Sociology BSc (Hons)

This programme will equip you with the knowledge and skills to make sense of contemporary societies and how they are changing. You will study the social processes which shape individuals, social groups, and social institutions and which underpin social order and social change. You will learn to connect key theoretical and conceptual ideas to core dimensions of social differentiation such as gender, class, and race, as well as age, sexuality, education, and more. You will have the opportunity to range widely, extending your studies into areas such as crime, the media, politics, and education, and discovering how sociological thinking can help to address contemporary social problems.<br/><br/>Interactive small group teaching is central to the programme. Through discussion and debate, you will deepen your understanding of how we, as individuals and groups, are shaped by the societies we live in, and how they, in turn, shape us. You will also gain an appreciation of the complex and contested nature of social problems and proposed policy solutions.<br/><br/>Studying Sociology will equip you with a wide range of social scientific skills, including analysing date and evidence from diverse sources, developing persuasive arguments, and communicating these effectively. This will prepare you for a wide range of potential careers in local and central government and in the charitable and commercial sectors.

There are so many reasons to choose the University of Reading in Clearing this year. Join a diverse and supportive community where lecturers will inspire you with their discoveries and guide you in making your own. Reading’s award-winning parkland campus offers the spaces and places you need to make the most of your studies and student life.<br/><br/>The University of Reading is a research-intensive university. It works with governments, international agencies, businesses, and charities to tackle some of the biggest problems facing the world today, such as climate change, heart disease, and international conflict.<br/><br/>Named The Sustainable University of The Year, 2025, this year Reading launched one of the UK's largest ever undergraduate scholarship schemes, designed to develop future Global Sustainability Leaders Scholarships. The scholarship offers £6000 per year (for up to 4 years of study) towards living expenses and will be available to apply to, for those entering Clearing and who meet the scheme's criteria. With over 150 clubs and societies, Reading knows how important life is beyond your studies too and with the student union in the heart of the campus, there's little doubt making the University of Reading your first call in Clearing will be one of the best decisions you ever made.