Sociology

Sociology is the systematic study of how society works: how it is organised, how it changes, and how social structures produce and reproduce inequalities, identities, and cultural patterns. It takes as its subject matter the full range of human social life, from the intimate dynamics of family and friendship to the global structures of capitalism, migration, and power. Sociology is a discipline that trains you to look beyond individual explanations for social phenomena and to ask what kinds of social arrangements, historical processes, and structural forces shape what people do and think.

At the University of Edinburgh, this four-year programme includes a year abroad, which is a significant and distinctive feature. Spending time studying sociology in another country gives you a genuinely comparative perspective on the social structures and processes you have been studying, and it deepens your understanding of how sociology is practised in different national traditions. Throughout the programme, you will engage with the major theoretical traditions of sociology, from Marx, Weber, and Durkheim through to contemporary debates about globalisation, identity, intersectionality, and the sociology of digital life.

You will develop skills in both quantitative and qualitative social research, learning to design studies, collect and analyse data, and present findings in ways that are clear and persuasive.

Edinburgh is an outstanding place to study sociology, with a strong and active research community working on inequality, health, work, urban life, migration, and Scottish and European societies. The city itself provides a rich and complex social environment that brings the concerns of the discipline to life.

Sociology graduates work in social research, public policy, social work, education, journalism, healthcare, the charity sector, human resources, and the civil service. The ability to analyse social data, think critically about structures and institutions, and communicate findings to different audiences is valued across a very wide range of professional contexts. Postgraduate study in sociology, social policy, social research, or related disciplines is a natural next step for many graduates.