BSc Sociology

at London School of Economics

The programme involves studying courses to the value of 12 units, plus LSE100. The programme begins with a foundational first year that introduces key concepts, theories and methods in sociology, before progressing to more advanced discussions of theory and methods, and more detailed examination of specialist areas within the discipline. The degree culminates in the third year with the sociological project in which students use what they have learned in their foundational first and second year courses and specialist options, to independently research a sociological topic of their own choice.

Language specialism
Students who have taken and passed a one unit language course in each year of their degree (ie, 25 per cent of their overall programme of study) will be offered the opportunity to receive a language specialism attached to their degree certificate and transcript. Students must take all courses in the same language (French, Spanish, German, Mandarin or Russian) in order to qualify for the specialism. The three courses must also be consecutively harder in level, for example: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Students who choose to take language courses are not obligated to receive a specialism, but have the option if they wish. Degree certificates which include a language specialism will state the language in the title, for example: BSc Sociology (with French).

First year
There are three compulsory courses and one outside option in the first year. In addition, you will also take LSE100.

(Denotes a half unit course *)

Key Concepts: Introduction to Social Theory
Introduces sociological theories and the different approaches to conceptual analysis and development within sociology. 

Power, Inequality, and Difference: Contemporary Themes in Sociology
Provides an overview of some of the most important contemporary themes in society – for example, class, power and inequality; politics and social movements; gender and sexuality; race and ethnicity.

Data in Society: Researching Social Life
Explores how numbers are deployed in social settings, and how they are used in sociology to construct and challenge our understanding of the social world. 

One outside option

Study Skills 

LSE100*
A half unit, running across Michaelmas and Lent Term in the first year, LSE100 is compulsory for all LSE undergraduate students, and is designed to build your capacity to tackle multidimensional problems through research-rich education.

Second year 
There are two compulsory courses in the second year and you also take two options, one option must be from within sociology, while the other can be a course in another LSE department. 

Key Concepts: Advanced Social Theory
Engages key sociological issues through the critical reading of theoretical and analytical texts. 

Researching London: Advanced Social Research Methods
Outlines the key qualitative and quantitative techniques required to design and conduct sociological research.  

Sociology options to the value of one unit

Either

Sociology options to the value of one unit

Or

Outside options to the value of one unit

Third year 
In the third year, you complete a Sociological Dissertation and select a further two course units from among sociology options, plus either sociology options to the value of one course unit or one course unit chosen from options outside the Department.

Sociological Dissertation 
Students independently research a sociological topic of their own choice and design. 

Sociology options to the value of two units

Either

Sociology options to the value of one unit

Or

Outside options to the value of one unit

Below we list our entry requirements in terms of GCSEs, A-Levels (the entry requirements should be read alongside our A-level subject combinations information) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. We accept a wide range of other qualifications from the UK and from overseas.

GCSEs
 

• A strong set of GCSE grades including some at A (or 7) and A* (or 8-9)
• GCSE English Language and Mathematics no lower than B (or 6)
• We also consider your overall GCSE subject profile

A-levels*

AAB
We also consider your AS grades, if available

Contextual admissions A-level grades**
ABB

IB Diploma
37 points overall, with 666 at higher level  

Contextual admissions IB grades**
36 points overall, with 665 at higher level

Every undergraduate student is charged a fee for each year of their programme.
The 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 does not cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Tuition fees

Home students:
The 2023 tuition fee for new Home students has not yet been set. As a guide the 2022 fee for Home students is £9,250 per year. The Home student undergraduate fee may rise in line with inflation in subsequent years.

Quick Careers Facts for the Department of Sociology

Median salary of our UG students six months after graduating: £27,000*

Top 5 sectors our students work in**:
 

• Financial and Professional Services
• Education, Teaching and Research
• Government, Public Sector and Policy
• FMCG, Manufacturing and Retail
• Transport, Logistics, Procurement

*The data was collected as part of the Graduate Outcomes survey, which is administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Graduates from 2017-18 were the first group to be asked to respond to Graduate Outcomes. Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling.

**The data was collected as part of the Graduate Outcomes survey, which is administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Graduates from 2018-19 were the second group to be asked to respond to Graduate Outcomes.

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.