In a liberal society, can limitations on freedom of speech ever be justified? Do people pull together because they want to, or because they have to? Political, economic and social issues dominate domestic and international news, impacting on our day-to-day lives as well as shaping the future.

Studying topics in Sociology, Politics and Economics provides you with a greater understanding of the world around you. It teaches you about democracy and its relation to good government, how the economy functions, how people make decisions and how the economy impacts on the material wellbeing of human societies.

Our course provides a thorough training in the major areas of political science, economics and sociology, investigating the different kinds of social tensions, interactions and networks that make up everyday life. Offered at Essex by three of the UK's leading social science departments the Departments of Sociology, Government and Economics. These three disciplines are fundamentally linked. Through developing your understanding of these fields, you explore and address the broadest questions about our society.

Due to the flexibility of our courses, you can choose from a broad range of areas including:

Public policy regarding health, the environment, crime and aging

Citizenship, multiculturalism and human rights

The nature of work and commercial culture

Political power

Obligations, freedom, rights and equality

Applied Economics and Policy

Micro and Macroeconomics

International Financial Institutions and Policy

Strategies of Economic Development

Our Department of Sociology and Criminology were ranked 73rd globally and top 15 in the UK for sociology in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024. Meanwhile our Department of Government is one of the most prestigious in Europe, ranked 2nd in the UK for research outputs in politics and international studies (Grade Point Average, Research Excellence Framework 2021). The Department of Economics is top 25 in the UK for economics and econometrics in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024.

Study abroad

Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you in expanding your education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The four-year version of our degree allows you to spend the third year abroad or employed on a placement abroad, while otherwise remaining identical to the three-year course.

Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised.

If you spend a full year abroad you'll only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year. You won't pay any tuition fees to your host university

Placement year

You can also undertake a placement year in which you gain relevant work experience within an external business, giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market and providing you with key contacts within the industry. You will be responsible for finding your placement, but with support and guidance provided by both your department and our Employability and Careers Centre.