Skip navigation
Sociology with Foundation Year at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
Apply

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Birkbeck, University of London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Course summary

On this BA Sociology you will explore the most compelling and important aspects of our lives as social beings. You will examine social processes and their influence and impact on individuals, groups, societies, institutions and states, so that you understand more about the contemporary world and its inheritances. Why choose this course?

  • This course equips you with the ideas and concepts needed to analyse contemporary societies and to confront and understand the most challenging social and ethical questions of our time.
  • It offers you insights from leading academics in the field, as well as encouraging you to think independently in confronting the social realities of the contemporary period.
  • It benefits from close links to our wider academic community exploring the connections between the psyche and the social world.
  • This BA Sociology helps you develop a wealth of analytical skills and encourages the kind of rigorous, critical thought that can be easily transferred to other settings after your degree.
What you will learn We provide you with theories and case studies that will equip you with the knowledge to make sense of the complexity of societies across time and geographical space. You will examine the relationships between social worlds, politics and identity, exploring questions about inequalities, race, migration, human rights, trauma and mental health. You will learn to make sense of the connections between social relations and social change, politics and power; institutions, civil society and public life; and sociological ways of understanding identity, experience and belonging. How you will learn You will learn through lectures, seminars, online resources and activities and site visits. This course is available to study full- or part-time. It has an evening timetable with classes taking place in the evening. Foundation Year If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. Highlights
  • Birkbeck's innovative, creative and interdisciplinary sociology course will help you become a competent, critical and responsible student of the social world and the psychological and social forces that shape individuals.
  • Follow your interests and choose to specialise in communication, geography, history, politics, psychosocial studies, social anthropology or social policy.
  • Ours is a vibrant research culture, powered by a shared passion for learning and intellectual engagement among our academics and students.
Careers and employability On successfully completing this BA Sociology you will have gained an array of valuable transferable skills, including:
  • the ability to work effectively as part of a team
  • high-level oral and written communication skills in English
  • research skills
  • skills in evaluating and assessing types of information
  • the ability to present yourself and an argument.
Graduates can pursue career paths in local or national government, education, social work or research. Possible professions include:
  • charity officer
  • journalist
  • social researcher
  • further education lecturer.
We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

A range of assessment methods is used: essays, other written tasks (e.g. learning journals, policy briefs), presentations and end-of-module examinations.

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
75%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
75%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
International £18060 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Sociology with Foundation Year at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS