Politics and Sociology with Year Abroad

The personal is political: explore the links between politics and the social structures of the modern world.

This exciting degree examines the relationship between the social and economic structures of societies and political change. Drawing on a range of political and social theories, we examine why in an age of increasingly high living standards, many people feel disenchanted and alienated.


• Learn about how our individual lives are connected to global developments such as climate change, migration, and the advancement of digital technology but also colonialism, industrialisation, and religion



• Discuss how race, sexuality, gender, class, and religion shape social dynamics and how these differences relate to inequalities, globally as well as locally



• Understand how people create social change in their everyday lives rather than just through political mobilisation and institutions



• Reflect on what might hold a society together despite all our differences and how it changes over time



• Understand why political institutions and politicians find it so difficult to change the economy, culture, and environmental habits



• Rethink the role of nonhuman beings – such as animals and plants - in world politics



You’ll learn from the School’s expert academic staff, who specialise in areas such as race, gender, class, citizenship and globalisation. Their teaching will give you a thorough understanding of sociopolitical issues, and help you to make sense of the world we live in.

Get a Russell Group education that helps you make your difference. At Queen Mary University of London.

Whatever your ambitions, Queen Mary gives you the platform to achieve them. Through Clearing, you can join a university defined by opportunity, inclusion and real-world impact. With 92% of students from state school backgrounds and 75% identifying as BAME, Queen Mary is proud to champion fair access and a community where everyone can thrive.

Ranked in the UK top 20 (QS World University Rankings 2027), Queen Mary combines academic excellence with a distinctive, inclusive outlook. You’ll learn from leading academics, access cutting-edge facilities, and benefit from programmes designed around employability - with opportunities for placements, internships and industry connections built in.

And it’s not just what you study - it’s where you study. Based in London, the number one student city in Europe (QS Best Student Cities 2026), you’ll be surrounded by global culture, world-class institutions, and endless possibilities. From museums and galleries to food, music and nightlife, London is part of your experience.

Secure your place through Clearing at Queen Mary today.