Course description
Humans are inherently social beings, and that impacts every action we take. Our MA in Sociology will empower to you investigate social networks, norms, and change on a global scale, so we can better understand social structures and interactions.
At Manchester, you won’t just study human and social behaviour. As the only British university with social responsibility as a key strategic goal, we’ll teach you the practical skills you need to bring about positive change in local, national, and international communities. Our research is already influencing government policies and practice in various areas, such as domestic abuse guidelines, healthcare guidelines, and sustainable energy policies.
Our innovative course is taught by expert academics, both with practical experience of the field and a real passion for enhancing your learning experience.
You’ll study classic and contemporary sociological debates, deepening your understanding of social forces.
You can also follow your own interests with a choice of optional units that draw on our various areas of expertise, including socio-cultural change, gender and sexuality, and consumption and sustainability. As one of the largest sociological departments in the UK, there’s no shortage of topics you could cover.
Throughout your studies you’ll benefit from personalised support, allowing you to develop transferable skills in research, critical enquiry and creative thinking. You’ll graduate with the skills and experience you need for a successful career in a variety of sectors.
Special features
Thriving postgraduate community
With 30 academic staff and 60 postgraduates, you'll become a valued member of department that prioritises small-group teaching and community-building.
A prestigious department
Manchester is one of the world’s best institutions for the study and practice of sociology. We’re ranked as one of the top 10 universities in the world for delivering against the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, making a positive impact across culture and creativity, economic development and inequalities, health and wellbeing, innovation and commercialisation, and sustainability and climate change. (Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025).
Teaching and learning
This course is taught by an interdisciplinary team using a variety of delivery methods:
- lectures;
- workshops;
- student-led presentations and debate;
- group work;
- individual research.
Coursework and assessment
Most course units are assessed by 3,000-4,000-word essays, or by essay and presentation.
Part-time students
Part-time students complete the full-time course over two years. There are no evening or weekend course units available on the part-time course.
Course unit details
A master’s degree is formed of 180 credits.
120 of these credits are made up by a mix of mandatory and optional course units, worth 15 credits each. You will need to select between four and eight of these course units, with 60 credits taken each semester. The availability of individual optional course units may be subject to change. Information that is sent to you in August about registration onto the course will clearly state the course units that are available in the academic year ahead.
Core units include:
- Social Theory: Structure, Relations and Interaction (SRI);
- Cultural Criticism: Sources for a Public Sociology;
- Research Design;
- Research Strategy and Project Management.
The remaining 60 credits are awarded through a compulsory research component in the form of a 12,000-to-15,000-word dissertation. Your dissertation must be within the area of one of the course units you have chosen.
Your dissertation research is supported by weekly research methodology lectures designed to improve your academic and legal research and writing skills.
Part-time students
Part-time students take four out of the five compulsory course units in the first year, and then take the other one in year two. The remaining 60 credits of optional course units are selected and taken accordingly over the two years.
Other exit awards
Students who do not fulfil the criteria for passing the taught element of the course at the masters' level of 50% will not be permitted to progress to the dissertation element of the course and will leave the course with the highest award that the credits that have been passed will allow.
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | SOCY60000 | 60 | Mandatory |
| Social Theory: Structure, Relations and Interaction (SRI) | SOCY60332 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Cultural Criticism: Sources for a Public Sociology | SOCY60342 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Research Design | SOCY60401 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Research Strategy and Project Management | SOCY60412 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Data Analysis with R & RStudio | CRIM70821 | 15 | Optional |
| Qualitative Research Methods | SOCS60230 | 15 | Optional |
| Protest and Progress: Understanding Movements for Social and Political Change | SOCY60141 | 15 | Optional |
| Creative Methods | SOCY60192 | 5 | Optional |
| Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods | SOCY60231 | 15 | Optional |
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What our students say
Discover why our students chose our MA in Sociology and what they loved about their time at Manchester – take a look at our student spotlights .