Expand+How and when to Apply
How to Apply
Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained...

Hide-How and when to Apply
How to Apply
Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained from the UCAS website at: www.ucas.com/students.

When to Apply
UCAS will start processing applications for entry in Autumn 2020 from 1 September 2019.

Advisory closing date: 15 January 2020 (18:00).

Late applications are, in practice, accepted by UCAS throughout the remainder of the application cycle, but you should understand that they are considered by institutions at their discretion, and there can be no guarantee that they will be given the same full level of consideration as applications received by the advisory closing date.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as is consistent with having made a careful and considered choice of institutions and courses.

The Institution code name for Queen's is QBELF and the institution code is Q75.

Expand+A level requirements
BBB

Irish leaving certificate requirements
H3H3H3H3H4H4/H3H3H3H3H3

Access Course
Successful completion of Access Course with an average of 65%.

International Baccalaureate Diploma
32 points overall, including 6,5,...

Hide-A level requirements
BBB

Irish leaving certificate requirements
H3H3H3H3H4H4/H3H3H3H3H3

Access Course
Successful completion of Access Course with an average of 65%.

International Baccalaureate Diploma
32 points overall, including 6,5,5 at Higher Level. If not offered at Higher Level/GCSE then Standard Level grade 4 in English would be accepted

BTEC Level 3 Extended/National Extended Diploma
QCF Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma (180 credits), with 100 credits at Distinction grade and 80 credits at Merit grade.

RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma (1080 Guided Learning Hours (GLH), with at least 540 GLH at Distinction grade (minimum 240 GLH to be externally assessed) and 540 GLH at Merit grade.

Graduate
A minimum of a 2:2 Honours Degree

All applicants
There are no specific subject requirements to study Sociology.

Selection Criteria

In addition, to the entrance requirements above, it is essential that you read our guidance below on 'How we choose our students' prior to submitting your UCAS application.

Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by individual University Schools. Once your on-line form has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.

Selection is on the basis of the information provided on your UCAS form. Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS.

For entry last year, applicants for this degree offering A-Level/ BTEC Level 3 qualifications must have had, or been able to achieve, a minimum of 5 GCSE passes at grade C/4 or better (to include English Language). The Selector will check that any specific entry requirements in terms of GCSE and/or A-level subjects can be fulfilled.

Offers are normally made on the basis of 3 A-levels. Two subjects at A-level plus two at AS would also be considered. The offer for repeat applicants is set in terms of 3 A-levels and may be one grade higher than that asked from first time applicants. Grades may be held from the previous year.

Applicants offering two A-Levels and one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent qualification), or one A-Level and a BTEC Diploma/National Diploma (or equivalent qualification) will also be considered. Offers will be made in terms of performance in individual BTEC units rather than the overall BTEC grade(s) awarded. Please note that a maximum of one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent) will be counted as part of an applicant’s portfolio of qualifications. The normal GCSE profile will be expected.

Applicants offering other qualifications, such as Higher National Certificates and Diplomas will also be considered.

For applicants offering a HNC, the current requirements are successful completion of the HNC with all credits at Merit grade.

For those offering a Higher National Diploma, to be eligible for an offer, at least half of the units completed in the first year of the HND must be at Merit level and remainder Passes. Applicants must successfully complete the HND with all credits assessed in final year to be at Merit grade. Any consideration would be for stage 1 entry only. Some flexibility may be allowed in terms of GCSE profile.

For applicants offering the Irish Leaving Certificate, please note that performance at Junior Certificate is taken into account and a minimum of 5 passes at Grade C is required.

The information provided in the personal statement section and the academic reference together with predicted grades are noted but, in the case of BA degrees, these are not the final deciding factors in whether or not a conditional offer can be made. However, they may be reconsidered in a tie break situation in August.

A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking would not normally be considered as part of a three A-level offer and, although they may be excluded where an applicant is taking 4 A-level subjects, the grade achieved could be taken into account if necessary in August/September.

Applicants are not normally asked to attend for interview, though there are some exceptions and specific information is provided with the relevant subject areas.

If you are made an offer then you may be invited to a Faculty/School Open Day, which is usually held in the second semester. This will allow you the opportunity to visit the University and to find out more about the degree programme of your choice and the facilities on offer. It also gives you a flavour of the academic and social life at Queen's.

If you cannot find the information you need here, please contact the University Admissions Service (admissions@qub.ac.uk), giving full details of your qualifications and educational background.

International Students

For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements

An IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification, details of which are available at: http://go.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
•Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
•Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

International Students - Foundation and International Year One Programmes

INTO Queen's offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help prepare international students for undergraduate study at Queen's University. You will learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre on campus, and will have full access to the University's world-class facilities.

These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry.

Expand+Overview
Sociology is a scientific discipline concerned with the explanation of social life and human behaviour of all kinds. It equips students with the skills to understand the breadth of social practice, ranging from the global (including conflic...

Hide-Overview
Sociology is a scientific discipline concerned with the explanation of social life and human behaviour of all kinds. It equips students with the skills to understand the breadth of social practice, ranging from the global (including conflict, security, climate change and social justice) to individual experiences (such as the body, beliefs and mental health). Through theoretical tools and methodological techniques, sociology at Queen’s provides students with a unique way of interacting with the world as critical and engaged citizens.

The modules in the BA Sociology are spread across three main areas of interest::
Risk and Social Inequalities
Conflict and Security
Lifecourse: Family, Childhood and Health

Sociology Degree highlights

Sociology at Queen's launched a brand new Single Honours degree in September 2018, which includes a Sociology cinema.

Global Opportunities
•We have a solid tradition of students undertaking Study Abroad through Erasmus schemes (with universities in Barcelona, Lund in Sweden, Paris, Aix en Provence, in France, Munich and Dusseldorf in Germany, Rotterdam and Nijemegen in the Netherlands, Jyvaskyla in Finland) as well as visiting international students who take Sociology modules, particularly those connected to research expertise for which Queen’s is renowned (e.g. Conflict Transformation and Social justice, Childhood, Public Health etc.)

Career Development
•Opportunity to develop substantive knowledge and research skills through collaboration in Northern Ireland’s vibrant community sector, including field trips, summer work placements, internship opportunities, guest lectures and workshops

World Class Facilities
•Queen’s is an historic campus university in the heart of Belfast, ranked one of the most affordable universities in the UK.

Internationally Renowned Experts
•The Sociology programme meets the highest standard in Ireland and the UK for undergraduate training in research methods and their application. We are one of only 15 Q-Step Centres in the UK.
•Sociology is taught by a group of internationally recognised sociologists who specialise in areas such as family, childhood, religion and conflict.
•We offer a high quality, supportive, student-centred learning experience in a top Russell Group University as evidenced by our excellent NSS student satisfaction rates.
•We are a research-intensive university, which means that what you are taught is directly linked to the latest discoveries and innovations. Our programme directly relates to the university’s strategic research priorities, for example, the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security & Justice

Student Experience
•The Lockheed Prizes are awarded annually to students for the Bachelor of Arts degrees taking single, major or joint subjects in Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work.
•You will be assigned a personal tutor during induction. This member of academic staff will provide one-to-one support and mentoring throughout your studies at Queen’s.

We offer a peer-mentoring scheme for Sociology students, with the support of staff and the Centre for Educational Development.

Expand+The Sociology team’s diverse research interests translate into an exciting and dynamic programme, with opportunities to study a range of subjects, such as:

• Intimacy, families and gender
• Conflict, deviance, violence and peace building
â...

Hide-The Sociology team’s diverse research interests translate into an exciting and dynamic programme, with opportunities to study a range of subjects, such as:

• Intimacy, families and gender
• Conflict, deviance, violence and peace building
• Emotions and Politics, from Trump to Brexit
• Environmental security
• Ethnicity, race and racism
• Health, illness and care
• Inequalities, poverty and social exclusion
• Religion and extremism
• Research methods and data skills (quantitative and qualitative)

Exit Route
Students who wish to benefit from specialist training in quantitative research can undertake a series of dedicated social science research modules over the course of their degree studies. Successful completion of 80 CATS credits of advanced quantitative research training (four modules) in level 2 and level 3 will receive the enhancement of BSc “with Quantitative Methods� added to the name of the degree awarded.

Stage 1
In first year, you will learn to think sociologically and explore the sociological imagination using up-to-date research, from studies on Facebook to romance and dating. Our key module Digital Society allows students to critically reflect on the role of technology in our daily lives, from surveillance to “Big Data�.

Stage 1 courses are outlined below:
Rethinking Sociology
The Sociological Imagination
Digital Society

Stage 1 Optional Courses
• Introducing Criminology
• Visualising the Social World
• Exploring Criminology
• Comparative Politics
• Power, Ritual and Symbol
• Issues in Contemporary Politics

Stage 2
In second year, you will be introduced to classical and contemporary theories, and develop proficiency in quantitative and qualitative research methods. You will gain skills in using the most widely used software, for example, SPSS and NVivo. We take advantage of ARK, a key resource situated in the School, and use their wide range of attitudinal surveys, often commissioned by government and key NI organisations. This allows students to apply their research skills training to contemporary issues, using the latest survey data.

In addition to the core elements, which also includes a comprehensive introduction to the study of inequality, from historical development to contemporary debates, you will also be able to choose from a variety of specialist Sociology options as well as Criminology and Social Policy subjects, for example, ageing and climate change.

Stage 2 courses are outlined below:
• The Power of Social Theory
• Qualitative Research Skills
• Social Inequalities and Diversity
• Quantitative Research Skills

Stage 2 Optional Courses
Northern Ireland: Conflict, Identity, Peace
Welfare in Theory and Practice
Environmental Crime and Justice
Questions for an Ageing World
Theory Counts
Gender and Migration
Sociology of Conflict and Peace

Stage 3
In final year, students design and undertake their own research project, under the guidance of a dedicated supervisor. This allows students to develop their own research question on a topic of their own selection, building on their studies. We encourage students to partner with community organisations to ensure that their research has direct and often immediate impact, where it is needed. As well as the development of specialist subject knowledge, the final year project provides key transferable skills, including independent project management and problem solving. A key aspect of final year is the ability to choose from the specialist Sociology options, reflecting the team’s research interests.

Stage 3 Optional Modules

Religion: Death or Revival
Norms and Social Change
Emotion, Power, and Politics: The Political Sociology of Emotions, Trump, Brexit, and Populism
Modern Families: Intimate and Personal Relationships
Disability and Society
Contemporary Irish Society
Global Risk Society
Modelling the Social World
Social Identity: Difference and Inequalities

Expand+Modules are typically assessed by a combination of continuous assessment, assignments and/or final written examination. Examples of continuous assessment include:
• Small Group Projects/Presentations – usually on a topic of students’ own choos...

Hide-Modules are typically assessed by a combination of continuous assessment, assignments and/or final written examination. Examples of continuous assessment include:
• Small Group Projects/Presentations – usually on a topic of students’ own choosing.

• Written assignments – including essays, book reviews, critical commentaries and blogs.

• Research-based assignments – for example, research proposals, questionnaire design, face-to-face interviews, reflective research diaries, analysis of statistical data and independent research projects.

• Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first year induction. Following each element of assessed coursework, students are provided with detailed feedback on the quality of their written work and how they can improve future assignment.

Expand+Career Prospects
Introduction
Your degree in Sociology will equip you with a range of transferable skills that are highly sought in a wide variety of fields in the contemporary jobs market. Sociology graduates are found in a range of occupations, i...

Hide-Career Prospects
Introduction
Your degree in Sociology will equip you with a range of transferable skills that are highly sought in a wide variety of fields in the contemporary jobs market. Sociology graduates are found in a range of occupations, including management, communication, marketing, sales, retail management, journalism, media research and publishing, youth and community work, charities and the voluntary sector, healthcare, social and civil services, and education. Sociology is also a good fit for a variety of careers in business: it develops the ability to gather and evaluate evidence, to engage in critical analysis, and to understand and explain complex problems and situations.

Employment Links
Our graduates have worked for organisations beyond and within Northern Ireland, such as:
• Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)
• Belfast Child
• Johnsons Solicitors
• PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Lloyds Banking Group
• Barnardos
• Northern Ireland Housing Executive

Alumni Success
“I had a summer placement working in the Northern Ireland Assembly. I believe that it was these CV extras that set me apart from other graduates, and landed me a job in the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency only weeks after graduating“
Lauren Kinnear , NISRA


Additional Awards Gained

There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.


Prizes and Awards

A BA Sociology student was a Global Winner of the Undergraduate Awards (2017), the world’s leading undergraduate awards programme which recognises top undergraduate work.

Lockheed Employees' Prizes are financed from a benefaction to the University by the employees of the Lockheed Overseas Corporation, USA, who worked in Northern Ireland during the second world war.

This prize may be awarded annually to students for the Bachelor of Arts degrees taking single, major or joint subjects in Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work.

Top performing students are regularly awarded prizes and scholarships, such as the SWAN prizes for best pieces of work on gender, and the Foundation Scholarship.

Degree plus award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.