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Undergraduate
UCAS code:L301
Department of Sociology

BSc Sociology

Deepen your understanding of the biggest social problems and ethical dilemmas facing us in today’s contemporary world.

Overview

Introduction

What drives social inequality? How do we tackle poverty and racial prejudice? How do we create more inclusive societies? These are some of the big questions we explore on this fascinating BSc Sociology programme.

You’ll develop a firm grasp of the main principles of contemporary sociology – examining theoretical ideas that help us better understand the society we live in.

Delving deep into the subject, you’ll compare different societies, look at social processes and institutions, and examine theories about the nature of social existence. Right from the start, you’ll develop practical skills to prepare for your future career – learning how to think critically and examining different methods of social research.

Here at LSE, you’ll be studying at one of the top sociology departments. Ours was the first sociology department in the UK – shaping the discipline nationally and globally. So, you’ll be joining a department with an internationally renowned team and world-class research credentials.

You can also add a language specialism to your degree award – see the "Programme content" section for details.

Entry requirements

Here, you can check our entry requirements for GCSEs, A-levels (please read them alongside our information about subject combinations) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. We also consider applications from students with a range of other UK qualifications and from overseas. Please select the overseas button below and choose your country from the dropdown list to find the equivalency to A-levels of your qualification.

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We welcome students from all walks of life at LSE. We want to recruit students with the very best academic merit, potential and motivation. So, whatever your background, please do apply. Get all the details on our general entry requirements.

Competition for places at LSE is high. We cannot guarantee you an offer of a place even if you’re predicted or achieve our standard entry requirements.

Our standard offer requirements are intended only as a guide and, in some cases, you’ll be asked for different grades.

Programme content

On this programme, you’ll study 12 units over three years, plus LSE100.

The foundational first year introduces you to key concepts, theories and methods in sociology before progressing to more advanced discussions and study in your chosen areas.

Year 1

You’ll take three compulsory courses, one option from outside the department and LSE100.

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.

Your application

Overview

We consider each application carefully, taking into account all the details you’ve included on your UCAS form, such as:

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency, although this is not needed at the application stage. See our English language requirements page.

597
Applications
37
Intake
16:1
2022 Ratio

Fees and funding

The table of fees shows the latest tuition fees for all programmes.

You're charged a fee for each year of your programme. 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.

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£9,250

Home student fee per each year of your programme

This is the 2025/26 tuition fee. The home student undergraduate fee may rise in line with inflation in subsequent years.

Learning and assessment

How you learn

Graduate destinations

Overview

We train our undergraduates to the highest standards and the critical thinking skills they develop are valued by employers. Our students go into a wide variety of professions including teaching, research, politics, public administration, the media, social and health services, advertising, journalism, law, publishing, industry, accounting, marketing, personnel and management.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Median salary of our undergraduate students 15 months after graduating:

£30,000

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

Advertising, Marketing, PR, Media, Entertainment, Publishing and Journalism
Recruitment amd Employment Activities
Real Estate, Environment and Energy
Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities
Law and Legal Services
This data is drawn from the 2021/22 Graduate Outcomes Survey, run by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling and in full-time employment.

Discover Uni

Every undergraduate programme of more than one year duration will have Discover Uni data. The data allows you to compare information about individual programmes at different higher education institutions.

Programmes offered by different institutions with similar names can vary quite significantly. We recommend researching the programmes you're interested in and taking into account the programme structure, teaching and assessment methods, and support services available.

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