find your perfect postgrad program
Search our Database of 30,000 Courses

Refine courses

University of Portsmouth: Sociology

Institution University of Portsmouth View institution profile
Department Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Web www.port.ac.uk/study/postgraduate
Email admissions@port.ac.uk
Telephone 023 9284 5566
Study type Taught

Summary

Overview Sociology helps us understand how society works, connecting the dots between individual lives and the structures they live in.

Studying a Master's in Sociology can completely change the way you view the world around you, developing you as a skilled researcher, excellent critical thinker, robust theorist and agent for change.

On this MSc Sociology degree, you'll explore all aspects of social life, because it all matters. You'll cover topics such as identity, intimacy, wellbeing, popular culture, consumption, colonialism, global inequalities, social media, feminism, racism and sustainability.

You don't need to have studied sociology before, but we hope you'll have a passion for understanding social issues and a desire to make a difference. You'll use qualitative and quantitative research methods to generate reliable data and insights, and ultimately deepen your knowledge on these issues.

Once you graduate, you'll have skills and awareness to succeed further in a huge range of careers, such as social research, policy making, law, social work, charity or community work, marketing, advertising, teaching or human resource management.

Course highlights - Study with a Sociology team whose research has helped make us the top modern UK university for research quality and research power in Area Studies - Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021

  • Discover how to use data and research to explore social issues and widely-held societal beliefs, across topics such as poverty, gender and the climate crisis

  • Learn from active sociological researchers, in areas including trans and non-binary inclusion at work (included in guidance from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development), and the sociology of migration (resulting in free legal advice and casework on complex immigration applications)

  • Develop sustainable and durable critical thinking and problem-solving skills you can apply in your career

  • Have the opportunity to take part in short placements supporting staff research activity, such as in immigration advice and migrant homelessness

  • Become ready to take the next steps in your career with a deep understanding of the structural basis of inequality in contemporary society and gain insight into how to address some of our more pressing social injustices

Careers and opportunities In an increasingly polarised world, studying sociology empowers us with the knowledge and evidence to confront challenges in contemporary society.

Sociology is a subject with huge social and economic value. It can improve public policy by providing evidence on trends and public opinions, helping governments, charities and businesses make informed decisions. It can enable charities to serve their communities more effectively by researching their needs. It can help businesses to enhance their operations through analysing consumer beliefs, tastes and decision making.

Sociologists themselves occupy vital occupations within educational institutions, social services, business and non-profit organisations.

While a sociology degree might not necessarily lead you automatically into a specific field of work, it equips you with a wide variety of skills that are easily transferable to a number of different sectors. Rather than closing down options, this degree opens them up.

Our Sociology team has developed resources and expertise to support your career. So, our guidance doesn't focus just on academic work, but also on your holistic professional development.

Graduates of this course can go on to have a positive impact on society in ways such as:* - informing fairer teaching or admissions policies in education

  • pioneering hiring initiatives to dismantle bias in recruitment and HR

  • providing insights into wellbeing, welfare and safety online

  • supporting community organisations to obtain funding for local initiatives by writing research proposals

MSc

Why Portsmouth?

Portsmouth offers a wide range of Master’s degrees designed to help you go further. 

We’re as ambitious for your future as you are. Our Master’s courses are informed by what employers know they’ll need tomorrow. You’ll be taught by experts in research and practice, who have experience of making change happen out in the world. 

With excellent industry links, plus an impressive community of alumni entrepreneurs, you’ll enjoy opportunities to network with a whole range of people. Connections you make through Portsmouth can change everything. 

Many Master’s students balance work and life commitments while …

View Profile

Not what you are looking for?

Browse other courses in Sociology, or search our comprehensive database of postgrad programs.

Postgraduate Bursary Opportunity with Postgrad.com

Are you studying as a PG student at the moment or have you recently been accepted on a postgraduate program? Apply now for one of our £2000 PGS bursaries.

Click here