Sociology MA (Hons)
Course Overview - Sociology MA (Hons)
Sociology at Aberdeen opens up your ‘sociological imagination’, as you explore how society shapes us as individuals in all sorts of ways, helping us to understand ourselves, our relationships, and the challenges we face in a changing world. Top-rated excellent teaching and a culture of dynamic research will give you the skills to be a sought-after graduate by employers in many sectors.
Sociology at Aberdeen is rated 3rd in Scotland in the Complete University Guide 2025.
Sociology at Aberdeen explores the issues and challenges of modern societies an...
Sociology at Aberdeen opens up your ‘sociological imagination’, as you explore how society shapes us as individuals in all sorts of ways, helping us to understand ourselves, our relationships, and the challenges we face in a changing world. Top-rated excellent teaching and a culture of dynamic research will give you the skills to be a sought-after graduate by employers in many sectors.<br/><br/><strong>Sociology at Aberdeen is rated 3rd in Scotland in the Complete University Guide 2025.</strong><br/><br/>Sociology at Aberdeen explores the issues and challenges of modern societies and how they have developed through time until the present day. You will gain a deep understanding of how society influences people and explore a range of different themes, including social awareness. You will study topics as wide-ranging as sociology of the family, work-life balance, crime, religion and the state. And you will become skilled in the social research methods used to gather the evidence to better understand aspects of society – which could be observation, interviews, large-scale surveys or analysing the content of documents and videos.<br/><br/>Your teachers have international reputations for conducting high-quality research in religion and secularisation, conflict and peace, social movements and global political sociology. The skills you will develop in thinking critically and posing probing questions – skills which have tremendous value to employers across the public, private and third sectors. Recent Aberdeen graduates are working in journalism, management, marketing and advertising, local and national government, social research institutions, teaching, health services, social work, charitable organisations, human resources, market research and university and college lecturing.<br/><br/>You will enjoy our special, warm welcome at the University of Aberdeen, benefit from excellent teaching, research with international impact and a truly global experience as part of our friendly and vibrant international community. You will love our beautiful campus, great facilities for learning, sports and leisure. There are many opportunities to develop the skills and attributes for a competitive advantage in the career you choose.
Course Information
1 option available
Some courses vary and have tailored teaching options, select a course option below.
Course Details
Information
Study Mode
Full-time
Duration
4 Years
Start Date
14/09/2026
Campus
Main Site
Application Details
14 January
Application deadline
Provider Details
Codes/info
Course Code
L300
Institution Code
A20
Points of Entry
Year 1, Year 2, Year 3
Entry Requirements
UCAS Tariff
Not Accepted
Scottish Higher
B,B,B,B
Applicants who have achieved BBBB (or are on course to achieve this by the end of S5) are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers / Advanced Highers may be required. Note: we do not double count a Higher and Advanced Higher in the same subject, but we do consider that a B at Adv Higher is equivalent to an A grade at Higher. National 5 English at minimum grade C.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
32
For entry into First Year, a minimum of 32 points required, including at least 5,5,5 at HL. For entry into Second Year, a minimum of 36 points, including at 6, 6, 6 at Higher level in subject(s) selected. English at a minimum of Standard level required.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DMM
Minimum entry requirement: DMM in related subjects. GCSE at C or above in English is also required.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H3,H3,H3,H3,H3
Five subjects at Higher at H3. O in English or in English Language also required for entry.
Scottish Advanced Higher
A,B,B
Second year entry may be possible in most school based subjects. A minimum of ABB overall in Adv Higher is required. Adv Higher at A in the subject selected for Single Honours or AB in the subject selected for Joint Honours. National 5 English at minimum grade C.
Scottish HNC
Pass
For entry to Year 2: Satisfactory completion of HNC Social Sciences (120 SCQF credit points). B in all Graded Units. Students should take units A and B of the discipline/s they wish to study at university, e.g. Psychology A (FK8D 34) and B (J030 34). For Joint honours programmes, students must take A and B for both disciplines.
Scottish HND
Pass
For entry to Year 3: Satisfactory completion of HND Social Sciences (240 SCQF credit points). BBA in Graded Units, where A is the Graded Unit Project in the discipline/s you wish to continue to study. Curriculum to include: Sociology A: Introduction to Sociology (FK8R 34), Sociology B: Applying Sociological Theories and Studies to Sociological Topics (J038 35), Social Science: Research Issues (J0NA 35), Sociology C: Analysing and Evaluating Sociological Debates (J0NA 35), Sociology D: Specialist Study (FK8P 35).
Foundation Apprenticeship (SCQF Level 6)
Pass
One FA is equivalent to a Higher at A. It cannot replace any required subjects.
A level
B,B,C
For First Year Entry a minimum of 3 A Levels at BBC. For Second Year Entry a minimum of an A in the subject selected for Single Honours plus BB, or AB in the subjects selected for Joint Honours plus a further B. GCSE in English or English Language is also required.
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Fees and funding
| Region | Costs | Academic Year | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | £1,820 | 2026/27 | Year 1 |
| England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Channel Islands, Republic of Ireland | £9,790 | 2026/27 | Year 1 |
| EU, International | £20,800 | 2026/27 | Year 1 |
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