyday introduces you to sociological ways of understanding the everyday. From the mundane to the taken-for-granted topics or issues which constitute our ‘ordinary and ‘normal’ lives, you'll examine normative everyday issues and occurrences in a sociologically informed way. You will begin to see how small-scale interactions can impact upon broader social constructions and norms and vice versa. You'll explore areas such as the home, the street, love, sex and friendships. Other topics that may be studied range from shopping, hobbies and consumption to our understanding and use of time and silence.
Module code: SPY1125
Credits: 20
Assessment:
60% Coursework
40% Practical
Introduction to Social Policy and Welfare
Introduction to Social Policy and Welfare provides an overview of some of the key areas of social policy and welfare, such as education, health, employment, poverty and child welfare. The module offers a critical introduction to key approaches to the development of social welfare policy and the political ideologies that have influenced it in historical and contemporary perspective, exploring how these approaches to the provision of welfare compare and contrast with one another. You will also discover different philosophical and ideological understandings of key concepts in social policy, including equality, rights, liberty, social justice and deservingness and how they have – and might – influence the development and implementation of contemporary social policy.
Module code: SPY1120
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Power in Society
Power in Society immerses you in the study of power, the state, ideology, authority and domination. You will study the roles, functions and participation of institutions, organisations and groups in the political world, gaining a conceptual model of the way in which the political world operates and engages with powerful interests and demands for democratic participation. A series of lectures will provide a foundation of knowledge and you will then follow particular case studies to exercise that knowledge in depth. These case studies will be drawn from the research specialisms of staff and topical issues. Indicatively, case studies might be security and state surveillance of political participation in Britain, the political management of mass public protest, the political strategies of social movements, the relevance of political parties to contemporary politics, political marketing and media politics.
Module code: SPY1123
Credits: 20
Assessment:
60% Coursework
40% Practical
Introduction to Sociology and Social Theory
Introduction to Sociology and Social Theory provides you with an introduction to sociology and sociological theory, answering the question 'what is sociology?' This module provides a foundation for study in Years 2 and 3. Tracing the historical development of sociology through to key contemporary sociological theorists, you'll explore early sociological thought in the context of 19th and 20th century modernisation. You'll develop confidence and understanding of the discipline and some of the key moments, individuals, and ideas associated with it. Part of this includes considering the contribution and continuing relevance of major theorists in sociology such as Karl Marx, Emilie Durkheim and Max Weber. This module also discusses early feminist and postcolonial theoretical developments.
Module code: SPY1121
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Critical Issues in Sociology
Critical Issues in Sociology introduces you to using the ‘sociological imagination’ to explore a range of sociological concepts and approaches. You will develop the ability to reason effectively about the relation of human agency and social structure, and reflect on the challenges, choices and constraints underlying the assumptions and tacit expectations that determine our view of the world. The module analyses how we create and sustain meaningful social relationships, organisations and systems, and how, in turn, those relations, organisations and systems impact on us.
Exploring the Social World offers an opportunity for you to explore your personal beliefs and attitudes towards a range of social issues. Visiting speakers will talk to you about particular issues and related social campaigns. Working in teams, you will choose a social issue to focus on and you will be introduced to basic research skills so that you can look further into them. You will be supported in collecting, describing and evaluating a range of materials and you will use your findings in order to design a leaflet and poster campaign in support of (or in opposition to) your chosen issue.
Module code: SPY1122
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Language 1
Language 1 is ideal if you want to learn a new language, or further develop your current language skills, as an integrated part of this degree. The module will be taught in an interactive, communicative manner, using authentic materials in the target language. Emphasis will be placed on all four areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening. You will play an active role in the classes, engaging in role-plays, short conversations, videos, authentic texts and listening materials. You will also be encouraged to reflect on your own learning needs. The module accommodates varying language levels and you will be divided into groups accordingly. On enrolment to the module, you will complete a language induction form and be placed into a language level group appropriate for your prior knowledge of the language. Please note, while we will endeavour to accommodate varying language levels per module, this is not always possible. While you can join the module with some prior experience of your target language, you will not be able to study a language you are already fluent or proficient in.
Module code: TLC1010
Credits: 20
Assessment:
85% Coursework
15% Practical
In Year 2, you’ll develop more specialist sociological knowledge and study issues around class and culture, diversity and conflict. You’ll also explore the benefits and disadvantages of living in an interconnected, globalised society. We’ll offer opportunities to enhance your employability through an optional work-based learning module, as well as the chance to strengthen your research skills through two bespoke research modules.
Becoming a Social Researcher provides you with an important grounding in social research methods. The module gives you an overview of the fundamental aspects of social research including philosophical approaches to knowledge production, literature searching, sampling and ethics. It addresses both quantitative and qualitative approaches. You will have the opportunity to choose a topic and design, conduct and report on a piece of your own research. This will involve the use of a range of different methods including interviews and questionnaires and you will be supported in this process through the module’s seminar programme.
Module code: SPY2150
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Doing Social Research
Doing Social Research follows on from the module SPY2150 (Becoming a Social Researcher) and provides you with a more in-depth experience of the theory and practice of social research methodology. You'll be required to undertake a small scale research project, choosing to focus on either qualitative or quantitative methods. You'll build on your existing knowledge and explore a wider range of methodologies and methods, including innovative approaches to social research and an introduction to evaluation. You'll develop your quantitative research skills and learn to enter data into SPSS, performing descriptive statistical analysis. You'll also analyse big data sets and learn a range of simple statistical measures.
Module code: SPY2153
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
States, Conflict and Political Violence
States, Conflict and Political Violence recognises that the sociological study of armed conflict and political violence is an important and growing field of inquiry. Wars and conflicts within and between states are key problems facing the contemporary global community, rooted in the complex character of modern societies. They have been a central concern for sociological theorists since the founding of the discipline. The study of armed conflict therefore does more than allow you to become familiar with the particular dynamics of specific wars. It also enables a series of key concepts, theories and issues in the social sciences (of power and authority, gender, ethnicity and class) to be investigated and applied to real world situations through the prism of organised violence by, between, against and beyond the state today.
Self-Directed Study enables you to focus on a particular agreed topic or focus and explore it, with tutorial support, to produce a project-based piece of work which relates to a particular career trajectory. The project will involve addressing a social issue or problem and/or one organisation’s response (voluntary, public or private sector) to a social issue or problem. It will involve not only desk research such as library searches but information retrieval from a range of primary sources. The self-directed learning focus allows for a sense of both leading on the learning taking place and reflecting on its progress, problems and problem-solving.
Module code: SPY2155
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Digital Detectives
Digital Detectives provides extensive practical experience with digital archives and will help you to develop a range of advanced digital research skills. Digital tools and archives are becoming increasingly central to the process of historical research. The module will be taught entirely in computer rooms and will take the form of weekly two-hour workshops. The historical content of the module will be structured around the history of crime and society in 18th and 19th century Britain.
Module code: HIS2032
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Youth Studies: Key Concepts and Issues
Youth Studies: Key Concepts and Issues provides you with an understanding of the key themes, concepts, issues and debates in the field of youth studies. Starting from an historical perspective, you will look at the broader social, economic and political factors which have shaped understandings about youth and the so-called ‘youth question’ from early to late modernity. The module will then turn to contemporary debates about youth, including themes such as transition, risk, culture and social policy.
Module code: SPY2156
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Children, Food and Sustainability
Children, Food and Sustainability examines children’s food practices, environmental issues and the links between the two. The module introduces the analysis of children’s food practices and relations with animals and the environment under the rubric of understanding connections between children, childhood and nature. Themes to be studied include food practices in schools, food poverty, children and climate change and child-animal relations. These topics provide rich areas for investigating important developments in early childhood studies including children’s agency, voice and rights, in addition to children’s health, childhood consumption and children’s ethical engagement with the natural world. The module also illuminates debates on educational philosophy and explores childhood as a time and space for democratic and ecological renewal.
Module code: SPY2159
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Children’s Cultural Worlds
Children’s Cultural Worlds introduces you to some of the ways in which children experience and organise their social worlds. You will learn about a variety of children’s cultural practices from this perspective such as their play, friendships, family, sexuality, food, literature and language practices. In order to do this you will study a range of research which has taken a ‘naturalistic’ approach to children’s cultural practices. Naturalistic studies are those which seek to remain faithful to the nature of the phenomena which they investigate. In the study of human social life, this requires being faithful to how the people we study actually experience things. It involves refusing to impose our own views on other people but trying to gain an appreciation of how they look at things, how they understand things and how they organise their lives from their own points of view. This module will help you to develop this particular analytic sensibility.
Module code: SPY2158
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Representations of Childhood and Popular Culture
Representations of Childhood and Popular Culture explores and analyses the ways in which childhood and youth are represented in popular culture in historical and contemporary genres. These representations will be examined in the context of popular culture about, and specifically for, children and young people. A critical approach will be adopted by drawing on theoretical perspectives including cultural theory and constructions of childhood and youth. In taking this approach, consideration will be given to representations of social divisions such as age, gender, sexuality, family origins and disability. Areas of study will include children as adventurers and heroes, children and young people in war and conflict, representations of children and young people’s experiences of education, and the globalisation of childhood.
Module code: SPY2157
Credits: 20
Assessment:
60% Coursework
40% Practical
Youth Offending: Critical Perspectives
Youth Offending: Critical Perspectives provides a grounding in issues of youth offending. The module contains an introduction to policies around children, youth and crime and provides a background to current practices around the management of youth offending, in particular the issues of case and risk management. It will explore issues affecting youth offending but will place these in a critical and international context.
Module code: SPY2163
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Crime, Harms, Law and Justice
Crime, Harms, Law and Justice explores the application and effect of the criminal law upon individuals in society from criminological, zemiological and complementary critical legal perspectives. Through utilising both these perspectives, you will be encouraged to look beyond established traditional legal explanations for crime and legal responses to it, to explore the wider social, historical, political and theoretical context of the laws relating to crime. The module will enhance your understandings of how determining contexts impact upon how laws relating to crime are created, developed and enforced.
Module code: CRI2232
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Crime, Media and Criminology
Crime, Media and Criminology investigates how the news media plays a primary role in the construction of social problems, crime, deviance and, to an extent, reality. The relationship between crime, media and criminology is long established, so this module critically explores the representation of ‘crime’ and criminal activity within various types of media forms incorporating traditional print, online news domains and social media forums. Developing a critical theoretical framework, the module will enable you to examine the criminological and wider societal significance of the production and reproduction of dominant images and discourses around ‘crime’, criminalisation and the construction of victims, perpetrators and events.
Module code: CRI2024
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Work-based learning and Employability
Work-based learning and Employability is designed to bridge the world of higher education with the world of work. You will develop a critical understanding of the changing context of work and of social, economic and political factors shaping the labour market and contemporary patterns of employment. There will be an opportunity to apply theory and disciplinary specialist knowledge to practical experience within a work-based setting with students undertaking a 60 hour placement. You will also enhance and develop a range of transferable skills to enhance your employability.
Module code: SPY2154
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
You’ll write a dissertation on a topic you are passionate or curious about in Year 3. You’ll also investigate issues around the sociology of the body and emotions, from the impact of body dissatisfaction, to how physical and mental ill health impacts the body and mind. You’ll get to choose two modules to study that interest you most – you could explore topics such as terrorism, childhood and sexuality, animals and society, or autism.
Dissertation provides an opportunity for you to engage in an independent study of a relevant area of social science of your choice, supported by tutorial guidance and supervision to deliver an extended piece of writing.
Module code: SPY3140
Credits: 40
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Sociology of the Body and the Emotions
Sociology of the Body and the Emotions introduces you to different ways of understanding ‘the body’ and its significance in past and contemporary societies. Relevant classical social theorists, such as Bourdieu, Elias, Le Breton, Foucault, Mauss and Goffman, will be covered, as will more contemporary sociologists such as Turner, Shilling, Fraser, Butler, Burkitt and Williams. The social production of bodies, how the body is deployed socially and culturally, the socially constructed dualism between body and mind, and the relationship between power and the body, are key issues for evaluation and analysis. They will be illustrated through a range of substantive topics such as gendered, classed and racialised bodies, the body, health and illness, body modification, biotechnology, and social and digital media and the body.
Module code: SPY3141
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Global Capitalism and its Discontents
Global Capitalism and its Discontents explores a key aspect of contemporary life, the increasing impact globalisation has on our lives. From imperialism, colonialism and post-colonialism, to ideas of the clash of civilisations, multi-culturalism and living in diverse societies, this module provides a global awareness that is important to any graduate in the 21st Century. You'll also be provided with the analytical tools to deconstruct and sociologically evaluate how globalisation shapes, narrows or widens our life chances.
Childhood and Sexuality juxtaposes how children and young people are constructed simultaneously as desexualised or pre-sexual beings and, therefore, in need of protection and, at the same time, young people, in particular, are portrayed as sexually ‘promiscuous’ or engaged in sexual ‘risk taking behaviour’. The module introduces you to the tensions between these contradictory constructions of youth sexuality and explores the ways in which young people understand their sexuality and develop their sexual identity.
Module code: SPY3145
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Critical Autism Studies
Critical Autism Studies adopts a critical approach to understanding autism and seeks to challenge the dominant medical model of neurological deficit. Rather than viewing autism as a cognitive development disability, you will be encouraged to consider it as a naturally occurring form of cognitive diversity. The module will examine the argument that autism has been constructed as a neurobiological deficit in a context of neurotypicality or cognitive normality. Understanding autism as neurodiversity opens up spaces for more positive interpretations of autistic people’s experiences, skills and identities. The module is underpinned and, in part, informed by, research by members of the programme team which is focused on areas of sexuality and autism and, specifically, what professionals and care workers should do when providing support for people whose intellectual disability or mental condition makes their consent – being informed, competent and free from coercion – legally unreliable.
Module code: SPY3144
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Critical Migration Studies
Critical Migration Studies addresses a hot topic across the Global North and the South. Migration occurs across space influencing and shaping the spatial, demographic, economic, social and political environment of both the origin and destination locations. This module equips you with the factual knowledge and conceptual skills to understand migration processes, migration consequences and migration governance.
Module code: GEO3262
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Issues of Professional Practice
Issues of Professional Practice involves a critical examination of professions, professional identity and professional practice in the context of welfare, health and education services for children, families and adults. The module will provide you with the opportunity to consider and critically analyse the meaning and development of professionalisation, frameworks for ‘best practice’ and the implications of current policy and strategies for intervention. The module will enable you to critically engage with such ideas, concepts and issues as professional power, partnership, developmentalism, inter-professional and multi-agency working, in addition to anti-oppressive, reflective and ‘critical practice’. The aim is to provide opportunities for critical analysis of the links and relationships between theory and practice and to encourage the use of learning from previous experience and learning.
Module code: SPY3147
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Work-based learning and Employability 2
Work-based learning and Employability 2 is designed to bridge the world of higher education with the world of work. You will develop a critical understanding of issues related to organisational structure, leadership and culture. There will be an opportunity to apply theory and disciplinary specialist knowledge to practical experience within a work-based setting through undertaking a 60 hour placement. You will develop your personal and professional profiles through continuous reflection on practice using student-centred learning opportunities. Throughout the module you will also develop your employability profile in preparation for career entry.
Module code: SPY3146
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
A Century of Crime and Its Contexts: Circa 1840-1940
A Century of Crime and Its Contexts: Circa 1840-1940 examines a range of crimes that occurred in England and Wales over the century between approximately 1840 and 1940. During the chronological period covered, crime became an issue of national importance and perceived as originating partly in major social change and upheaval, such as urbanisation, the First World War and expanded ownership of the motor car. The module places the crimes in their criminal justice, social, cultural and economic contexts. The aim is to use crime and punishment as a lens through which to explore and analyse important changes over time and assess the impact of key events.
Module code: HIS3040
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
State Crime
State Crime traces and explores serious harms and crimes perpetrated by states and associated professional and commercial interests from the eighteenth to the twenty-first century and provides detailed exploration of the origins, implementation, consequences of, and responses to the extreme state violences of the recent past. The module introduces you to a range of case studies and topics – both historical and contemporary – that are analysed through the framework of state crime. Beginning with a theoretical introduction to this framework, you will learn to integrate your understanding of state-perpetrated atrocity with a critical criminological analysis of the nature of state violence, the objectives and driving forces of state crime, the denial of state crime, and the potential avenues for accountability. It will examine not only state crime but examples of the state-corporation nexus and includes study of groups and individuals’ resistance to state crime.
Module code: CRI3120
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Justice, Rights and the State
Justice, Rights and the State examines the development of the discourse about rights and justice. Taking a national and international approach, the module will consider the development of rights historically and the new discourses of rights. You will evaluate statutory policies and responses to the issue of rights and justice and consider how states respond to issues of justice and rights, including where states themselves uphold or violate citizen’s rights.
Module code: CRI3112
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Gender and Power
Gender and Power explores the history of gender through the lens of ‘Gender and Power’ across a wide range of time periods and regions. The module focuses on a rich range of case studies to explore the intersections of gender, power, and privilege throughout history. It is important to note that this module is not a history of women: rather, it will explore constructions of gendered masculinity, femininity, and the spaces between and surrounding gendered identities throughout the ages. The goal of the module is to uncover the range of ways in which gender has been constructed in relation to power throughout the ages, as well as to study the range of scholarly approaches to gender and power from a modern perspective.
Module code: HIS3043
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Global Antisemitism and Islamophobia
Global Antisemitism and Islamophobia explores the nature and origins of antisemitism and Islamophobia as a global problem. It speaks to critical questions of race, colonialism, surveillance and terrorism that are central to our world. The module begins with the long history of these two fields of prejudice in Europe, including a particular focus on the relationship between them and their significance in the birth of modern politics. It then traces the contemporary history of our present moment, beginning with the end of the Cold War. Key issues include holocaust memorialisation and the West, Islamophobia and the War on Terror, and the international politics of antisemitism.
Module code: HIS3042
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
Global and National Activist Movements
Global and National Activist Movements addresses new forms of grassroots protest movements, often linked to equality movements, and inspired with a collective scepticism for modern democracy and connected by the internet and new forms of online communication. You will examine the activist practices of modern political movements, identify the role of communication and technology and evaluate how successful they have been. You will explore whether the role of communication technologies has been overplayed in these debates and whether it is changes in the political structures of nations that are more important.
Module code: POL3015
Credits: 20
Assessment:
70% Coursework
30% Practical
A Is For Activism
A Is For Activism equips you with knowledge of global politics and in particular the role that mediated activism has to play in it. After defining activism and exploring both public and digital public spheres, the module will critically evaluate the successes and failures of new, online forms of activism and assess their role in transforming political structures and systems. You will discover how to communicate information and concepts effectively, develop reasoned and informed critiques, and source and explain arguments emanating from primary and secondary sources.
Module code: POL3007
Credits: 20
Assessment:
100% Coursework
How you'll study
You will benefit from a range of learning opportunities from conventional lectures and seminars to the more innovative workshops, investigative project work and information retrieval and analysis. You will be encouraged to make full use of the superb student network and computer facilities on campus in order to support your studies.
How you'll be assessed
Your achievements are assessed throughout the programme. Modules use a variety of methods including essays, case studies, portfolios, oral presentations, e-log books and completion of directed tasks.
There are no formal written examinations as part of the current assessment methods on this BA (Hons) Sociology degree.
Who will be teaching you
The department has a large number of full-time staff and prides itself on the quality of its tutorial support. Staff are engaged in cutting-edge research in a number of crucial areas including themes around issues of conflict, identity and childhood. They have also presented numerous papers at international academic conferences in recent years and published books, book contributions and journal articles.
Your BA (Hons) Sociology degree will be supplemented by a series of research seminars and other talks. These will feature academic staff and visiting guest speakers from a range of professions and organisations.
Timetables for your first week are normally available at the end of August prior to enrolment in September. You can expect to receive your timetable for the rest of the academic year during your first week. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week. Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities.
Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course curriculum. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by timetabling requirements. Some restrictions on optional module choice or combinations of optional modules may apply.
Entry criteria
Typical offer 104-112 UCAS Tariff points. No specific subjects are required.
Example offers
Qualification
Requirement
A Level
BCC-BBC.
UCAS Tariff points
104-112 points.
BTEC Extended Diploma (or combination of BTEC QCF qualifications)
Distinction, Merit, Merit (DMM).
T Level
Overall grade of Merit.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
We are happy to accept IB qualifications which achieve the required number of UCAS Tariff points.
Access to Higher Education Diploma
45 credits at Level 3, for example 9 credits at Distinction and 36 credits at Merit or 15 credits at Distinction and 30 credits at Merit. The required total can be attained from various credit combinations.
Please note, the above examples may differ from actual offers made. A combination of A Level and BTEC awards may also be accepted.
If you have a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent), there is no maximum number of qualifications that we will accept UCAS points from. This includes additional qualifications such as Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), AS Levels that haven't been continued to A Level, and General Studies AS or A Level awards.
English language requirements
International students require IELTS 6.0, with a score no lower than 5.5 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.
Fair Entry Criteria
Our new Fair Entry Criteria is a Contextual Admissions Policy that takes an applicant’s personal and educational background into account. This policy will allow eligible applicants to receive up to a two-grade reduction in their entry requirements for this course. Find out more and see if you qualify.
Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.
Did you know?
If you join a full time undergraduate degree at Edge Hill University, we will guarantee you the offer of a room in our halls of residence for the first year of your course.
The Department of History, Geography and Social Sciences is based in the Geosciences building. The contemporary facilities combine with a friendly and supportive learning environment to ensure that your studies are a rich and rewarding experience.
The Geosciences building features a large lecture theatre, small group teaching rooms, IT facilities and smaller tutorial spaces. There is also a large social area which encourages a more informal and interactive style of learning.
For the academic year 2026/27 the UK Full-Time tuition fee is currently set to £9,790. Please note this is subject to Parliamentary approval and is likely to be increased in line with inflation (RPIX). There may be further inflationary increases in your subsequent years of study. Further details at https://edgehill.ac.uk/fees.
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.
Financial support
Subject to eligibility, UK students joining this course can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students enrolling on the course may also be eligible to apply for additional funding to help with living costs.
Scholarships
We offer a range of scholarships, which celebrate the determination, commitment and achievement of our students. Many of our scholarships are awarded automatically. There are some however, where you will need to be involved in an application or nomination process. To find out more about our scholarships and check your eligibility, please visit our dedicated scholarships pages.
Money Matters
Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students.
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals can ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI).
If you are an EU student who does not have settled or pre-settled status, or are an international student from a non-EU country, please see our international student finance pages.
Tuition fees
UK Full-Time
£9,535
a year
UK Part-Time
£79 per credit
for the course
International
£17,000
a year
2026/27
Entry fees for 2026/27 and subsequent years are subject to inflationary rises in line with Government policy. These will be confirmed as soon as they become available.
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.
Financial support
Subject to eligibility, UK students joining this course can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students enrolling on the course may also be eligible to apply for additional funding to help with living costs.
Scholarships
We offer a range of scholarships, which celebrate the determination, commitment and achievement of our students. Many of our scholarships are awarded automatically. There are some however, where you will need to be involved in an application or nomination process. To find out more about our scholarships and check your eligibility, please visit our dedicated scholarships pages.
Money Matters
Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students.
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals can ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI).
If you are an EU student who does not have settled or pre-settled status, or are an international student from a non-EU country, please see our international student finance pages.
Your future career
Preparing our students for the world of work is central to our Sociology degree.
Our specialist work-related learning and employability module analyses how the world of work is changing, including how trends like automation and technological innovation are changing the nature of work for Sociology graduates.
You will learn how to produce effective graduate-level job applications and navigate competitive graduate schemes. You will also undertake a 60-hour work placement in an industry of your choice. Our recent students have gained experience in a wide range of organisations, including Merseyside Police, Everton FC, the Home Office, and Alder Hey Hospital.
The University’s dedicated Careers Team also provide support at every stage of your degree, helping you build your knowledge and confidence around your future career.
Studying Sociology opens up a wide range of potential career paths. We are proud of our graduates and where they have gone on to work and make a difference. Our students now work in fields as diverse as:
Social Work
Law
Civil Service
Healthcare
Education
Charity
Policing
Transport
Construction
Recruitment
Postgraduate Research
Course changes
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, however our courses are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.
Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of professional bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.
Modules removed: Work-based learning and Employability 2 removed.
Modules - 17 June 2025
SPY2127 Work-based Learning and Employability 1 removed and SPY2154 Work-based Learning and Employability added, following clarification.
Module changes - 23 April 2025
TLC2000Language2 removed.
TLC3000Language3 removed.
GEO3255 Cultural Heritage and Disasters removed.
HIS3020 Black Life and Black Protest in the United States 1895-1945 removed.
HIS3021 Black Life and Black Protest in the United States since 1945 removed.
SPY2151 Broken Britain moved from Compulsory to Optional.
CRI2232 Crime, Harms, Law and Justice added.
CRI2024 Crime, Media and Criminology added.
CRI3120 State Crime added.
CRI3112 Justice, Rights and the State added.
HIS3043 Gender and Power added.
HIS3042 Global Antisemitism and Islamophobia added.
POL3015 Global and National Activist Movements added.
POL3007 A is for Activism added.
SPY3148 removed.
Module swaps - 7 March 2024
Optional modules GEO22542 (The City) and GEO3250 (Critical Modern Slavery Studies) removed. Replaced with SPY2163 (Youth Offending: Critical Perspectives) and GEO3262 (Critical Migration Studies).
The Department of History, Geography and Social Sciences is based in the Geosciences building. The contemporary facilities combine with a friendly and supportive learning environment to ensure that your studies are a rich and rewarding experience.
