Subject guide to Sociology
Sociology at Manchester
Sociology analyses how people relate to each other, build social structures, and institute social change, which makes it an ideal companion subject for students studying a world or European language.
The skills gained as a sociologist provide students with a wider range of concepts and research skills that can be applied to the languages and cultures element of their degree. Likewise, learning another language, developing their cross-cultural awareness, living in another country and experiencing different social norms, enables languages students to become very good sociologists.
The University of Manchester is one of the UK’s top five universities for Sociology (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025). We offer a diverse range of course units covering topics such as global migration, social network analysis, class and inequality in the UK, and human-animal relations.
Many of our students and academics are drawn to study here because of the historical role the city of Manchester’s has taken in some of the most transformative social changes in the UK, such as the suffragette movement.
One of biggest highlights of my course has been practicing sociology in real life. Conducting research on topics that always interested me as a kid and analysing the questions for myself. As I’m from Azerbaijan where sociology isn’t necessarily popular, it was very exciting for me to conduct social research on a country that lacks it.
Zahra Aslanli / Sociology and French, 2026.
Video: Discover more about studying here
Courses - 2027 entry
BA Sociology and Modern Languages is a 4-year degree course, with an integrated Residence Abroad year. Students can study Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish. The degree title will state the language studied. For example, BA Sociology and Modern Languages (Portuguese).
For information about entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships and bursaries, please visit the online prospectus.
There are also 3-year course options for Sociology. It can be taken as a single honours subject, or combined with Criminology, Economics, Linguistics, Politics, Philosophy or Social Anthropology.
Course structure
BA Sociology and Modern Languages provides students with a range of choices. When considering the choices you’d like to make, please note:
- Each year, all students study 120 credits of course units. Each course unit is 20 credits unless indicated.
- The course unit titles for each year of study have been listed.
- Joint honours. The number of credits taken from Sociology varies each year. Year 1 is 60 credits. Years 2 and 4 can be 40, 60 or 80 credits. The remaining credits are taken from your chosen language.
- Essential course information for students studying a 4-year degree.
Course content
Students take 60 credits of course units from Sociology. Course units are 20 credits unless indicated.
Researching Culture and Society is a core unit and uses ‘inquiry-based learning’ and sociological research studies to introduce students to how sociological research methods work in practice. All aspects of the research process are covered - formulating a research question, research ethics, methodological frameworks, and qualitative and quantitative data analysis. The academic skills covered are used throughout the course.
Students can choose any of the optional course units listed. Two of the units have been highlighted here to show how they complement the cross-cultural issues that students study through the languages and cultures part of their degree.
Global Social Challenges introduces students to a range of current social issues affecting human society on a large scale. Previously, students have studied global inequality, climate change, conflict, migration, terrorism, and economic crises. The topics chosen vary year-on-year to reflect current issues.
Environment and Society provides an introduction to sociological thinking on the natural environment and the causes, implications and potential solutions of socio-environmental problems, with a particular emphasis on climate change, biodiversity, and sustainability.
Joint Honours students
20 credits taken from:
◈ Researching Culture and Society
20 or 40 credits chosen from:
◆ Contested Foundations of Social Thought
◆ Global Social Challenges
◆ Inequalities in Contemporary British Society
◇ Environment and Society
◇ Crime and Society
◇ Contemporary Social Thought
◇ Digital Sociology
◇ Work, Organisations & Society
◇ Getting Personal: Intimacy and Connectedness in Everyday Life
0 or 20 credits chosen from:
◆ Free choice units in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures or University College for Interdisciplinary Learning (10 or 20 credits)
Some free choice units are delivered in semester 1, some are delivered in semester 2.
KEY:
◆ Semester 1
◇ Semester 2
◈ Full Year
In Year 2, Sociology can be a minor (40 credits), joint (60 credits) or major (80 credits) subject. If it’s taken as a major subject, 20 credits will be free choice course units. Course units are 20 credits unless indicated.
Students must choose one of the following course units - Qualitative Social Research Design & Methods, or The Survey Method in Social Research. They can take both if they choose one as an optional course unit.
Qualitative Social Research covers qualitative interview techniques, observation and participant observation, and the use of documents and visual images. It considers the importance of ethics, power and politics in conducting, interpreting and writing up qualitative research. The Survey Method in Social Research is focused on quantitative survey research using social surveys. Students analyse real datasets using data analysis software such as SPSS. They also consider the pros and cons, and steps involved in conducting surveys versus using existing survey datasets.
Joint Honours students
20 credits chosen from:
◆ Qualitative Social Research Design & Methods
◇ The Survey Method in Social Research
20 or 40 credits chosen from:
◆ Qualitative Research Design & Methods
◆ Social Change in China
◆ Global Migration
◆ Gender, Sexuality and Culture
◇ The Survey Method in Social Research
◇ Social Network Analysis
◇ Families, Relationships and Everyday Life
◇ Racism and Ethnicity in the UK
0 or 20 credits chosen from:
◆ Free choice units in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures or University College for Interdisciplinary Learning (10 or 20 credits)
Some free choice units are delivered in semester 1, some are delivered in semester 2.
KEY:
◆ Semester 1
◇ Semester 2
◈ Full Year
This is the Residence Abroad year and students live in a country where their chosen language is spoken. Opportunities vary from year to year, and some opportunities are selective.
Please see Residence Abroad for information about funding and finance, the support provided to students to find suitable study or work placements, and for videos and blog posts from current students.
In Year 4, Sociology can be a minor (40 credits), joint (60 credits) or major (80 credits) subject. Course units are 20 credits unless indicated.
Taking a dissertation course unit is optional but it’s a popular choice. Both units are guided research projects and students devise their own question in consultation with their supervisor. Contact hours are low (23 or 25 hours) and independent study time is high (177 hours for Dissertation A, 375 hours for Dissertation B). The final assignment is 5,500-6,500 words (Dissertation A) and 8,000-9,000 words (Dissertation B).
Social Thought from the Global South covers postcolonialism, subaltern studies, dependency theory and decolonial theory. It introduces students to a number of individual social thinkers from different parts of the global South - Ibn Khaldun (Tunisia), Paulin Hountondji (Benin), Ali Shariati (Iran) and Veena Das (India).
Joint Honours students
40, 60 or 80 credits chosen from:
◈ Dissertation A
◈ Dissertation B (40 credits)
◆ Sense of Inequality
◆ The Sociology of Human-Animal Relations
◆ Power and Protest
◇ Connections Matter: Sociological Applications of Social Networks
◇ Social Thought from the Global South
0 or 20 credits chosen from:
◆ Free choice units in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures or University College for Interdisciplinary Learning (10 or 20 credits). Some free choice units are delivered in semester 1, some are delivered in semester 2.
KEY:
◆ Semester 1
◇ Semester 2
◈ Full Year