Overview
Introduction
The MSc Culture and Society examines how cultural trends and practices shape and are shaped by society.
Drawing on leading-edge cultural theory and innovative methodologies, you’ll have the freedom to study and research any social processes that fall within our broad understanding of culture. You can delve into topics such as identity and globalisation, gender and sexuality, nature and more-than-human world, or disability and embodiment.
The programme is distinctive for its interdisciplinary and international approach. You’ll be encouraged to think and research globally and draw on our expertise in sociology, anthropology, material culture, media studies and many other disciplines.
The curriculum includes a blend of core and optional courses, allowing you to tailor your studies to suit your interests. You’ll also develop your qualitative research skills,enhancing your professional skills further.
Our students come from diverse backgrounds, including anthropology, history, cultural and media studies, international relations, the arts, design and the humanities. We also welcome numerous mature students with established careers, particularly in the media and cultural industries. Whatever your background, this degree helps you build a strong foundation in sociological approaches to cultural research.
When you graduate, you’ll be well-prepared for a career in academia, the creative industries, research organisations, or policymaking.
Preliminary readings
- Ahmed, S. 2004. "Affective economies", Social text, 22: 117-139.
- Ahmed, S. (2006) Queer Phenomenology: Orientations, Objects, Others. Durham: Duke University Press.
- Anzaldúa, G. (1987) Borderlands: The New Mestiza / La Frontera. San Francisco: Aunt Lute Book Company
- Appadurai, A. (1990) Disjuncture and Difference in the Global Cultural Economy. Theory, Culture and Society, Vol 7, 295-310
- Bourdieu, P. (1984) Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste. London: Routledge.
- Featherstone, M. (1990) Consumer Culture and Postmodernism. Sage, London.
- Hall, S. (1992) New Ethnicities in Donald, J and Rattansi, A (eds.) (1992) “Race”, Culture, Difference, London: Routledge.
- Haraway, D. (2003) The Companion Species Manifesto: Dogs, People, and Significant Otherness. Chicago: Prickly Paradigm Press.
- Haraway, D. (2016) Staying with the Trouble: Making Kin in the Chthulucene. Durham: Duke University Press.
Hennion, A. (2001) Music Lovers: Taste as Performance. Theory, Culture and Society, 18(5): 1-22 - Jameson, F. (1984) Postmodernism, or the cultural logic of late capitalism. New Left Review 146, 53–92.
- Kafer, A. (2013) Feminist, Queer, Crip. Bloomington: Indiana UP
- Latour, B. (2004) Why Has Critique Run out of Steam? From Matters of Fact to Matters of Concern. Critical Inquiry 30 (Winter 2004), 225–248.
- McRuer, R. (2006) Crip Theory: Cultural Signs of Queerness and Disability. New York: New York University Press.
Entry requirements
Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent in a relevant social science, art or humanities discipline.
Please select your country from the dropdown list below to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.
Overseas
English language requirements
The English language requirement for this programme is Higher. Read more about our English language requirements.
Competition for places at LSE is strong. So, even if you meet the minimum entry requirements, this does not guarantee you an offer of a place.
However, please don’t feel deterred from applying – we want to hear from all suitably qualified students. Think carefully about how you can put together the strongest possible application to help you stand out from other students.
Programme content
Year 1
You take one compulsory course and methods training, and choose courses from a range of options. You also write a dissertation of 10,000 words on an aspect of cultural practice or theory. You'll be advised on your choice of dissertation topic by your academic adviser, and that topic may be empirical or theoretical in its approach. You'll be appointed an individual adviser with a related research interest with whom you can meet regularly during term time.
Courses to the value of one and a half units from a range of options
Why study with us
Discover more about our students and department.
Meet the department
The Department of Sociology conducts world-class research and teaching on some of the most challenging social and ethical issues facing society today.
Founded in 1904, our academics have contributed to shaping research and thinking in the field nationally and internationally.
We are committed to research and scholarship that is socially and politically relevant. The department’s research is organised into five clusters: economic sociology; politics and human rights; social inequalities; knowledge, culture and technology; and urban sociology. We engage in major debates at the intersection of economics, politics and society on issues such as migration, urban ecology and climate change.
With a thriving research community, we play an active role in several research centres and institutes, including LSE Cities, LSE Human Rights and the LSE International Inequalities Institute. Our research has a global impact, informing decision-making and policy for numerous governments, NGOs and international organisations.
Our research expertise is reflected in our teaching curriculum. The department offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with 500 students engaged in learning and research at any one time.
We’re a lively department, with a regular programme of events involving workshops, conferences and collaborations with internal and external partners. We’re also home to the British Journal of Sociology, the UK’s leading publication in the field.
Learn more about our programmes and research.
Why LSE
University of the Year 2025 and 1st in the UK
Times and The Sunday Times - Good University Guide 20251st in London for the 13th year running
The Complete University Guide - University League Tables 20256th In the world
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024Carbon Neutral In 2021, LSE became the first Carbon Neutral verified university in the UK
Your application
Overview
We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students. At LSE, we want to recruit students with the best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of background.
We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your application form, such as your:
- academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades)
- statement of academic purpose
- two academic references
- CV.
See further information on supporting documents.
You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements.
When to apply
Applications for this programme are considered on a rolling basis. This means that applications will close once the programme is full.
There is no fixed deadline. However, if you’d like to be considered for any funding opportunities, you must submit your application (and all supporting documents) by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section below for more details.
Fees and funding
The table of fees shows the latest tuition fees for all programmes.
You're charged a fee for your programme. At LSE, your tuition fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It doesn't cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.
Home
Home student fee (2025/26)
For this programme, the tuition fee is different for home and overseas students depending on their fee status.
Overseas
Overseas student fee (2025/26)
For this programme, the tuition fee is different for home and overseas students depending on their fee status.
Learning and assessment
How you learn
How you're assessed
All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others. This is designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. The courses are examined through formal written examinations, essays and other assignments. Your dissertation will also contribute to your final grade. An indication of the formative coursework and summative assessment for each course can be found in the relevant course guide.
Graduate destinations
Overview
Graduates have gone on to a diverse range of destinations including doctoral degrees, cultural policy and management jobs, teaching, creative industries (including advertising and marketing), performance arts and more.
Further information on graduate destinations for this programme
Median salary of our graduate taught students 15 months after graduating:
Top 5 sectors our students work in:
Career support
From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.
Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.
See LSE Careers for further details.