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What is sociology?
On a sociology degree, you’ll learn about issues and events facing our society and study why they happen, and why people make the decisions they do. You’ll also learn about how these events impact society and look for solutions to problems that may arise. You’ll look at topics including race, gender, immigration, class and equality to cover the biggest talking points in our modern society.
Read more about studying sociology at uni.
Reasons to study sociology
1. The skills you’ll learn
You’ll learn loads on a sociology degree, including subject-specific and transferrable skills. As it’s a social science, you’ll cover a broad range of transferrable skills, including decision making, data analysis, critical thinking, essay and report writing, teamwork, communication, research and ethics.
When it comes to subject-specific skills, you’ll gain a broader understanding of societal and cultural issues and how these affect individuals and society, and a better understanding of people’s motivations. You’ll also learn to apply research theories to studies, and to apply social theory to organisations within society.
2. The career you could have
As a sociology graduate, there are a wide range of careers you can choose to go into. One popular career path is social work. As a social worker, you’ll work with vulnerable children or adults going through a challenging time. You’ll have to follow legal procedures, advocate for your clients and work closely with other care providers such as schools, medical professionals and other relevant agencies.
Another common career path for sociology graduates is HR, or human resources. Typically, as a HR manager, you’ll work in an office setting. You’ll be responsible for protecting the company’s interests as well as those of the employees, and you’ll have to oversee employee performance, address any complaints or issues, ensure policies and laws are adhered to, and advise on how resources are used.
Some other common career paths for sociology graduates include teaching, law enforcement, journalism and social research.
Find your ideal career with our Career Matcher.
3. All the topics that get covered
Every sociology degree is different, but there are some topics which are commonly covered. You can expect to learn about research methods, people and cultures, power, inequality, crime and youth and community models of practice. You’ll also learn about specific behaviours, why people engage in them and common motivations.
4. You can study all over the UK
Sociology is a commonly-offered subject thanks to its popularity, meaning that you can study almost anywhere in the UK. According to Complete University Guide’s 2025 league tables, the top three UK unis for sociology are:
Meanwhile, these are the top three UK unis for student satisfaction in the sociology league tables:
Check out the full sociology league tables from Complete University Guide.
5. It’s something you enjoy!
Hopefully, if you’re considering studying sociology at uni, it’s because you have a passion for it and can see yourself working in a related field after you graduate. When you’re choosing a subject to study at university, it’s important to consider what you enjoy as you’ll be spending three years (or possibly longer!) focusing on the subject, and probably working in a related career afterwards. By studying a subject you enjoy that leads to a career you’re passionate about, you’ll have the best uni experience possible.
If you were considering sociology before, hopefully our list of reasons to study this fascinating subject at uni has helped you to make your decision. Should you go ahead with studying sociology at uni, you’ll learns loads about human behaviour, the issues that affect society, and how to create reports about elements of these.
Is sociology for you? Start searching for courses now!
